Having taken the scalps of two Premiership clubs last season in the League Cup and taking Arsenal to penalties in the quarter finals it was never going to be an easy game.
Gareth Southgate's mix of youth and experience was not good enough on the night, but let's remember this is still pre-season, there will be lessons to learn from games like this.
With the season just three weeks away the Boro boss has another go this afternoon, with a different squad, at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday.
Boro XI (v Doncaster):
Knight, Davies (Hines), Pogatetz, Rochemback, Grounds (Walker), Wheater, Liddle, Kennedy, Graham, Maccarone, Morrison (Craddock)
Boro squad (v Sheff Wed):
Turnbull, Jones, Parnaby, Ehiogu, Bates, Arca, Craddock, Hines, Walker, Parlour, Boateng, Cattermole, Taylor, Christie, Yakubu