Two goals in quick succession were enough for Doncaster Rovers, as they registered a maximum return against the R's.

On a wet and windy afternoon at The Keepmoat Stadium, second half strikes from Billy Sharp and Dean Shiels saw off the visitors, in an encounter that was a good advert for passing football in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Sharp fired the hosts in front with a smart finish from close range, before Shiels' curling effort from the edge of the area sealed the points.

Despite the loss, the R's still remain in the play-off places, lying in sixth spot.

Rangers gaffer Jim Magilton made no less than four changes from the side that won away at Sheffield Wednesday a fortnight ago, reverting to a 4-3-3 formation in the process.

New loan signings Steven Reid and Tommy Williams were both handed starts at The Keepmoat Stadium, replacing Gavin Mahon (knee) and Peter Ramage respectively.

Meanwhile, after impressing from the bench in that 2-1 victory at Hillsborough, Alejandro Faurlin came in for Adel Taarabt, whilst Matt Connolly replaced Fitz Hall (back).

Radek Cerny started in goal for the R's, behind a back four of Mikele Leigertwood, Kaspars Gorkss, Connolly and Williams.

Ben Watson, Faurlin and Reid made up Rangers' midfield engine room.

Jay Simpson headed a three-man attack, supported by Wayne Routledge and Akos Buzsaky.

As the rain lashed down on a lush South Yorkshire playing surface, the R's were out of the traps immediately.

After some neat, intricate passing play between Faurlin and Simpson, the ball found its way to Routledge on the right, but Buzsaky could only fire his cross over from 12-yards out when free in the area.

Play soon switched to the other end, and Cerny was forced into a fingertip save to prevent John Oster from opening the scoring with a free-kick 25-yards out.

From the resulting corner, Oster was again involved to feed Shiels at a tight angle down the left, but Williams did well to block his shot, as the ball trickled safely into the path of Cerny.

The hosts, in truth, were playing some lovely, free-flowing football themselves early on, though it was Rangers who were next on the attack.

Simpson swept a pass to Routledge out wide before the latter squared for Leigertwood on the edge of the area, but the R's right back could only blast wide of the target.

The game was a fairly even contest, with Rangers having their fair share of chances.

Just short of the break, Watson played a sublime through ball to Routledge on halfway, though the midfielder could only shoot wide of Neil Sullivan's left-hand post.

As the teams re-emerged for the second period, Magilton opted for a substitution.

Taarabt replaced Faurlin - and it was a change that was almost instantly rewarded.

Buzsaky passed to Taarabt, who in turn played a cutting ball through to Simpson on the edge of the area.

The Arsenal loanee decided to take a first time shot when perhaps taking a touch first would have been best, firing the ball inches wide of Sullivan's right-hand post.

And it was a missed opportunity that Rangers would live to regret, as seconds later, the hosts took the lead.

The R's failed to deal with a quickly taken corner, and when the ball was centred to an unmarked Sharp, the striker made no mistake to drill the ball home just six yards from goal.

The opening goal seemed to buoy Donny and shortly after, they added a second.

Gorkss played a side pass to Williams, and the Rangers full-back was unable to control the ball as it fell to Shiels.

Despite several last-ditch attempts from the R's rearguard to block the effort, Shiels remained calm to curl the ball past Cerny and into the back of the net.

Rangers may have been despondent about conceding a quick-fire double, though they still continued to attack.

Taarabt was again involved, running at the Doncaster defence before unleashing a low driven effort, but Sullivan did well to get down and claim the ball.

The hosts nearly added a third when Shiels unleashed a stinging effort in at goal, but Cerny was alert to tip the ball away to safety.

Doncaster Rovers: Sullivan, O'Connor, Roberts, Sharp, Chambers, Oster (Spicer 87), Fortune (Shackell 72), Hird, Shiels (Wilson 85), Coppinger, Gillett.

Subs not used: Smith, Guy, Hayter, Heffernan.

Goals: Sharp (54), Shiels (65)

QPR: Cerny, Leigertwood, Routledge, Buzsaky (Agyemang 63), Gorkss, Watson, Connolly, Faurlin (Taarabt 46), Williams, Simpson (Pellicori 63), Reid.

Subs not used: McWeeney, Ramage, Stewart, Ephraim.

Bookings: Leigertwood (78)

Referee: Mr A Bates

Attendance: 10, 821 (1478).