Match ends, Fulham 2, Doncaster Rovers 1.
FulhamFulham2DoncasterDoncaster Rovers1
Fulham managed only their second win in 10 attempts this season as they beat League One side Doncaster to reach the Capital One Cup fourth round.
It was also Kit Symons's first win as caretaker boss following the dismissal of Felix Magath last week.
Bryan Ruiz scored the first with a 15-yard drive before defender Dan Burn nodded in Ross McCormack's cross.
Fulham survived a scare when James Coppinger scored before Theo Robinson's penalty was saved by Marcus Bettinelli.
German Magath had completely frozen Ruiz out of the first-team picture, but the Costa Rican was brought back for the weekend game against Blackburn and proved his worth on Tuesday with the opener.
| Match stat |
|---|
| Fulham's only wins this season have come in the League Cup |
Rovers keeper Jed Steer had already been forced into action inside the first minute when he saved McCormack's shot with his legs, but had little chance with the goal - a shot rammed in by Ruiz.
Doncaster had their chances in the first half, with Cedric Evina curling a free-kick narrowly wide and Dean Furman seeing his shot deflected over.
However, it was Fulham who found the net again when centre-half Burn, standing in as captain for the rested Scott Parker, headed in at the far post.
The visitors deservedly pulled one back on the hour when skipper Coppinger jinked his way into the box and fired in an angled drive.
Rovers should have equalised 12 minutes from time when they were awarded a penalty after Tim Hoogland had handled Robinson's header in the area.
Robinson took the kick himself, but Bettinelli guessed correctly by diving to his left to keep out the low shot.
Fulham caretaker manager Kit Symons: "There will be a thorough search for the right manager and my challenge is to make sure that right person is me.
"Results are vital for my chances of getting the job. We have to build confidence - this is stepping stone and a good starting point."
Doncaster manager Paul Dickov on Robinson's penalty miss: "Theo's taken penalties for us before and I'll never have a go at anyone who stands up there as I've done it myself.
"He put it on target but the keeper made a good save. The only disappointment is if it had gone in I think we would have gone on to win the game."
Line-ups
Fulham
Formation 4-4-2
- 40BettinelliBooked at 10mins
- 5AmorebietaSubstituted forKavanaghat 69'minutes
- 2Hoogland
- 6BodurovBooked at 80mins
- 33BurnBooked at 90mins
- 3StafylidisSubstituted forParkerat 72'minutes
- 21Christensen
- 10RuizSubstituted forWilliamsat 81'minutes
- 28Hyndman
- 44McCormack
- 20Rodallega
Substitutes
- 1Kiraly
- 8Parker
- 14Roberts
- 16Woodrow
- 27Williams
- 30David
- 32Kavanagh
Doncaster
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Steer
- 3Evina
- 22Wabara
- 12McCullough
- 15WakefieldSubstituted forMcCombeat 89'minutes
- 4Furman
- 23BennettSubstituted forForresterat 45'minutes
- 26Coppinger
- 18Keegan
- 19WellensSubstituted forRobinsonat 45'minutes
- 14Tyson
Substitutes
- 6McCombe
- 9Robinson
- 10Forrester
- 13Marosi
- 21De Val Fernandez
- 30Askins
- 35Ferguson
- Referee:
- Kevin Friend
- Attendance:
- 8,070
Match Stats
Home TeamFulhamAway TeamDoncaster
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home4
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away3
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Fulham 2, Doncaster Rovers 1.
Post update
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Reece Wabara.
Booking
Dan Burn (Fulham) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Dan Burn (Fulham).
Post update
James Coppinger (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Nathan Tyson went off injured after Doncaster Rovers had used all subs.
Substitution
Substitution, Doncaster Rovers. Jamie McCombe replaces Liam Wakefield.
Post update
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Jed Steer.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ross McCormack (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Emerson Hyndman (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Paul Keegan (Doncaster Rovers).
Post update
Corner, Doncaster Rovers. Conceded by Dan Burn.
Post update
Lasse Vigen Christensen (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Harry Forrester (Doncaster Rovers).
Substitution
Substitution, Fulham. George Williams replaces Bryan Ruiz.
Post update
Attempt missed. Harry Forrester (Doncaster Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Booking
Nikolay Bodurov (Fulham) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Nikolay Bodurov (Fulham).
Post update
Harry Forrester (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
