Doncaster Rovers kickstarted the 2026-27 campaign with a Carabao Cup tie, progressing to the second round after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Stockport County. The game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Grant McCann's side edging out the hosts 5-4 in the shoot-out. Goalkeeper Tommy Simkin was the undoubted hero, pulling off a string of saves in normal time before two vital stops in the shoot-out.

The first half was a lively affair, with debutant Simkin the busier of the two goalkeepers. He kept out shots from Jack Diamond, Harry Wood, and Ethan Pye, while at the other end, Rovers were restricted to only a few efforts at goal. Jamie Sterry fired a venomous shot just wide of the left-hand upright, and skipper Owen Bailey glanced a header past the same post just before the interval.

Rovers then got their noses in front just after the restart, Alfie May swivelling in the box and firing home after a clever knockdown from Jay McGrath from a corner. But their joy was short-lived as Kyle Wootton drew the hosts level. He drew a good save from Simkin initially, before beating the Rovers stopper just moments later as County fired a ball from the right into the box and he finished from close range.

With penalties looming, the game became a bit cagey, with neither team managing to forge any genuine scoring chance. In the shoot-out, Simkin saved from both Ben Osborn and Eoghan O'Connell to edge the tie in Rovers' favour.

Here's how we rated the Rovers players this afternoon:

  • Tommy Simkin 9: Some alert goalkeeping to deny Stockport at multiple junctures first half. Kept it up second half as he worked overtime to repel the hosts again and again. Brilliant stop to deny Osborn in the shoot-out
  • Jamie Sterry 7: Fired a fierce attempt just wide of goal first half. Some alert moments as he intercepted and stopped Stockport in their tracks a few times. Nerves of steel in the shoot-out with a Panenka.
  • Neill Byrne 7: Sent an early header over the bar. A few good headers and well-timed tackles as Stockport upped the ante.
  • Jay McGrath 6: Up against wily Wootton, McGrath had his hands full defensively. Turned provider for Rovers' opener as he nodded down from a corner and into goalscorer May's path but then fluffed his lines in the build-up to Stockport's leveller.
  • Jack Senior 6: Got forward plenty but had a good test with Stockport's explosive wing options. A few times where he was beaten for pace.
  • Owen Bailey 7: Skipper got about the pitch well. Glanced a header wide right at the end of the first half. Carded.
  • George Broadbent 6: Played deepest of the midfielders, as expected. A few loose passes but on the whole, steady.
  • Isaac Hutchinson 6: Not an awful lot to judge, after playing just the first half. One nice pass that he threaded through, mind.
  • Leon Ayinde 5: An up-and-down showing with a few moments where he made the wrong choice or dithered on the ball. Replaced at half-time.
  • Alfie May 7: Restricted to bits and pieces first half but was in the right place to bury the chance to put Rovers 1-0 up. Joyful celebrations when it went in.
  • Jordan Thomas 6: Involved plenty down the right win but a few jittery moments as he found his feet. Got better after the break and went off for the final quarter
  • Substitutes

League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 14th in League One, 60 pts, 17W-9D-20L from 46 games, recent form WDLWW. Goals this season: 50 scored, 69 conceded (-19 goal difference). Title race: 43 points behind leaders Lincoln.