QPR v Argyle Review

Plymouth Argyle ran out worthy winners against Queens Park Rangers in the Championship clash at Loftus Road on Tuesday.

Goals from midfielders Peter Halmosi and David Norris gave the Pilgrims a deserved 2-0 win.

A strong opening to the second half, coupled continuously with a dominant midfield, ensured Plymouth Argyle received the three points at Loftus Road, their first win since the opening day of the season at Hull.

QPR manager, John Gregory, opted for only one change following their 1-1 draw at Leicester, in an attempt to create stability to a team which had failed to win in front of their home crowd all season.

Meanwhile, Ollie brought back Hungarian duo Halmosi and Buszaky after partially resting them both as a result of their international call-ups. Furthermore, last year’s player of the season Lilian Nalis was chosen ahead of fellow-Frenchman Abdou to play the holding role so Buzsaky could roam.

Ian Holloway, manager of QPR from 2001 until his gardening leave in 2006, was almost given the dream return when veteran Barry Hayles earned a free kick just outside the area. Halmosi curled the free kick wide by only the narrowest of margins.

Whilst Argyle looked the more dangerous team, their defensive line looked unsteady, and early chances fell all too easily to the R’s too. Immediately following Halmosi’s free kick, QPR striker Nardiello, recently returned to the starting line-up, found himself unmarked in the area. His looping header looked destined to lob Plymouth`s first-choice keeper, Luke McCormick, and open the scoring. Luckily for the Argyle fans, Luke at full stretch tipped the ball onto the crossbar.

The end-to-end football of the first half, despite resulting in goals, provided entertainment for both sets of fans. Argyle proved that set-piece training can lead to great chances, when a corner drilled across the ground by Buszaky was met first time by Barry Hayles. Lee Camp was quick to react but his stop was spilled. The QPR clearance looked somewhat juvenile, and meant that Gary Sawyer was able to hit a well-taken half-volley from 35 yards, which was narrowly saved again by Camp.

By the end of the first half Plymouth looked the stronger of the two sides, but were nevertheless very fortunate not to go into the break a goal down. Paul Connolly, under minimal pressure, passed the ball back short to McCormick, who was forced to scramble quickly off his line to stop the shot from Dexter Blackstock, Argyle’s former-loanee.

The opening to the second half saw a much more determined Argyle meet a clueless QPR.

The strength of Plymouth’s midfield saw good possession football, and was quickly rewarded with the first goal of the game. The skill and pace of Halmosi proved too much for the QPR right-back, and his right foot strike beat Camp. From there onwards Argyle looked to likely score more, and it did not take long for this to happen.

A high, almost too long cross was well met by Halmosi, who sent the ball into the paths of Hayles, Buzsaky and Norris. Whilst the R’s defence looked to scramble the ball away, Norris charged into the six-yard box and drove the ball into the net from close-range.

When Argyle began to sit back and defend I found it impossible to relax. Allowing QPR to come at you a few seasons ago would have been suicide, even with a two-goal cushion. Fear of leaking a goal, and later two points, is a nervous thought for any fan, especially with Saturday’s match against Cardiff still in our minds.

Luckily for Argyle, QPR were clueless and uncreative. Through ball after through ball was ruled offside by the linesman, much to the disgust of the fatigued R’s fans who haven’t seen their team score at home in the league this season. On the few occasions the Argyle offside trap was beat, nervous looking attempts at goal would clear the first tier of the stadium with McCormick forcing shots to be rushed.

Argyle continued their good away record of the season ahead of Saturday’s trip to Pulis’ Stoke City, with two wins and a loss this season. Meanwhile the match confirmed the misery which Rangers will face until they can make changes in the January transfer window.

Of interest to Plymouth Argyle, there was talk around the stadium of a few more possible loan signings being brought in by Gregory during the forthcoming weeks. Ian Holloway has recently expressed his disgust at the loan system, in particular his inability to resign Scott Sinclair, but now the young Chelsea winger has been linked with a loan spell to QPR.

Unfortunately for Argyle, there may be truth behind the rumour. QPR already have Chelsea’s Sahar and Mancienne on loan, and therefore it would be easy for Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and his coaching team to keep tabs on their development. It must be kept in mind that Mourinho refused to allow Sinclair to be released on loan during the summer due to his first team commitments, however so far this season Sinclair has only featured as a substitute once as a result of the recent form of England winger Wright-Phillips.

STAR PLAYER.
With the Argyle defence looking unstable, and strikers rarely involved, credit must go to the whole midfield. In my opinion two players stood out.

Akos Buszaky looked a constant threat, and his creative skill proved too much for Rangers. His second half free kicks were not quite matching what we saw at Norwich last season, but nevertheless his clever passes and determined drives kept the pressure on the QPR goal.

Meanwhile, between the sticks it was a well-earned clean sheet for Luck McCormick, who displayed a string of excellent stops to deny QPR their first home goal of the season.