Pre match comments come back to haunt Rob Edwards after Doncaster thrash Middlesbrough in the First Round of the Carabao Cup.
He said to the media leading up to the game that he’d make changes, challenged those coming into the side to stake their claim.
Edwards said: “One small step at a time, but of course we want to try and create memories here. We’ll take it one baby step at a time. Especially this cup. We have a big history in this competition so I know what it means to supporters.
“We value every competition and we want to build momentum. That was the final message to the players today as we walked off the grass. We want to win every game we go into and this competition is no different.”
He didn’t underestimate their League One opponents however, Edwards praised Grant, warned his side that Doncaster were a really aggressive pressing team man for man and looking to play forward early, to get the ball wide and get numbers in the box and were expecting a really tough game.”
This ended up being a game to forget however for Boro, an unwanted memory having been dumped out of the First Round for the first time in the competition in three years. Tuesday night. A comfortable performance for Doncaster, coming away with a 4-0 victory at the Riverside Stadium. Fans walked out of the game early.
😬 https://t.co/gdcOXdxMgo pic.twitter.com/PV0iEPxvdP
— The #EFL Zone (@TheFLZone) August 12, 2025
Goals from Ben Close, Damola Ajayi, Robbie Gotts, and Tom Nixon secured a huge victory, marking Middlesbrough’s first loss under new head coach Rob Edwards.
He played six players from the opening day win over Swansea, while Doncaster, who have two wins from two in League One, changed their entire starting lineup, and dominated with confidence.
Middlesbrough: Glover, Ayling (Forss 78′), Jones, Neto Borges, Brittain, Kanté (Morris 61′), McCabe (Hamilton 78′), McCormick (Fry 60′), Whittaker, Burgzorg, Conway (Hackney 61′)
Subs: Barlaser, Fry, Hackney, Gilbert, Hamilton, Morris, Forss, Brynn, Finch
Doncaster: Lawlor, Nixon, Grehan, McGrath (O’Riordan 78′), Senior, Gotts, Close, Ajayi (Molyneux 65′), Sbarra (Bailey 65′), Gibson (Middleton 65′), Sharp (Ironside 70′)
Subs: Maxwell, Bailey, Molyneux, O’Riordan, Middleton, Crew, Ironside, Westbrooke, Lo-Tutala
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Boro boss Rob Edwards said, per Teeside Live: “I’ve spoken to the lads, they know exactly how I feel. The first thing I want to start with is acknowledging our supporters, how they were with us tonight. We didn’t hold our end of the bargain up.
“I think we had a 15 minute period in the first half when we lost our way with the ball and gave it to them too much. Then our pressing was non-existent. All of a sudden they found themselves two goals to the good. We had to make some adjustments obviously, half an hour, 35 minutes in, then it looked like we were going to get back into it and found a way through quite a lot of times but our final third stuff wasn’t good enough.
“I think if we’d have been there for another half an hour tonight we wouldn’t have scored a goal. We had so many opportunities to pull the trigger and shoot and didn’t. We were building a head of steam in the second half at 2-0, obviously had a big opportunity with the one v one and the keeper made a good save.
“The third goal I have to look at it back, it looked soft. By then, what was disappointing it looked like some heads dropped and that can’t happen.”
“I learned a lot. I think what we need to show is the one side to us, the side that we saw on Saturday. We saw a different side to us tonight. I learned a lot tonight and that’s not acceptable.
“They know how we feel. They, Doncaster, have come here and played extremely well but made loads of changes, a whole team of changes and deservedly won the game. That’s not acceptable. We know we need to do more. The guys all know that. Tonight doesn’t change that. It maybe highlights one or two bits but it doesn’t change that.
“I’d really just want to say thank you to everyone who came out, and thanks to them for sticking with us. We’ll work extremely hard now to turn things around quickly.
“They’re important to me and win, lose or draw, I’ll always go around and show my appreciation. Tonight we wanted to build more momentum and that was my message to the boys before the game. So that’s a backwards step tonight. We have to hold our hands up, we have to take our medicine, and we have to work hard to be better.
“I know there will be a big following coming down to Millwall with us on Saturday, and we’ve just spoken to the boys about that in there. We’ve got to make sure we’re making them proud. Certainly tonight we didn’t. That was the opposite.”
Doncaster’s Grant McCann said, per Doncaster Free Press: “It was top class from start to finish. We showed our energy, bite and quality. I thought the first 25 or 30 minutes first half was one of the best performances since I’ve been back at the club in terms of how we controlled the game.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the boys and we don’t have a second team. We’ve got 23, 24 first team players who are all capable of playing in our team and we certainly showed that tonight. The first two goals were excellent. Yes, they were deflections, but the build-up was great for them.
Here’s how fans reacted as pre match comments come back to haunt Rob Edwards after Doncaster thrash Middlesbrough in the cup…
@AshleyBrowne: This aged well 🤣
@SSE_LTFC: How are you enjoying prime Edwards ball guys?
@Dabs06721990971: Sell the club Gibson – we’ve had enough of you running the club like a corner shop
@AnthonyDurance: We are use to having our weekend ruined, not our midweek too 😆😆😆
@Kevscott1982:
Tavernier
Spence
Akpom
Rogers
Latte Lath
Jones
Coburn
Where’s the money gone?? How have we got this poor? This squad is League 1 standard. How’s this happened? Why do we have to sell more ‘Crown Jewels’ in VDB & Hackney in order to buy? Is anyone questioning the ownership?
@MattyRobsonTV: I hope Steve Gibson takes note of this. If this isn’t a wake up call, I don’t know what is. Absolutely embarrassing all round. Some more signings are an absolute must now, otherwise, I think things could go downhill very quickly. Anyways, roll on Millwall (A) on Saturday 🫣 #UTB
@Dann23MFC: Class that, but atleast Gibson’s got some nice marble flooring in his stately home
@Jonisim: Most embarrassed I’ve ever been at the Riverside that, worse than Stoke last season. Attendance was embarrassing and that’s even before getting walloped by Doncasters second team. Absolutely miles off it. Needs to be a big wake up call to all involved at the club.
@Mydilsian1: First off congrats to Doncaster but for Boro that was embarrassing not many positives to take from that but have to say Hamilton looked decent, really fought till the end
@swkent26: It’s almost like hiring someone coming off back to back relegations was going to be a bad idea 🫠
@_TY_97: The team lacks any pace again, lacks an attacker who can hold the ball up. We have traded creativity for solidity in a 3 back but if we aren’t solid defensively we will struggle as we barely create. That was humbling and we need to spend the Rav money on a striker and pace
@masonbarker0: What the actual fuck was that. One of worst performances in years that front three is fucking awful Conway whittaker and burgzorg never good enough
Awful.
For the majority of the game the midfield was completely bypassed. Wingbacks ineffective given the reliance on them.
Toothless up top with the front 3.
Without the reliance on a solid defence and possibly a set piece, that was a damning reality check right there.
😬 https://t.co/JtuSGRUHXc pic.twitter.com/H3tIaRqPGw
— Matt (@mar_utb14) August 12, 2025
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