Promotion is our ambition

But O'Driscoll was quick to put a dampener on hopes of a repeat of the run to the quarter-final of two seasons ago and again made it clear that going up to the Championship was the club's ambition this season.

O'Driscoll, who had hinted at making changes, sprung something of a surprise when he named the same starting line-up and substitutes on duty in Saturday's goalless opener against Millwall at the Keepmoat Stadium.

He said: "If we had beaten Millwall by three or four goals, as we could have done, then I probably would have changed things. But I thought that that team needed to experience a win.They played well on Saturday and I wanted them to carry it on, which they did."

The new striking partnership of record signing James Hayter and last season's top scorer Paul Heffernan, shared two of the four goals, which pleased the Doncaster boss.

O'Driscoll said: "I was particularly pleased that Paul Heffernan got a goal because he is a proven goal-scorer. He could have had four goals on Saturday and he had two or three chances tonight before he scored tonight with one of the softest goals that you can imagine."

O'Driscoll was also impressesed with the contributions of substitutes Lewis Guy and Mark McCammon..

"Lewis has probably been as good as we have seen him in pre-season so he is disappointed not to play and the way that he is playing is going to make it more and more difficult for me to leave him out.

"Mark is still short of match fitness after being out with a dislocated shoulder, but he gives us something different when we need him.

"Everyone works together on the training pitch and it is like a seamless transition when we make changes. They all want to do well and their attitude has been first class."

O'Driscoll said that he was pleased with how his new-look midfield had settled in.

He said: "Mark Wilson and Ritchie Wellens played together at Manchester United and they have got a good understanding. They complement each other. Mark is a workhorse and that allows Ritchie, who also works hard, the chance to express himself."

The only disappointing note on the night as far for O'Driscoll was that the Imps grabbed a late consolation.

He said: "We got a bit sloppy at times in the second half and it got a bit like an exhibition game. It was a bit too easy and sometimes when that happens players forget the basics, so I was disappointed that we did that as was Neil Sullivan because keepers pride themselves on clean sheets.”

n Manager Sammy McIlroy hailed Morecambe’s thrilling 2-1 Carling Cup victory over Preston as another historic occasion for the club and has already set his sights on creating another piece of local folklore.

Promoted to the Football League for the first time in their 87-year history this summer, the Shrimps were playing their first-ever League Cup tie and their first competitive game against their more illustrious Lancashire neighbours.

Ex-Rotherham United defender David Artell’s 84th-minute winner made it a night to rival their Wembley play-off final victory over Exeter, yet McIlroy would swap it for a first-ever Football League win away to Wrexham on Saturday.

He said: “It’s another proud moment for Morecambe. To a man, we were absolutely brilliant. But I’d rather have three points on Saturday.”

n Match verdict: P38,39