Watford 1 Doncaster 2: Rovers make the most of hosts’ pensive beginning and progress

The Hornets, who made a host of changes, but should still have boasted a team strong enough to advance, paid the price for making a sluggish start in both halves as Rovers scored early in both periods.

Paul Dickov’s men started brightly and James Coppinger and Nathan Tyson went close before the visitors were rewarded for their early efforts in the 12th minute.

When Gabriel Tamas tripped Kyle Bennett in the penalty area, Tyson fired emphatically past goalkeeper Jonathan Bond from 12 yards.

Lewis McGugan rattled the crossbar from 25 yards as the Hornets sought an instant reply and the hosts were on level terms in the 31st minute. A smart flick from Odion Ighalo released Lloyd Dyer and, after running at the Doncaster defence, he powered a shot beyond Jed Steer.

Rovers were quicker out of the blocks after the restart and regained the lead in the 51st minute when, after some fine work, Dean Furman laid the ball inside for Liam Wakefield to convert from eight yards.

Watford: Bond, Hoban, Doyley (Pudil 69), Tamas, Anya, Andrews, Murray (Fabbrini 75), McGugan (Munari 69), Dyer, Vydra, Ighalo. Unused substitutes: Gilmartin, Angella, Doherty, Byers.

Doncaster Rovers: Steer, Wakefield, McCullough, Wabara, Evina, Bennett, Keegan, De Val Fernandez (Wellens 79), Coppinger, Tyson, Furman. Unused substitutes: Robinson, Marosi, Peterson, Askins, Lund, Whitehouse.

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire).

Doncaster’s derby with Barnsley, scheduled for Saturday September 6, has been postponed due to international call-ups. Rovers trio Dean Furman (South Africa), Luke McCullough (Northern Ireland Under-21s) and Theo Robinson (Jamaica) have all been called up by their respective countries.