Extra time goals for Ipswich sends Rovers out of the Capital One Cup.
Doncaster Rovers - 1 (Williams 23’)Ipswich Town - 4 (Pitman 59’ , McGoldrick 102’ , Alabi 104’ , Fraser 112’)
Tuesday 25th August, 7.45pm
Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
Capital One Cup, Round 2
Having defeated Leeds United in the first round of the Capital One Cup, Rovers were looking to go one better this time and were up against Championship table toppers, Ipswich.
The Tractor Boys had a chance from an early corner, Larson Toure delivered a good ball into the box before the ball was struck low towards goal but Thorsten Stuckmann was there to make a smart save.
Shortly afterwards Ipswich had another chance. This time David McGoldrick weaved his way through the Rovers defence, twisting and turning. Able to get his shot away he let rip forcing Stuckmann into another good save low to his left.
There was another scare for Rovers as Brett Pitman beat the offside trap to go through on goal. Seeing Stuckmann off his line he fired a quick shot towards goal missing the target. The visitors should have taken the lead.
Against the run of play Paul Dickov’s side took the lead through Andy Williams. An Ipswich clearance fell to Cedric Evina who delivered a ball in to the back post where it was met by Williams with a header low into the bottom corner.
The goal settled Rovers and they were on top from there. Curtis Main was appealing for a penalty as he burst into the box before cutting inside and going down. However the referee waved away the protests.
Ipswich almost came back into the game as McGoldrick found a way through before lobbing Stuckmann, everyone was relieved to see his effort bounce back off the cross bar.
HALF TIME: Rovers 1-0 Ipswich
Rovers were forced into substitutions in the second half as Mitchell Lund and Billy Whitehouse replaced the injured Luke McCullough and Rob Jones.
Rovers continued to pressure the Championship side early in the second half. Whitehouse came close to his first senior goal when he released a vicious shot at goal forcing Dean Gerken into a good save. James Coppinger was there for the rebound but narrowly missed the target.
Despite dominating the early minutes of the second half Ipswich drew level through Brett Pitman. On the counter there was a scramble in the Rovers box and Pitman pounced to smash the ball home from 10 yards.
The equaliser brought some life into the visitors who looked lively for the remainder of the game.
It was end to end stuff, Andy Williams caused problems in the Ipswich box before Richie Wellens shot from 20 yards just missing the cross bar.
With just a minute to go Stuckmann pulled off another terrific save denying Toure. Running at goal he hit a dipping, swerving shot towards the top corner but a full stretch Stuckmann made an excellent save.
The match wasn’t to be decided in 90 minutes and for the second time running it was extra time at the Keepmoat.
Rovers weren’t without their chances in extra time. Substitute Harry Middleton fired towards goal after the ball fell to his feet, but his shot was wide of the target.
Mick McCarthy’s men started to take control however, and McGoldrick sent them into the lead when his header at the back post unmarked beat Stuckmann.
Minutes later James Alabi netted a third as he found space in the area leaving the Rovers keeper with no chance.
As Rovers tried to find a way back into the game, Coppinger battled hard for possession before threading the ball through to goalscorer Williams. Despite being in a good position the striker was under pressure and his shot went wide of goal.
With minutes to go, the Tractor Boys showed their quality and Ryan Fraser made it 4-1 after finding space in the box to drill the ball home.
The referee blew the final whistle and it was Ipswich who progressed to the next round.
Team Lineups-
Rovers: Stuckmann, McCullough (Lund 19’), Butler, Jones (c) (Whitehouse 45’), Taylor-Sinclair, Evina, Wellens, Chaplow (Middleton 99’), Coppinger, Williams, Main
Subs not used: Marosi, Mandeville, P.McKay, Carberry, Middleton
Ipswich: Gerken, Smith (c) (Chambers 79’), McGoldrick, Pitman (Alabi 69’), Coke, Tabb, Yorwerth, McDonnell (Fraser 98’), Emmanuel, Kenlock, Toure
Subs not used: Maitland-Nile, Sears, Benyu, Crowe
Attendance: 3,729