QPR 2 Doncaster Rovers 1: We were awful, admits O'Driscoll

MANAGER Sean O'Driscoll was left frustrated after seeing his Doncaster Rovers side hand troubled QPR their first win of 2010.

The home side began life after Flavio Briatore with a rare win after goals from Antonio German and Jay Simpson sank Doncaster.

Mick Harford's side ended a run of five straight defeats after controversial Italian Briatore announced his resignation as chairman on Friday night

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For a club who, under Briatore, signed 47 players in less than two-and-a-half years, it was heartening to see local lad German given his full debut in attack.

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And the 18-year-old grabbed his chance with both hands with his first professional goal.

Rangers' familiar jitters kicked in after the break and Doncaster levelled through James Hayter before Simpson popped up to tuck away the winner.

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O'Driscoll, often quick to praise his players, even in defeat, was not so accommodating after their latest efforts.

"We were awful, we never got going," said O'Driscoll.

"Our two centre-halves played like it was only their second game together – which it was.

"But you have to give some credit to QPR, and the young boy was excellent."

Whether the result proves enough to keep Harford in a job remains to be seen, with Crystal Palace's Neil Warnock rumoured to be close to becoming the next manager.

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When these teams last met in November, Rangers were fourth and Rovers 19th. Yet so spectacular has been Rangers' decline that they kicked off two points off the drop zone.

The Londoners went ahead in the 24th minute. Akos Buzsaky crossed from the left, Simpson's close-range effort was superbly saved by Neil Sullivan but German followed up to fire home.

Rovers also had their chances in the first half, with Brian Stock having a shot deflected wide and Billy Sharp firing over.

And Stock squandered their best opportunity when he skied over from eight yards from John Oster's clever cut-back.

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Six minutes into the second half Rovers were level, Sharp wriggling free down the right and crossing for Hayter to lash the ball home.

But Rangers secured their first win of 2010 in style with 14 minutes remaining, when Simpson controlled Buzsaky's chip and stroked the ball past Sullivan.

QPR: Ikeme, Ramage (Taarabt 77), Stewart, Gorkss, Connolly (Borrowdale 85), Cook, Buzsaky, Faurlin, Hill, Simpson, German (Vine 90). Unused substitutes: Cerny, Quashie, Balanta, Oastler.

Doncaster Rovers: Sullivan, O'Connor, Hird, Ward, Chambers, Oster, Wilson (Roberts 83), Stock (Mutch 86), Coppinger (Shiels 83), Hayter, Sharp. Unused substitutes: Smith, Guy, Spicer, Dumbuya.

Referee: D Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

Rovers man-of-the-match: Neil Sullivan.

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