PAUL Parry and Ross McCormack were given attacking responsibility for Cardiff City on their first ever visit to Doncaster Rovers' new Keepmoat Stadium.
Steve Thompson and Jay Bothroyd were on the bench as manager Dave Jones opted for pace to try and unsettle the home back four.
This is the first Coca-Cola Championship match at the Keepmoat - Doncaster were promoted via the play-offs - and a good atmosphere was building around the stadium.
McCormack was welcomed back as a former Doncaster player, having spent time with the Yorkshire club on loan from Rangers.
Glenn Loovens is set to sign for Celtic today - that transfer should be completed later - with Darren Purse taking over alongside Roger Johnson.
In midfield Riccy Scimeca played alongside Stephen McPhail with Gavin Rae injured.
Purse wore the captain's armband as he does whenever he is on the pitch.
Doncaster Rovers: Sullivan, O'Connor, Roberts, Hird, Mills, Stock (capt), Wellens, Coppinger, Hayter, Guy, Taylor. Subs: Spicer, Woods, Elliott, Lockwood, Chambers.
Cardiff City: Heaton; McNaughton, Johnson, Purse (capt), Kennedy; Whittingham, Scimeca, McPhail, Ledley; McCormack, Parry. Subs: Thompson, Bothroyd, Blake, Comminges, Enckelman (capt).

AFC Bournemouth 1, Cardiff City 2
CARDIFF City are through to the second round of the Carling Cup after a hard fought 2-1 victory against AFC Bournemouth at Dean Court.
Paul Parry scored twice in the opening 15 minutes as the Bluebirds controlled the tie with fluent passing football.
AFC Bournemouth then pulled one back after sloppy work in the City back four, Glenn Loovens giving away possession, and the fight was on.
For the opening 25 minutes City had looked comfortable winners and Bournemouth could not cope with their passing and movement.
But the Coca-Cola League Two side worked hard against what was arguably Cardiff's best team after Ross McCormack went on from the bench.
Bothroyd should have made it 3-1 when Roger Johnson's header from a corner brought a flying, one-handed save from home keeper Shwan Jalal. The ball fell for Bothroyd, who scooped his shot over an empty net from an angle.
City held on against steady Bournemouth pressure, mainly from long passes downfield, and claimed their place in the second round draw.
Kevin McNaughton was limping badly after a heavy tackle caught his right ankle,nbut that was Cardiff's only obvious injury problem.
See your full reports in the Western Mail and South Wales Echo tomorrow.

AFC Bournemouth 1, Cardiff City 2
CARDIFF City are through to the second round of the Carling Cup after a hard fought 2-1 victory against AFC Bournemouth at Dean Court.
Paul Parry scored twice in the opening 15 minutes as the Bluebirds controlled the tie with fluent passing football.
AFC Bournemouth then pulled one back after sloppy work in the City back four, Glenn Loovens giving away possession, and the fight was on.
For the opening 25 minutes City had looked comfortable winners and Bournemouth could not cope with their passing and movement.
But the Coca-Cola League Two side worked hard against what was arguably Cardiff's best team after Ross McCormack went on from the bench.
Bothroyd should have made it 3-1 when Roger Johnson's header from a corner brought a flying, one-handed save from home keeper Shwan Jalal. The ball fell for Bothroyd, who scooped his shot over an empty net from an angle.
City held on against steady Bournemouth pressure, mainly from long passes downfield, and claimed their place in the second round draw.
Kevin McNaughton was limping badly after a heavy tackle caught his right ankle,nbut that was Cardiff's only obvious injury problem.
See your full reports in the Western Mail and South Wales Echo tomorrow.

MORE than 500 Cardiff City fans were at Bournemouth for the Carling Cup tie - and all eyes were on the main grandstand to see whether Rangers manager Walter Smith had made the trip.
The Scottish Premier League club, armed with cash following the £7.8m sale of Carlos Cuellar to Aston Villa, are ready to offer £2.5m for Glenn Loovens.
As yet, though, no approach has been made to the Bluebirds.
Manager Dave Jones doesn't want to sell, but Loovens is refusing to sign a new contract and could walk away for nothing at the end of the season.
City, though, are not interested in either of Rangers strikers Kris Boyd or Dennis Cousin. It will have to be a straight cash deal to tempt City, who value Loovens at £3m-plus.
See your Western Mail on Tuesday for the full story of Rangers' bid to snatch the Dutch defender.

