Report and free match highlights from Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship clash between Queens Park Rangers and Plymouth Argyle at Loftus Road | Wayne Rooney’s side finished the game with nine men but managed a draw.
16:22, Great Britain, Saturday, August 24, 2024
Plymouth picked up a point in a 1-1 draw at QPR despite playing with ten men for most of the game – and finishing with nine.
After Michael Frey had given Rangers an early lead, Morgan Whittaker equalised for the Devon side just before the half hour mark.
However, the visitors suffered a major setback less than a minute later when Adam Forshaw was sent off for a second yellow card.
But they defended well as the home side tried in vain to score a second goal, and they played the final few minutes with two men less after teenage substitute Freddie Issaka was shown the red card in stoppage time for a rough foul on Kenneth Paal.
Wayne Rooney is still waiting for his first Sky Bet Championship win as Argyle manager, but he has taken heart from the team’s spirited performance in their second draw since their 4-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on Matchday 1 of the season.
QPR, who have also not yet won a league game this season, got off to a brilliant start and took the lead after just three minutes with striker Frey’s second goal of the season.
Michael Frey heads QPR into an early lead against Plymouth.
Morgan Whittaker scores a brilliant goal to equalise for Plymouth at QPR.
Nicolas Madsen, making his debut just 24 hours after joining from Belgian club Westerlo, was immediately involved in the action. Koki Saito’s cross from the left was simply too high for the Danish midfielder, whose header went wide.
Moments later, Karamoko Dembele played Paul Smyth, whose shot was stopped by Argyle goalkeeper Conor Hazard.
Following the subsequent corner from the right, Frey headed the ball into the goal at the near post after a left-footed shot from Dembele.
The goal was almost an exact copy of Jimmy Dunne’s header from Dembélé’s corner in Rangers’ 2-2 draw at Sheffield United last weekend.
The lively Dembele continued to trouble Plymouth and almost doubled their lead when his shot from the edge of the box clipped the top of the bar in the 20th minute.
The visitors had been on the defensive, but thanks to a combination of ingenuity and luck, the visitors managed to equalise in the 29th minute.
After Whittaker broke in from the right and his misplaced pass was uncontrolled by QPR midfielder Sam Field, the Plymouth striker reacted quickly and sent a direct shot from long range past goalkeeper Paul Nardi.
However, Forshaw was sent off immediately afterward. He received a yellow card for an early foul on Dembele, brought Dunne down unnecessarily and was promptly sent off.
Field almost made amends for his mistake when Hazard’s header hit the post five minutes into the second half and Dunne headed just wide as Rangers kept up the pressure.
Field also set up substitute Zan Celar, whose shot went just over the bar. The striker did the same again shortly afterwards after a scramble in the box.
The inspired Hazard made two quick saves in quick succession, denying both Steve Cook’s powerful volley and Field’s header.
The managers
Marti Cifuentes from QPR:
“Just getting one point from a game like this is not enough.
“At the same time, I am happy with some aspects of our performance, especially the start of the game – we got off to a great start.
“Unfortunately, after the goal we allowed Plymouth too much possession.
“We adjusted a few things at half-time after they got the red card. In the first 25-30 minutes of the second half we attacked much better and created a lot of chances and their goalkeeper was outstanding.
“The longer it goes on, the more energy Plymouth gets. Then in the last 10 or 15 minutes it was too emotional and not the way we should have attacked. We are of course disappointed to have only got one point.
“It’s not a time to worry. I would be worried if we didn’t look like a team that knew what they were trying to do.”
Wayne Rooney from Plymouth:
“The character the players showed, the energy and the ugly side of the game, I thought we were fantastic.
“We defended the box really well and Conor Hazard made some really good saves. We showed that we really want to get something out of the game and I’m very happy with our performance.”
“Under difficult circumstances, they stood their ground and showed the passion that I want to see in the team.
“We were brave and played really well. We knew the second half would be tough and today we showed everything we didn’t show against Sheffield Wednesday.”
