The Black Cats fell a goal down when Reo Griffiths opened the scoring with a low shot in the 22nd minute.
Doncaster then doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time after Sunderland failed to clear a corner and Tommy Rowe fired home a second.
Sunderland did create better chances after the break, and brought on Jermain Defoe with just under 20 minutes to go.
Corry Evans pulled a late goal back but it was too little too late.
Our chief SAFC writer Phil Smith has delivered his verdict on how each Sunderland player fared:
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1. Thorben Hoffmann - 4
Looked as if he could have done better with the opening goal, getting a palm to Griffiths’ effort but finding himself unable to claw it clear. 4 Photo: JPI Media
2. Carl Winchester - 4
Struggled throughout but was handed an unexpected brief, asked to play on the right of a back three surely for the first and only time. 4 Photo: JPI Media
3. Danny Batth - 4
Won his fair share of headers and stepped in to intercept well at times, but part of a defence that was far too easily exposed on the counter through the first half. 4 Photo: SAFC
4. Callum Doyle - 4
Movement in front of him was very poor, but guilty of taking too long in possession too often. Pitch is clearly part of that. 4 Photo: Frank Reid