Doncaster 1 Nottm Forest 2: Rovers undone by Jamie Ward's clinical late goal

Back in August 1997 at Rovers’ old Belle Vue home at the start of a desperate and dishevelled season for the hosts, Forest ran riot in an 8-0 first-leg demolition.

Nineteen years on, the visitors were handed, belatedly at least, a bumpy evening by a spirited Rovers side who emerged with honour intact despite a cruel twist at the finish.

After a stirring final hour, which saw substitute Liam Mandeville’s close-range 69th-minute strike cancel out David Vaughan’s sweet early opener, Rovers were on the threshold of taking their visitors into extra time – but Jamie Ward had other ideas.

Rovers momentarily switched off as Forest countered on the break with Jamie Paterson slipping in Ward, who clinically fired home a low angled shot in the first minute of stoppage-time.

The goal was not without controversy, with Rovers denied a free-kick at the other end when Tommy Rowe went down ahead of Ward’s strike.

It was a bitter development for Rovers and a lesson learned, but their forceful and intense second-half performance at least gave manager Darren Ferguson something tangible to build upon ahead of the priority business of League Two, with back-to-back home matches against Crawley and Cambridge United.

The likes of Joe Wright, making his full debut, Matty Blair and John Marquis provided ticks in boxes for Ferguson, with the intense collective efforts of the second half making for a rousing cup tie after a low-key first half.

Rovers are out, but exited in the right manner and at least had the consolation of handing a strong Forest side a scare, even if they could not emulate their feats against another famous name in Leeds United at the same stage of the competition 12 months ago.

In recent years, the opening round of the League Cup, in its various guises, has shown its capacity for the unexpected.

However, the quality of Forest, able to make nine changes to their starting line-up from the weekend but not at the expense of their overall strength, was self-evident and it was one of those experienced heads brought into the side in Vaughan who fired them in front.

The pre-match message from Ferguson to his side was to sharpen up their concentration after conceding from Accrington’s first attack on Saturday.

Unfortunately, there was an unwanted sense of deja-vu with Forest netting following their first foray, although the strike owed everything to Vaughan’s technical prowess rather than Rovers’ defensive deficiencies.

Ward’s free-kick was half-cleared and Vaughan, lurking just outside the 18-yard box, unleashed the sweetest of half-volleys which whistled past Marko Marosi, making just his second Keepmoat start and first since May 2015.

It was the prelude to Forest assuming control, with Vaughan at the hub of operations, although their territorial dominance was not transformed into copious chances, with Rovers protecting Marosi adequately.

Despite sparse offerings going forward, Rovers persisted and after Marosi grasped Apostolos Velios’s low strike just past the half-hour, they pieced together their most expansive move of the half by a distance.

A perceptive pass from loanee Jordan Houghton found Andy Williams on the left and his low cross found Marquis, who fired over.

It was largely a half in which Forest enjoyed a semblance of comfort, although Rovers were at least entitled to feel that they still had a modicum of hope due to the scoreline.

Forest’s inability to carve out chances to kill off Rovers continued on the restart and aside from a couple of dangerous headers from ex-Rovers defender Matt Mills and Velios, the hosts were not overly alarmed.

Rovers started to impose themselves offensively, and Stephen Henderson spilled a free-kick from Tyler Garratt, with Andy Williams going close to steering the ball home, only for the defence to clear.

It was the prelude to a stirring final half hour from Rovers, with Henderson performing rather better to turn away a goalbound effort from Marquis with a fine one-saved parry, but the respite was short.

Rowe’s corner was not dealt with, Niall Mason diverted the ball towards goal and Mandeville bundled it over from close range.

A serene evening had suddenly got somewhat sticky for Forest, only for Ward to secure their passage at the climax.

Doncaster Rovers: Marosi; Wright, Butler (Calder 45), Mason; Blair, Middleton (Mandeville 63), Houghton, Rowe, Garratt; Williams, Marquis. Unused substitutes: Etheridge, Lund, Evina, Coppinger, Beestin.

Nottingham Forest: Henderson; Lichaj, Mills, Perquis, Traore; Vaughan; Burke (Osborn 75), Paterson, Cohen (Kasami 67), Ward (Vledwijk 90); Vellios. Unused substitutes: Mancienne, Lansbury, Iacovitti, Smith.

Referee: D Handley (Lancashire).