Barnsley’s miserable EFL Trophy campaign ended with a 3-1 home defeat to near neighbours Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday,

The Reds were already out of the trophy, having lost their first two group stage games.

They fell behind on the stroke of half-time then League Two Doncaster added another midway through the second half. The hosts pulled one back through Conor McCarthy but conceded again.

Darrell Clarke made 11 changes from the side that won in the league on Saturday at Shrewsbury. Bayley McCann made his first senior start, against the side managed by his dad Grant while goalkeeper Kieren Flavell made his debut for his hometown club Barnsley.

Captain McCarthy was the only natural centre-back in the 11 but formed a back three with midfielder Jonathan Bland and left-back McCann.

Donny dominated early on and almost took the lead in the third minute when, after a decent move, Joe Ironside blasted wide of the right post from 12 yards out.

Ironside then played Joe Sbarra clean through on goal but Flavell made a fine one-on-one save before Jordan Gibson’s effort was cleared off the line by McCann. Tom Anderson headed wide from the resulting corner.

Flavell then sprang to his left to save an Ironside volley from a left-wing cross before, at the other end, Aiden Marsh shot well over attempting a specular long-range volley.

Marsh was played through by Vimal Yoganathan but his shot just inside the box was saved by the legs of goalkeeper Ian Lawlor.

But, after Barnsley had a good spell, Doncaster finished the half well and scored seconds before the break. After playing a free-kick down the left wing, a cross was headed into the top left corner by Joe Ironside.

Barnsley changed to 4-3-3 at the break with Kyran Lofthouse moving onto the left of a front three alongside Marsh and Fabio Jalo.

Yoganathan shot wide of the bottom left corner from outside the box after turning on a pass by Kelechi Nwakali. Jalo then curled wide from slightly closer in after good work by Yoganathan.

Donny doubled their lead when Brandon Fleming’s clever pass released Kyle Hurst on the left of the box and he pulled the ball back for his fellow substitute Harry Clifton to find the bottom right corner.

The Reds replied when a Nwakali cross from the left was headed by Marsh and it appeared to bounce in off Conor McCarthy.

It was 3-1 soon after when Ironside headed down a cross into the box and Luke Molyneux flicked it to Hurst who found the top right corner from ten yards.

Hurst nearly added another with a shot on the right of the box but Flavell sprang to his left to make a good save.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Flavell; Bland (Dyer 79mins), McCarthy, McCann, Cotter, Yoganathan (West 70), Nwakali, Benson (Barratt 60), Lofthouse; Jalo, Marsh.

Unused:, Kozluk, Nejman, Wilson, Makiessi.

Yellow cards: Bland.

Goals: McCarthy 78.

Doncaster (3-4-3): Lawlor; Emannuel, Senior (Bailey 59), Anderson; Nixon (Yeboah 70mins), Kelly, Close (Molyneux 79), Fleming; Gibson (Hurst 70), Ironside, Sbarra (Clifton 70). Unused: Sharman-Lowe, Sharp. Yellow cards: Fleming. Goals: Ironside 45+1, Clifton 71, Hurst 83.

Attendance: 1,813 (773 away).

Referee: Elliot Bell.