WE'RE UP FOR CUP DEFENCE

"There is still a long way to go but hopefully we can go all the way again, especially with the final being at Wembley this season, said manager Sean O'Driscoll.

"I know what winning the trophy meant to everyone last season. It has gone down in Doncaster's history and everyone connected with the club will always treasure those memories.

"We've got a quick turnaround with a game at Northampton on Friday night so I was pleased to get the job well done.

"The game was virtually over at half-time with us leading 3-0 so I got the chance to bring three subs on fairly early to give them a game. I rested some of the players who platyed at Swansea on Saturday and played some of the people who haven't been getting a start so all the squad, apart from the injured players, have all had a game in the last few days.

"It was a good performance. We looked sharp at the start and we kept the momentum and focus going. We are always going to create chances and when you score goals when you are applying pressure then confidence flows and everything becomes very easy.

"To play with four up front is a brave way of playing. There will be times when we get caught on the break, but when we get it right we look a very good side."

Despite Rovers five-goal tally, striker Paul Heffernan - the competition's top marksman last season with nine - wasn't among the scorers.

"Paul is probably beating himself up again because he didn't score," said O'Driscoll. "But he put in a shift and I thought that he was bright tonight and worked hard for the team.

"I think that he was involved in every goal as well as hitting the woodwork twice. You know that he is going to score goals if he keeps that workrate up."

It was Heffernan's pass whch led directly to Rovers second goal scored by Lewis Guy.

"Lewis is one of the best finishers that we have got and he is bright and enthusiastic," said the Rovers boss. Sometimes he lets his head go down and reacts to negative comments from the crowd.

"But he has got a lot of ability and it is nice to see him score goals and on his day he is a threat at any level."

Former Welsh international defender Steve Roberts, who suffered a fractured cheekbone in the club's opening pre-season friendly at Retford, made a pleasing return to action. "Steve was one of the players who needed a competitive game," said O'Driscoll. " You can train all you want but you can't beat playing. I thought that he was excellent."

Paul Green and Sean McDaid also caught O'Driscoll's eye.

"It is fair to say that both players are knocking on the door and that is what you want and that is what you want to be honest because you know that sooner or later you are going to need people," he said.

City boss Stuart McCall had no complaints about the result.

"We couldn't handle the movement of their front three," he said.

Rovers will again be wiithout James Coppinger against the Cobblers at Sixfields on Friday.

A scan has revealed that Coppinger tore an ankle ligament in the recent game against Bournemouth and will be out for two to three weeks.

"I think that physio John Dickens feared the worst after James suffered some reaction last week so I think he will be pleased that it is just a straightforward injury," said O'Driscoll.