Paul Jewell’s new-look Derby County side suffered opening day disappointment in the Championship as they slipped to a 1-0 home defeat by Doncaster Rovers in front of a full house at Pride Park Stadium.
Derby went close to scoring in the first half but their performance deteriorated as the game unfolded and Doncaster, playing their first game at this level in 50 years, left with the three points thanks to a second-half strike from Lewis Guy.
There were some boos from Derby fans on the final whistle and the Rams’ run without a league victory now stands at 33, a sequence stretching back to September.
Jewell is still waiting for his first league win since taking charge at the end of November, a run of 25 matches.
He handed full debuts to seven of his 13 summer signings.
Nathan Ellington and Rob Hulse formed the attack and there was a new four-man midfield of ex-Doncaster player Paul Green and Polish international Przemyslaw Kazmierczak flanked by Andrejs Pereplotkins and Kris Commons.
Martin Albrechtsen partnered skipper Alan Stubbs in the centre of defence while newcomers Paul Connolly and Stephen Davies were on the substitute bench, as was last season’s captain, Robbie Savage.
Doncaster played the more constructive football in a goalless first half but Derby came closest to a goal.
Commons twice tested Neil Sullivan from distance, the second of his efforts forcing the goalkeeper to palm the ball over.
Albrechtsen headed wide from a Commons free kick and Hulse could not take advantage of two good opportunities.
The striker turned Tyrone Mears’ low cross onto a post with Sullivan beaten and then lifted an acrobatic volley narrowly over.
But Doncaster were a threat and Gareth Taylor saw a header loop over and another bring a good one-handed save from Roy Carroll.
Jewell introduced Savage for Kazmierczak and Connolly came on for his debut, replacing the injured Stubbs but the visitors went ahead after 59 minutes.
A quickly-taken free kick was helped on by James Hayter for Guy to sneak in behind the Rams defence and sweep the ball low across Carroll.
Guy was denied a second by Carroll’s fine save three minutes later.
Derby huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser but never seriosuly threatened to level matters, leaving the 3,000 Doncaster fans to celebrate.
DERBY COUNTY: Carroll; Mears, Albrechtsen, Stubbs (Connolly, 56), McEveley; Pereplotkins (Davies, 64), Kazmierczak (Savage, 53), Green, Commons; Hulse, Ellington. Other subs: Villa, Bywater (gk).
DONCASTER ROVERS: Sullivan; O’Connor, Mills, Hird, Roberts; Coppinger (van Neiuwstadt, 88), Stock, Wellens; Guy (Chambers, 73), Taylor, Hayter (Woods, 84). Other subs: Spicer, Elliott.
REFEREE: A P D’Urso (Essex).
ATTENDANCE: 33,010 (away fans 3,136).