TRANMERE were given a lesson in the art of pass-and-move football as they were dumped out of the Carling Cup at the first-round stage last night.
The tale of the two Rovers was a distinctly one-sided affair as Doncaster’s Championship class shone through against Les Parry’s visitors from League One.
Tranmere fell behind to an early penalty and were on the back foot for much of the evening against a home side playing with plenty of flair and invention.
Donny boss Sean O’Driscoll had lost strikers Billy Sharp and James Hayter to serious injuries in Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Brighton, and the duo’s absence last night gave Tranmere a glimmer of hope.
But Doncaster settled into a slick passing rhythm from the first whistle and were soon ahead.
Attacking midfielder James Coppinger was bundled over by a combination of John Welsh and Andy Robinson as he took a shot at goal from 12 yards in the fourth minute. Referee Gary Sutton had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and striker Chris Brown despatched the resulting penalty. His firmly-struck, low shot gave keeper Owain Fon-Williams no chance.
Tranmere, who had started their League One campaign with an impressive home victory over Chesterfield on Saturday, did not let their heads drop but it was clear they were being outplayed by their opponents.
Winger Martin Devaney whipped in a couple of dangerous crosses for the visitors, while defender Ian Goodison saw a close-range shot deflected for a corner kick in the 10th minute. But that was about as good as it got for Tranmere in the first half, as Doncaster peppered Fon-Williams’ goal.
The big Welshman denied Brown with a low save to his right, but he was powerless to stop Ryan Mason from making it 2-0 with a precise right-footed drive Šfrom just inside the area on the half-hour mark.
Fon-Williams, a summer signing from Rochdale, was called into action twice before the half-time break, punching away a powerful Richard Naylor header on 33 minutes before saving from Mason soon after.
Tranmere boss Parry opted to withdraw striker Mustapha Tiryaki at the break in favour of fit-again striker Enoch Showunmi. The Nigerian now looks to be fully recovered from the fractured leg he suffered in April, but he was starved of service and, like Tiryaki, struggled.
Robinson and Adam McGurk – so effective against Chesterfield on Saturday – were kept quiet by the home side all evening.
A third Doncaster goal looked to be on the cards and it arrived in some style on 59 minutes from the right boot of Kyle Bennett. The tricky forward cut in from the left wing and curled an inch-perfect shot into the top corner of Fon-Williams’ net from 22 yards.
The goal made the final 30 minutes academic, although both sides lost players to injuries.
Tranmere centre-back Mark McCrystal limped off with what looked to be a thigh strain and Doncaster lost Mason to an ankle problem. The midfielder was carried off on a stretcher after being on the receiving end of a strong tackle from John Welsh.
The travelling Tranmere supporters continued to give their team plenty of backing, but the visitors were well beaten by a strong Doncaster side showing only three changes from the weekend loss at Brighton.
Midfielder Robbie Weir sent a shot over the roof of the away end with the final kick of the game – capping a forgettable night.
