Match ends, Fulham 2, Doncaster Rovers 1.
Fulham 2-1 Doncaster Rovers
- From the section Football
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
- 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
- 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
Full Time
Second Half ends, Fulham 2, Doncaster Rovers 1.
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Reece Wabara.
Booking
Dan Burn (Fulham) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Dan Burn (Fulham).
James Coppinger (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Nathan Tyson went off injured after Doncaster Rovers had used all subs.
Substitution
Substitution, Doncaster Rovers. Jamie McCombe replaces Liam Wakefield.
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Jed Steer.
Attempt saved. Ross McCormack (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Emerson Hyndman (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Paul Keegan (Doncaster Rovers).
Corner, Doncaster Rovers. Conceded by Dan Burn.
Lasse Vigen Christensen (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Harry Forrester (Doncaster Rovers).
Substitution
Substitution, Fulham. George Williams replaces Bryan Ruiz.
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.
Foul by Nikolay Bodurov (Fulham).
Harry Forrester (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Penalty saved! Theo Robinson (Doncaster Rovers) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom right corner.
Penalty conceded by Tim Hoogland (Fulham) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
Foul by Nikolay Bodurov (Fulham).
Harry Forrester (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Fulham. Scott Parker replaces Konstantinos Stafylidis.
Attempt missed. Hugo Rodallega (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Attempt saved. Harry Forrester (Doncaster Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Fulham. Sean Kavanagh replaces Fernando Amorebieta.
Hand ball by Ross McCormack (Fulham).
Corner, Doncaster Rovers. Conceded by Fernando Amorebieta.
Attempt blocked. Harry Forrester (Doncaster Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Goal!
Goal! Fulham 2, Doncaster Rovers 1. James Coppinger (Doncaster Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Theo Robinson.
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Liam Wakefield.
Foul by Tim Hoogland (Fulham).
Harry Forrester (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Nathan Tyson (Doncaster Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Attempt missed. Dean Furman (Doncaster Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Second Half
Second Half begins Fulham 2, Doncaster Rovers 0.
Substitution
Substitution, Doncaster Rovers. Harry Forrester replaces Kyle Bennett.
Substitution
Substitution, Doncaster Rovers. Theo Robinson replaces Richard Wellens.