Middlesbrough secured their place in the Carabao Cup third round with a 3-1 victory away to League One side Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night. The Championship side, currently 11th in the league with three points from two games, avenged a heavy defeat from last season's competition with goals from Kyle Joseph, Will Lankshear and Jeremy Sarmiento.
Kim Hellberg made five changes to his starting lineup for the trip to the Club Doncaster Sports Village. The alterations included a first start for striker Kyle Joseph, who joined from Hull City last month for a reported £4m. Goalkeeper Sol Brynn also started and made important saves from Doncaster's Alfie May during the match.
How did Kyle Joseph perform on his first start?
Kyle Joseph marked his full debut with his first goal for Middlesbrough. The striker found the net in the 34th minute, finishing from around 10 yards out after connecting with a cross from the right by Jeremy Sarmiento. Joseph's movement and finish provided the breakthrough in a competitive first half.
Doncaster had their moments before the opener. Home debutant Josh Clarke, in goal, denied Morgan Whittaker twice. Sean Grehan also fired a right-footed effort across goal for the hosts. Bayley McCann, son of Rovers boss Grant McCann, made his first start but shot wide from a promising position.
What impact did Will Lankshear make from the bench?
Will Lankshear entered the fray as a second-half substitute and needed just six minutes to make his mark. The striker scored with his right foot in the 78th minute, netting his fourth goal in four appearances this season. According to the BBC's match report, the goal was his fourth overall for the club since his arrival.
Lankshear is Middlesbrough's top scorer this season with two goals in two Championship appearances. His form provides a significant boost as the team prepares for their next league fixture against second-placed West Brom at home on 29 August. You can view the full schedule on our fixtures page.
Who else contributed to the victory?
Jeremy Sarmiento wrapped up the win with a late third goal, scoring three minutes from time. The assist came from another substitute, Ashley Phillips, who was making his debut following a £7m move from Tottenham Hotspur. Sarmiento now has two goals in two games, adding to his earlier assist for Joseph's opener.
Doncaster Rovers managed a consolation goal deep into stoppage time. Isaac Hutchinson scored his first for the club since moving from Bristol Rovers last month, finding the net in the second minute of added time. The result means Doncaster are still searching for their first win in 90 minutes this season after four matches.
Middlesbrough's defensive record in the Championship stands at three goals scored and three conceded after two games. They sit three points behind early leaders Millwall. The team's current squad depth, which you can explore on our squad page, was tested and proved effective in this cup tie.
The win sets up a third-round Carabao Cup tie and provides momentum ahead of a challenging Championship encounter with West Brom. Middlesbrough will look to build on a performance that saw several squad players and new signings deliver important contributions.
