For a while it was touch and go for Leeds at Doncaster Rovers last night, but two great goals from Ramon Nunez were enough to take Leeds through to the next round.  

Leeds took to the field at the Keepmoat with something of an experimental side, with Rabushka and Zac Thompson making their debuts, and Connolly, Sam, O’Brien and Nunez all getting rare starts. But few of these fringe players did anything to stake a claim for a regular place in the side, as Leeds made a sluggish start to the game.

We were behind after only three minutes, as Barnes crossed from over on the right flank and Hayter got in front of O’Brien to stab the ball into the net from close range. And Donny had several chances to extend their lead during the next 20 minutes, as Rachubka made fine saves from Bennett and Gillett. Then another move ended with Bennett getting the ball over the Leeds keeper, but thankfully the ball came back off the woodwork.

Finally Leeds began to wake up and create a few chances, and Howson went close with a dipping shot before Nunez scored the equaliser on the half hour.  Rachubka’s long ball downfield was flicked on by Clayton and from outside the area Nunez chipped it over Woods and into the far corner of the net. The goal was somewhat against the run of play, but it inspired Leeds to come forward a bit more, and from then on we enjoyed a bit more of the possession.

In the second half Grayson made his first change by sending young Charlie Taylor into the action in place of White, and then he tried to break the deadlock by replacing Mc.Cormack with Gradel. Mad Max was his usual lively self, and had a goal disallowed before going close with a fierce shot from just inside the area. But the game could have gone either way, and Rachubka had to be alert to deal with a swirling shot from Wilson.

With nine minutes left Leeds finally got the breakthrough that decided the tie, as an attempted cross from the right bounced off a defender’s back and fell kindly for Nunez just outside the box. The Honduran hit it powerfully on the volley, and gave Woods no chance, to the delight of the 3,000 Leeds fans behind that goal.

Doncaster weren’t quite finished yet, and Rachubka made another decent save from a Friend free kick, before that man Bennett hit the post once again with another fierce shot. At the other end Gradel missed a chance to put the tie out of their reach, but it didn’t matter in the end as Leeds held out in the remaining time without too much difficulty.

In truth we were lucky to win the game, but with so many first choice players left out we can’t read too much into this performance. It was the result that mattered, and perhaps we can dream of another tie against top Premiership side in the next round.

Photo: Action Images

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