QPR v Doncaster Rovers: O'Connor pledges future to Rovers as Rangers loom

JAMES O'Connor has committed his future to Doncaster Rovers for the next three years.

The former Aston Villa and Bournemouth defender became the latest Rovers player to sign a new deal yesterday.

Manager Sean O'Driscoll had already persuaded winger James Coppinger and midfielder Martin Woods to put pen to paper in the last few weeks.

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O'Connor, 25, had played previously under O'Driscoll at Bournemouth but was Dave Penney's signing for Rovers four years ago. He was voted Player of the Year by the club's supporters last season after consistent performances at right-back or the centre of the defence.

Rovers visit Championship leaders Queens Park Rangers this afternoon and O'Driscoll is full of admiration for the Londoners after making a personal check on their form last weekend.

"With us playing against Leeds United on Friday, I went to watch QPR against Leicester and I could see why they are unbeaten in seven games," he said.

"You don't even have to be a football connoisseur to look at them and think 'hang on'.

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"They are well organised and Neil Warnock has some good professionals in his team. He's kept what he thinks was good about the place and he is a manager who knows what it takes to get out of the Championship. You wouldn't bet against them."

Rovers have yet to win at Loftus Road since winning promotion to the Championship three seasons ago but O'Driscoll says his team's first priority is avoiding defeat.

"If we got the win, I would be delighted because we would be the first team to beat them," he said. "They have only conceded two goals so, first and foremost, you need to make sure that you don't get beat before dreaming about whether we can win.

"As we've said to the players, the same things you need to do to stay undefeated are the same things you need to do to win."

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Former Sheffield United and Leeds United midfielder Shaun Derry has been one of Neil Warnock's most influential signings for Rangers this season and is fully aware of Rovers' pedigree.

Derry said: "Sean O'Driscoll has stamped his authority on the situation. Make no mistake, they are 100 per cent a proper footballing outfit.

"This will be a huge ask for us against one of the best footballing sides in the division."