Rovers suffer cup shock

Doncaster Rovers bowed out of the Carling Cup in a disappointing defeat at home against Accrington Stanley.

Rovers gave first team debuts to Josh Payne and Robbie Clarke in seven changes to Rovers side from Saturday.

Steve Brooker finally made his first start for Rovers after eighteen months with the club that as been badly disrupted through injury.

Stanley had the ball in the net early on but a linesman`s flag ruled out the effort.

Dean Shiels had Rovers first meaningful effort but Cisak saved his 20-yard effort.

Stanley were giving Rovers a good game, Lindfield missed the target with a shot and soon afterwards Putterill should have put them ahead when he only had Sullivan to beat, but shot over.

The sides went in at half time 0-0 with neither side able to take control of the game.

Rovers debutant Josh Payne broke the deadlock within two minutes of the restart, his shot took a deflection and found its way into the back of the Accrington net.

Fairhurst went close to doubling the lead on the hour when his shot skimmed the top of the bar.

Putterill called Sullivan into action in the Rovers goal when he had to tip a fierce drive round the post.

The visitors were desperately searching for an equaliser and Hessey was the next to test Sullivan in the Rovers goal.

Stanley eventually equalised with just seven minutes remaining when Turner followed up to score after Sullivan had saved a first shot.

Both Fairhurst and O`Connor came close to winning the game for Rovers in normal time but both saw their efforts blocked.

With the Rovers squad already threadbare, they were dealt another blow when James Hayter was forced off with what looked like a serious hamstring injury and replaced by youngster Bradley Grayson for his debut.

The visitors took the lead within five minutes of the restart in extra time when Edwards was on hand to tap in after an initial shot hit the post.

Rovers stepped up their search for an equaliser, Grayson twice went close and Shiels saw a fierce effort just go wide of the post.

Despite the Rovers pressure, they went in at half time in extra time trailing 2-1.

Things got even worse for Rovers when Mustapha Dumbuya was stretchered off with cramp, leaving Rovers down to ten men having already made their three substitutions.

Hird almost equalised for Rovers deep into extra time when the keeper spilt his shot.

Robbie Clarke was lucky to stay on the pitch for Rovers when he pulled back McConville when he was through on goal, the referee only showing him a yellow card.

With the teams into three minutes of added time, Martis saw his shot go wide of the post when he should have done better.

The referee blew the whistle soon afterwards as Rovers bowed out of the Carling Cup in a disappointing night at the Keepmoat.


Teams

Doncaster
Sullivan, Dumbuya, O`Connor, Lockwood, Friend, Clarke, Payne (Martis 77), Hird, Shiels, Brooker (Hayter 64, Grayson 90), Fairhurst

Subs
G. Woods, Lucas, Jones, Oldham

Accrington
Cisak, Bateson (Turner 72), Hessey, Proctor, Winnard, Ryan, Putterill (Murphy), Edwards, Joyce (Parkinson 72), McConville, Lindfield

Subs
Turner, Dunbavin, Riley,

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