Middlesbrough 0-4 Doncaster
Updated
Doncaster won: Middlesbrough 0-4 Doncaster in the EFL Cup (Round 1) on Tue, 12 Aug 2025 at Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough. Doncaster goals: Ben Close 11', Damola Ajayi 23', Robbie Gotts 84', Tom Nixon 90'+6. Expected goals: 1.04-1.76. Possession: 62-38. Player of the match: Ian Lawlor (8.9).
Match report
Doncaster rout Middlesbrough 4-0
Doncaster swept aside Middlesbrough 4-0 away from home at Riverside Stadium on Tuesday 12 August in EFL Cup.
Ben Close put Doncaster ahead on 11' (0-1), Damola Ajayi made it 0-2 on 23', Robbie Gotts made it 0-3 on 84' and Tom Nixon made it 0-4 on 90+6'.
Middlesbrough had 62% of the ball, shots were 18-18 (5-5 on target) and expected goals finished 1.04-1.76.
Ian Lawlor (Doncaster Rovers) was player of the match with an 8.9 rating.
Attendance: 11,979. Referee: Matthew Corlett.
Match stats
| Middlesbrough | Doncaster | |
|---|---|---|
| Ball possession | 62 | 38 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.04 | 1.76 |
| Total shots | 18 | 18 |
| Shots on target | 5 | 5 |
| Touches in opposition box | 30 | 21 |
| Big chances | 1 | 2 |
| Big chances missed | 1 | 2 |
| Accurate passes | 522 (85%) | 285 (76%) |
| Yellow cards | 1 | 3 |
| Corners | 7 | 2 |
| Total shots | 18 | 18 |
| Shots off target | 7 | 5 |
| Shots on target | 5 | 5 |
| Blocked shots | 6 | 8 |
| Hit woodwork | 1 | 1 |
| Shots inside box | 6 | 13 |
Lineups
Middlesbrough (3-4-2-1): Tom Glover, Luke Ayling, Alfie Jones, Neto Borges, Callum Brittain, Abdoulaye Kante, Law McCabe, George McCormick, Morgan Whittaker, Delano Burgzorg, Tommy Conway
Doncaster (4-2-3-1): Ian Lawlor, Tom Nixon, Jay McGrath, Sean Grehan, Jack Senior, Ben Close, Robbie Gotts, Jordan Gibson, Joe Sbarra, Damola Ajayi, Billy Sharp
Key events
- 11' · Goal · Ben Close (Doncaster)
- 23' · Goal · Damola Ajayi (Doncaster)
- 27' · Yellow card · Abdoulaye Kante (Middlesbrough)
- 47' · Yellow card · Jay McGrath (Doncaster)
- 60' · Substitution · Dael Fry for George McCormick (Middlesbrough)
- 60' · Yellow card · Sean Grehan (Doncaster)
- 61' · Substitution · Aidan Morris for Abdoulaye Kante (Middlesbrough)
- 61' · Substitution · Hayden Hackney for Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough)
- 65' · Substitution · Glenn Middleton for Jordan Gibson (Doncaster)
- 65' · Substitution · Luke Molyneux for Damola Ajayi (Doncaster)
- 65' · Substitution · Owen Bailey for Joe Sbarra (Doncaster)
- 70' · Substitution · Joe Ironside for Billy Sharp (Doncaster)
- 77' · Substitution · Micah Hamilton for Law McCabe (Middlesbrough)
- 78' · Substitution · Marcus Forss for Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough)
- 78' · Substitution · Connor O'Riordan for Jay McGrath (Doncaster)
- 83' · Yellow card · Ben Close (Doncaster)
- 84' · Goal · Robbie Gotts (Doncaster)
- 90'+6 · Goal · Tom Nixon (Doncaster)
All-time head-to-head
8 league meetings since 2009: Middlesbrough 5, draws 2, Doncaster 1.
Questions
Who won Middlesbrough vs Doncaster?
Doncaster won, 0-4 (EFL Cup) on Tue, 12 Aug 2025.
When and where is Middlesbrough vs Doncaster?
Tue, 12 Aug 2025, 18:30 UTC at Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, EFL Cup.
What is the head-to-head record between Middlesbrough and Doncaster?
In 8 league meetings since 2009: Middlesbrough 5 wins, 2 draws, Doncaster 1 wins (goals 17-4).