Doncaster Rovers 3(Syers 30 & 90, Jones 57)
Hull City 2(Mclean 1, Simpson 10)
Hull City are out of the Capital One Cup after surrendering a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 against Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium on Tuesday night.
It had all looked so good for Steve Bruce’s side as goals from
Aaron Mclean and Jay Simpson had City cruising after ten minutes.
But a goal back before half time turned the tide and after levelling early in the second half, David Syers won the game for Rovers deep into added time.
Despite concerns at the start of the week, Ben Amos was fit enough to start for the Tigers.
Bruce did, however, make six changes to his starting eleven with Andy Dawson, Seyi Olofinjana, Tom Cairney, Cameron Stewart, Simpson and Mclean all coming into the side. Dawson captained the side in the absence of Robert Koren.
Doncaster fielded former Tiger James Harper in their starting line-up while another ex-City man, Billy Paynter was on the bench.
The Tigers went straight on the attack and stunned Doncaster with a goal after just 34 seconds. The bell fell nicely for Mclean on the edge of the box and after turning his marker neatly, he fired home into the bottom corner.
City were making a fine start and a foul on Simpson 20 yards out gave them a free kick in a perfect position for Cairney’s left foot. The midfielder did indeed take the set-piece and although his shot came back off that bar, Simpson was in the right place to fire home the rebound to double the Tigers’ lead.
All of the attractive football was coming from City and it was frustrating the home side, as one rash challenge on Stewart showed.
Out of absolutely nothing, Doncaster found a route back into the game on the half-hour. A high ball dropped nicely for Syers to volley past Amos from 25 yards.
City responded by going straight back on the attack. Stewart crossed nicely from the right for Simpson, but he glanced a header wide.
Cairney was left needing treatment after coming off worse in a 50-50 challenge and although he hobbled back on, he was soon replaced by Paul McKenna.
Suddenly the game was a contest again with plenty of challenges flying in from both sides.
Simpson tried his luck from fully 35 yards out just before the break, forcing Gary Woods into a save.
The striker brought another save out of Woods in added time, this time with a volley from 18 yards.
Corry Evans really should have added a third deep into added time after some fine approach play from Mclean, but the Northern Ireland international slid a shot wide from close range.
Half Time: Tigers 2-1 Doncaster
The second half started with the home side trying to set a quick pace, but one of their own was the victim of that when Paul Keegan was booked for a late challenge on McKenna.
It was all Doncaster in the early stages and the inevitable equaliser arrived on 57 minutes when what looked like a harmless cross into the City box was met by the head of Rob Jones, who guided it beyond Amos and into the net.
Another ball into the City box a couple of moments later caused more problems for the defence before Dawson took decisive action to clear.
Mclean almost had City back in front when he took the play to the home defence, but he was denied by a brilliant save from Woods.
City made a change ten minutes from time as Sone Aluko replaced Mclean.
Aluko’s first involvement almost brought a goal as his 20-yarder took a wicked deflection, but ended up in the hands of Woods.
City were reduced to ten men six minutes from time when McKenna was dismissed for violent conduct. After a tussle with Jones, McKenna kicked out at the defender and was promptly shown a red card. Jones was booked for his part.
David Cotterill brought a splendid save out of Amos as the home side sensed a win before the end of normal time and Syers headed over when left unmarked at a corner.
City’s final change came in added time as Alex Bruce replaced Abdoulaye Faye.
Both sides had chances to win it in added time with Evans going close for City and then a desperate clearance denying Paynter at the other end.
Then Simpson raced clear and beat Woods with a low shot, only to see it come back off the post and into the goalkeeper’s hands.
There was still time for a winner to arrive – and it went to Doncaster. James Coppinger crossed over the City back line and Syers came flying in to grab his second of the game.
City had one last chance to rescue themselves from a free kick, but Stewart’s delivery was headed into the side-netting and City’s League Cup hopes were over.
Tigers: Ben Amos, Joe Dudgeon, James Chester, Abdoulaye Faye (Alex Bruce 90), Andy Dawson, Cameron Stewart, Seyi Olofinjana, Tom Cairney (Paul McKenna 37), Corry Evans,
Aaron Mclean (Sone Aluko 80), Jay Simpson.
Subs Not Used: Mark Oxley, Liam Cooper, Jamie Devitt, Nick Proschwitz.
Doncaster: Gary Woods, Paul Quinn (David Cotterill 60), Tommy Spurr, Rob Jones, Jamie McCombe, James Coppinger, James Husband, James Harper, David Syers, Paul Keegan, Robbie Blake (Billy Paynter 68).
Subs Not Used: Neil Sullivan, Josh Meade, Harry Middleton, Paddy Mullen, Jordan Binns.
Referee: Mr S. Ruston.
Attendance: 4,703 (1,057 City fans)