Preview: Doncaster Rovers vs Middlesbrough - prediction, team news, lineups

Championship side Middlesbrough will travel to the Keepmoat Stadium for Tuesday’s EFL Cup clash against League One outfit Doncaster Rovers.

Boro squeezed past Wrexham in the first round, while Doncaster required penalties to see off Stockport County.

Match preview

Doncaster are competing in the second round for a fourth consecutive season after prevailing 5-4 in a penalty shootout in their first-round clash against fellow League One side Stockport County.

Grant McCann’s side have since experienced an underwhelming start to the League One season, losing 2-1 away to Mansfield Town before taking a point from their first home game of the season against Barnsley.

Rovers created three big chances and restricted Barnsley to zero, but they were unable to find a finishing touch as they settled for a goalless draw against their Yorkshire rivals.

They will now turn their focus to a tricky meeting against one of the strongest sides in the Championship, with the hosts looking to pull off an upset to reach the third round for the second consecutive season.

Doncaster can draw inspiration from the fact they pulled off an impressive 4-0 victory away to Middlesbrough on their way to reaching the third round last season, before they were eliminated by Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

If they are to win in regulation time on Tuesday, the hosts will have to beat Boro at the Keepmoat Stadium for the first time since recording a 2-1 victory in December 2010.

After falling short in the 2025-26 playoff final, Middlesbrough put that disappointment behind them to kick off the new season with back-to-back victories.

Kim Hellberg’s charges edged out Wrexham via a 1-0 scoreline in the EFL Cup, before coming from behind to beat newly-promoted Lincoln City on the opening weekend of the Championship season.

However, they were on the wrong side of a fightback in their first away game of the campaign against a Blackburn Rovers side managed by Boro legend Tony Mowbray.

Jeremy Sarmiento gave Middlesbrough a slender half-time lead with his first goal for the club, but his effort ultimately counted for nothing as Boro failed to contend with Blackburn’s fast start to the second period, conceding twice in the space of six minutes as they fell to a 2-1 defeat.

Boro will aim to record their first away win of the season in their with the hosts aiming to reach the third round for the first time since making a run to the semi-finals in 2023-24.

Middlesbrough have lost just one of their previous four away games against Doncaster, although they were held to a goalless draw in their most recent trip to the Keepmoat Stadium in February 2014.

Doncaster Rovers EFL Cup form:

Doncaster Rovers form (all competitions):

Middlesbrough EFL Cup form:

Middlesbrough form (all competitions):

Team News

Doncaster may have to contend without the services of James Husband, Matty Pearson and Tom Nixon due to injury.

Striker Frankie Okoronkwo remains a doubt as he continues to work on his fitness after missing seven months with a hamstring injury.

McCann could make a few changes in a bid to freshen up his side, with Isaac Hutchinson, Leon Ayinde and Brandon Hanlan among those pushing for a start spot.

As for Boro, forward Tommy Conway is continuing to work on his rehabilitation after undergoing ankle and hernia surgeries this summer.

Middlesbrough will have to assess Ashley Phillips, who is waiting to make his debut after missing Saturday’s defeat due to a lack of fitness.

Sol Brynn, Alfie Jones, Neto Borges, Riley McGree and Kyle Joseph are among those who could come into the side if Hellberg decides to rotate his squad for the cup tie.

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:

Simkin; Sterry, Byrne, McGrath, Senior; Bailey, Broadbent; Thomas, Hutchinson, Ayinde; Hanlan

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:

Brynn; Brittain, Jones, Malanda, Borges; Castledine, Morris, McGree, Peart-Harris; Whittaker, Joseph

We say: Doncaster Rovers 1-3 Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough may have experienced disappointment in Saturday's clash with Blackburn, but considering they are viewed as one of the strongest teams in the Championship, we
above Tuesday's opponents, they should have the quality required to record a relatively comfortable victory in the second-round clash.

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