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Nunez double secures Leeds progress

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Leeds progressed to the third round of the Carling Cup, coming from behind to beat Doncaster Rovers 2-1 thanks to two goals from Ramon Nunez.

United boss Simon Grayson made six changes from the side that drew at West Ham at the weekend.

Paul Rachubka made his first competitive appearance in a Leeds shirt and there were returns to the side for Paul Connolly, Andy O`Brien, Lloyd Sam and Ramon Nunez.

There was also a first start for youngster Zac Thompson

There was a number of ex Leeds United players in the Rovers side with Richard Naylor, John Oster and Sam Hird starting and Neil Sullivan and James Baxendale on the bench.

Ramon Nunez had the first sight of goal for Leeds but his shot went well wide.

Doncaster opened the scoring with their first attack in the third minute when Hayter got the final touch to score.

The goal gave Doncaster confidence and Bennett, Barnes and Naylor all had further chances for the home side.

Aidy White went in the referee`s notebook in the opening ten minutes after bringing down Mustapha Dumbuya.

Bennett then tested Paul Rachubka in the Leeds goal as the home side were well in control of the game.

From the resulting corner, Simon Gillett tested Rachubka who once again put the ball out for a corner.

Bennett then should have doubled the lead for Doncaster when he was one on one with Rachubka but his shot came back off the post and into the arms of the Leeds keeper.

Leeds had seen very little of the Doncaster goal and Aidy White`s long-range effort went well wide as we reached the half way mark of the first half.

Jonny Howson had Leeds clearest chance of the opening half hour when his shot took a deflection and landed on the roof of the net.

Leeds equalised when Ramon Nunez fired home from 20 yards just past the half hour.

Ross McCormack had Leeds last effort of the half when he shot just wide of the post.

Leeds would have been relieved to go in at half time all square after being under a lot of pressure for the opening twenty-five minutes.

Doncaster started the second half on the front foot and Rachubka once again had to be on his toes to deny Bennett.

Bennett then shot over after a good run from the Doncaster winger.

Leeds had to wait until the tenth minute of the second half before Andy Keogh shot wide.

McCormack then fired wide as Leeds started to come into the game.

Leeds were forced into their first change of the night on the hour when Charlie Taylor replaced Aidy White who looked to be struggling.

Keogh then fired well wide after being set up by Nunez.

Grayson then made his second substitution of the night when he brought on Max Gradel for McCormack.

Gradel had an early chance to give Leeds the lead but he shot over after getting behind the Doncaster defence.

Grayson made his last change of the night with fifteen minutes remaining in place of Andy O`Brien.

Leeds took the lead when Nunez scored his second of the evening with just eight minutes remaining when he volleyed home from the edge of the area.

Doncaster almost drew level when Bennett saw his shot hit the outside of the post.

Gradel could have wrapped the game up in injury time when he twice had the chance to score but couldn`t beat Woods in the Doncaster goal.

The misses were not to prove costly as the referee blew his whistle for full time soon afterwards.

Teams
Doncaster Rovers
Woods, Dumbuya, Friend, Naylor (O`Connor 65), Hird, Spurr, Gillett (Stock 85), Oster, Barnes (Wilson 69), Bennett, Hayter,

Subs not used
Sullivan, Martis, Radford, Baxendale

Leeds United
Rachubka, Connolly, O` Brien (Kisnorbo 76), O`Dea, White (Taylor 60), Howson, Thompson, Sam, Nunez, McCormack (Gradel 64), Keogh

Subs not used
Lonergan, Clayton, Snodgrass, N. Turner,



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