CARDIFF City surprisingly made only two changes for their Carling Cup tie at Bournemouth.
Jay Bothroyd and Paul Parry played, but manager Dave Jones resisted the temptation to reshuffle his team any further.
It had looked certain Darren Purse would start, but Jones stuck with Glenn Loovens, again the target for Rangers, and Roger Johnson.
The Bluebirds made a storming start and swept 2-0 ahead thanks to two goals from Paul Parry.
Cardiff City: Heaton, McNaughton, Loovens, Johnson, Kennedy, Whittingham, Rae, McPhail (capt), Ledley, Bothroyd, Parry. Subs: Enckelman (gk), Purse, Scimeca, McCormack, Thompson, Blake, Comminges.

Welsh football watch: 9/10 August

New Wolves striker Sam Vokes marked a memorable weekend coming off the bench to score a crucial equaliser on his debut for the Molineux club in their 2-2 draw at Plymouth Argyle.

The Welsh U-21 hotshot had only been on the pitch for 90 seconds and scored with just his second touch, rifling home from 15 yards out.

"It doesn't get much better than this on a personal note, Vokes admitted.

"On my debut, to come on and make an impact like that is really pleasing. I don't remember too much about the move. It just came to me and I tucked it away.

"But I just wanted to go on from the bench and do what I do. I'm buzzing with that."

Young James has baptism of fire on league debut against Bluebirds
Those keen Welsh football watchers at Ninian Park this weekend would have spotted a young Welshman occupying the right back berth for the Saints.

There is possibly no tougher way to make your debut than away against Cardiff City, in front of full house a Ninian Park in the driving rain.

However, 20-year-old Lloyd James showed why he has impressed in pre-season, with an assured showing keeping Cardiff's supply from the flanks to a minimum.

The youngster has converted from midfield to right-back under new Southampton boss Jan Poortvliet and gives Welsh bosses John Toshack and Brian Flynn more defensive options.

James says he is determined to make the grade in professional football.

"I've been waiting for a good four years now. If I get my chance, I hope I can take it and try and progress from there," said the former Wales Under-19 and Under-21 international, who was born in Bristol.

"I know more than most how much of a fight it is in football to get that start.

"It's a short career so, as soon as I get my break, I just need to show I'm good enough.

"You don't know how many chances you're going to get, so when you do get one you've got to take it with both hands and grab it by the neck."

Charlton count on Basey to give the Swans a nightmare opener
Just to underline the embarrasment of riches Brian Flynn possesses in his youtful defensive ranks, another Welsh defender made his mark on the weekend's action.

Sadly, for Swansea's Wales international fans the introduction of Charlton left-back Grant Basey as a substitute in their opening day clash with the Addicks left a bittersweet taste.

A superb free-kick by the youngster, who qualifies to play for Wales through his Cardiff-born grandmother, onto the head of Charlton striker Andy Gray in the 86th minute to condemned the Swans to a 2-0 defeat.

Earnie's a loner against Reading
Pint-size hitman Robert Earnshaw marked his league debut for new club Nottingham Forest by playing in an unfamiliar lone role up front against Reading.

The game saw few chances for either side and despite much industry and endeavour from the little fella, he couldn't open his Championship account.

Still, Wales fans will be opening the newly recalled to Wales squad striker can regain some of his old goal scoring form.

Premiership stars experience friendly fire
With the new Premiership season a week away both Ched Evans and Aaron Ramsey gained more game time in run outs for Manchester City and Arsenal - Evans in the Blues' 1-0 victory against AC Milan and Ramsey in the Gooners' 1-1 draw with Sevilla.

