Source: Team_Talk
Boss braced for even tougher test
Rovers' claimed a respectable 14th-placed finish in their first campaign back in England's second tier and O'Driscoll believes his side will be even better equipped next time around.
He told Doncaster Free Press: "Newcastle have such a pedigree and have played at the highest level for so long that even some of the so called bigger clubs in the Championship will be looking for their name first when the fixture list comes out.
"If I'm honest I didn't really want them to come down because we were looking at one or two potential loan players from there for next season. But it will be fantastic for Doncaster Rovers to be playing them as almost equals instead of just a friendly or pre-season game.
"It's not just the fact that Newcastle have come down that will make it tough next season - I just think the standards seem to improve year on year.
"As for us, we learned a lot last season and I hope we will remember those lessons. We became a bit more battle hardened and gained a better understanding of what was required."
