Cherries made one change from the side that beat Luton Town convincingly at the weekend. Warren Cummings passed a late fitness test on his injured shin, but Danny Hollands was a late exclusion from the side despite being named on the team sheet.

Cherries: Stewart, Pearce, Cummings, Perrett, Gowling, Cooper, Bartley, Gradel, Bradbury (Tessem 80), Vokes, Kuffour (Pitman 84).
Subs: Pryce, Partington, McQuoid.

Doncaster: Sullivan, O'Connor, G Roberts, S Roberts, Stock (Wilson 79), McCammon (Guy 73), Green, Price (Heffernan 84), Coppinger, Mills, Wellens.
Subs: Lockwood, McDaid.

Doncaster were straight out the blocks and took the lead within sixty seconds. A cross hung up from the right hand side was won by Price in the air and his looped header got the better of Stewart before landing the wrong side of his goal line.

Cherries responded with a counter attack eight minutes later involving Gradel and Cummings moving the ball quickly down the left. Cummings picked out Cooper with a superb pass and Kuffour flashed a shot wide to finish the move.

Doncaster were holding much of the possession and were patient in attacking while holding the one goal lead. A couple of slick passes on eighteen minutes gave Brian Stock some space in the penalty area, but he dragged the shot beyond the far post.

Shaun Cooper was booked for a challenge in the middle of the park and it could have been worse had James Coppinger's attempts to provoke further reaction taken fruition.

The game was devoid of chances although the visiting side were having a greater say in the proceedings on the pitch. Cherries were relying on quick breaks with the likes of Gradel, Cummings and Bartley covering a lot of ground.

On thirty-six minutes Bartley battled through a crowd of players in the penalty area. He went to ground although referee Andy D'Urso was well placed to immediately wave away penalty claims.

A foul from the home side two minutes later sparked off a melee amongst the players. Once again D'Urso was well positioned and quick to react. Upon consultation with the linesman he booked Jason Price and Mark McCammon from Doncaster. The visiting side were joined by Cooper in the melee and he was shown a second yellow card and was promptly sent off.

Half time: AFC Bournemouth 0-1 Doncaster Rovers

The second half started in a scrappy fashion and Cherries had to play a more direct game being a man down on Doncaster. Max Gradel and Warren Cummings both delivered dangerous looking crosses, but James O'Connor was dominant in the air in the Donny defence.

Doncaster continued to play good football without testing Cherries keeper Gareth Stewart. A couple of half chances from distance fell safely into the North Stand.

The first opening Doncaster created in the second half set sent Mark McCammon through on goal, but a brave challenge from Gareth Stewart kept Cherries in touching distance of an equaliser.

That equaliser nearly came about on sixty-nine minutes when a free kick from Cummings was headed into the arms of Sullivan by Kuffour. It was all in vain however as Donny were straight up the other end and Jason Price provided a neat finish to double their lead.

Kuffour was denied by Sullivan again on seventy-six minutes. Vokes knocked the ball down and Sullivan gathered Kuffour's shot on the turn. Next it was the turn of Sam Vokes who saw off challenges from three Doncaster defenders before firing just wide.

Jason Price was close to making it three nine minutes before the end. His jinking run gave him a shooting position and Perrett made a good block. Coppinger was given a chance with a free kick in injury time with Stock off the field. His effort directed round the wall and over the bar.

Final Score: AFC Bournemouth 0-2 Doncaster Rovers