STEVE Thompson was given the chance to lead Cardiff City's attack in front of a home capacity attendance for the opening Coca-Cola Championship match of the season at Ninian Park today.
Thompson played alongside Ross McCormack, who was one of three new signings in the starting line-up.
Goalkeeper Tom Heaton and Mark Kennedy, at left-back, where the other two.
Jay Bothroyd and Miguel Comminges were among the substitutes.
Southampton's line-up included five players making their full League debut - and captain Michael Svensson was playing his first match in almost four years.
Swedish international Svensson has had five major knee operations in that time and starts the season on a pay-as-you-play contract.
The Saints, Dave Jones' former club, are expected to line-up with two midfield holding players in front of the back four, Adam Lallana in the hole and two wingers supporting a lone striker.
The inexperienced David McGoldrick was given the task of leading their attack with Lee Holmes and Jake Thompson in wide areas.
Welshman Lloyd James was at full-back for Southampton.
Cardiff City: Heaton, McNaughton, Rae, Loovens, Whittingham, McPhail (capt), Johnson, Ledley, Thompson, Kennedy, McCormack. Subs: Enckelman (gk), Purse, Bothroyd, Parry, Comminges.
Southampton: Davies, Perry, Svensson (capt), Surman, Holmes,McGoldrick, Lallana, Gillett, James, Thompson. Subs: Bialkowski (gk), Thomas, Wright-Phillips, Wotton, Dyer.
Referee: Scott Mathieson.

CARDIFF City unveiled a new trialist in tonight's pre-season match at Chasetown in Staffordshire.
Nigerian international Wilson Oruma, 31, played in central midfield for the Bluebirds.
Oruma, released by Olympique Marseille, has had one training session with Cardiff City was given clearance to play this afternoon.
He joined new signing Jay Bothroyd in the City starting line-up.
There was no place, though, for Darren Purse. That suggests Glenn Loovens couls still be feeling the muscle strain which forced him off against Ajax at half-time.
Loovens is not seriously hurt, but Purse has been held back to ensure City have solid cover available for Saturday's Coca-Cola Championship match against Southampton.
Cardiff City (at Chasetown): P Enckelman, D Blake, K Edwards, D Dennehy, A Morris, R Scimeca (capt), W Oruma, P Whittingham, P Parry, J Bothroyd, M Comminges. Subs: J Brown, A Matthews, J Bloom, Z Evans, J McGuiness, E Sak (gk), R Kelleher, A Wildig, D Hudson.

CARDIFF City players were at Ninian Park today for the pre-season team photograph.
There was no sign of Jay Bothroyd, who was taking his medical.
Mark Kennedy took time out for a chat with your South Wales Echo - see tomorrow's Echo for Sparky's views - along with Peter Whittingham and Joe Ledley.
After an hour taking team and individual photographs, manager Dave Jones and his coaching staff got down to their training session on the pitch.
See tomorrow's Echo for the City team photograph.
The Bluebirds are now only a few days for the start of their Championship campaign. What's your view on how they will fare?

JAY Bothroyd is in South Wales having his Cardiff City medical today.
He drove from the midlands last night and stayed in a hotel before starting the day-long tests earky this morning.
If all, as expected, goes well Bothroyd, 26, will complete a transfer worth up to £300,000 from Wolves.
The 6ft 3ins striker could then make his debut in Tuesday's pre-season match against Chasetown away. Their Scolars Road ground is around 20 miles from his Solihull home.
The arrival of Bothroyd gives Cardiff four strikers for the new season - and manager Dave Jones is still intent on bringing in another.
City have made an offer for another forward and negotiations continue.
There is, though, no chance of Michael Chopra joining the Bluebirds on loan. That rumours swept the area over the weekend, but Chopra is staying with Sunderland.
City open their Championship fixtures at home to Southampton on Saturday and Jones looks likely to start with Steve Thompson and Ross McCormack in attack.
They have established a partnership during pre-season, while Bothroyd have played only two games for Wolves - against Chasetown in a 4-1 win and a closed doors game at Bolton Wanderers.
Bothroyd will probably be among the substitutes against Southampton.
My prediction for City's team is: Tom Heaton; Kevin McNaughton, Roger Johnson, Glenn Loovens, Mark Kennedy; Peter Whittingham, Gavin Rae, Stephen McPhail, Joe Ledley; Steve Thompson, Ross McCormack. Subs: Peter Enckelman (gk), Darren Purse, Miguel Comminges, Paul Parry, Jay Bothroyd.