If there was a game to draw then this was it.

It might not have felt like it as Villa’s players trudged off Doncaster’s dilapidated pitch, knowing they would have to do it all over again on Wednesday week.

Nor for the 2,851 members of the claret and blue army who had made the trip to the Keepmoat Stadium for this FA Cup fourth-round tie, expecting Villa to sweep aside a team in the bottom three of the Championship.

But, hand on heart, if Martin O’Neill had been forced to choose a game in which Villa departed without a win, it would have been this one. No question.

Draw against Portsmouth, Wigan, Blackburn or Chelsea, Villa’s next four Premier League games, and there is no second chance to make up for missed opportunities. Those points are gone.

With things as tight as they are in the chase for the Champions League – Villa trail leaders Manchester United by three points, the same advantage they hold over fifth-placed Arsenal – it is a situation O’Neill’s side can ill afford.

In the FA Cup, on the other hand, they can atone. Win the replay and Saturday’s stalemate is all forgotten.

You can safely bet Harry Redknapp, Mark Hughes and Tony Adams would far rather be in O’Neill’s shoes, than be sure in the knowledge they face a weekend twiddling their thumbs on fifth-round weekend.

The only reason this draw can be deemed a drawback is because it adds another game to Villa’s schedule.

Of course, it is a game they could do without. The same goes for Arsenal, Albion, Liverpool and Everton – even Doncaster, whose manager Sean O’Driscoll spoke so ruefully of the replay it was as if he would have preferred them to have lost. But a fixture pile-up it is not.

The trip to Portsmouth will be their first midweek game since Hull on December 30.

The February 4 replay with Rovers makes it five games in February – if they win it will become six – no worse than anything they have had to contend with since September.

Hardly cause to set alarm bells ringing. Nor should Villa’s performance provide grounds for panic.

Yes, their first-half display against Rovers was sub-standard and, given they are 38 places above their opponents in the league standings, such games should be won comfortably, especially after O’Neill named his strongest side possible.

But this is the FA Cup, barely a round passes without a surprise being sprung – hence Arsenal find themselves facing Cardiff again and holders Pompey are licking their wounds after being ousted by Swansea.

So Villa drawing at Doncaster? In the context of the trophy’s history it makes barely a ripple.

It was Villa who had the game’s first presentable opportunity, Agbonlahor skewing a fourth-minute shot wide after a mix-up in the home defence. Had that gone it could have been all so different.

But Rovers’ confidence grew, Gareth Roberts failing to punish some slack marking from Carlos Cuellar when he arrived unmarked at the far post only to volley wide.

Without partner in crime Ashley Young’s support from the wings, Gabby Agbonlahor was far too isolated on his own up front and it was no surprise the excellent Gareth Barry was quickly pushed up alongside him.

But with Stiliyan Petrov and Steve Sidwell left to protect the defence, it allowed Rovers to pick up all the loose balls in the middle of the park and dominate the play.

There was a lucky escape 10 minutes before the break and Cuellar was culpable. The Spaniard overhit a backpass to Brad Friedel, putting the big American under unnecessary pressure.

He kicked it straight to Martin Woods, who was on the edge of the area, and the Rovers midfielder saw his dipping shot clip the top of the crossbar with the backpedalling Friedel beaten.

When Villa did attack, they found Rovers veteran keeper Neil Sullivan equal to everything they threw at him. The ex-Leeds and Chelsea stopper rolled back the years with a fine fingertip save to deny Agbonlahor six-yards out.

Villa gradually improved after the break. James Milner was twice denied in a matter of minutes either side of the hour-mark and Sullivan pulled off another excellent save to deny Zat Knight.

Only one side looked like winning it as the claret and blues’ class began to tell. First Milner got underneath a free header from Barry’s corner and then Sidwell’s predatory instincts deserted him, as he somehow headed Milner’s cross wide at the back post when it looked easier to score.

But the worst miss of all was still to come. Sidwell’s raking ball over the top took out the entire Donny defence and Agbonlahor accelerated clear. He looked odds-on to beat Sullivan but lashed his shot against the crossbar and the best chance was gone.

It was just one of those days. The footballing gods did not appear to be with Villa this time out.

That was until the dying moments, when Woods fired against the woodwork for a second time – his curling 25-yard free-kick striking the angle of bar and post with Friedel beaten.

Yet there was still time for one last Villa attack, substitute Craig Gardner’s low drilled shot initially spilled by Sullivan, only for him to gather at the second attempt with Agbonlahor ready to pounce.

No goal, but a rousing second-half performance which provided cause for optimism that O’Neill’s men can make it a club record six straight away wins at Fratton Park.

The added firepower of £3.5million signing Emile Heskey, who is likely to be involved at some stage, will improve their chances of doing just that, in a game where they cannot afford to settle for a share of the spoils.

By Brendan McLoughlin