chance of causing a Coca-Cola Cup secoud round upset with a crucial away goal after Middlesborough had built a 2-0 first-leg lead last night.

Goater ended a three-game goalless streak with his eighth goal of the season in the 45th minute at Middlesborough's new 16 million, 30,000 all-seater Riverside Stadium.

However, Rotherham lost the Coca Cola Cup second round, first-leg, match to the Premier League team 2-1 as Goater's 45th minute goal cut the Middlesborough lead after they had scored in the 20th and 43rd minutes. The comforting news for Rotherham, though, is the fact that the return leg will be at their home ground on October 4.

In the first round of this competition Rotherham faced sure elimination after losing the first leg 4-1 away to Scunthorpe before winning 5-0 at home in the second match as Goater scored twice.