Morgan Whittaker ensures parity for Plymouth despite uneven numbers at QPR

Posted Saturday, August 24, 2024 by PA

Plymouth earned a point in a 1-1 draw at QPR despite playing most of the match with 10 men – and ending it with nine.

After Michael Frey gave Rangers an early lead, Morgan Whittaker equalised just before the half-hour mark for the Devon side.

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 find a second goal and they played out the final couple of minutes two men short after teenage substitute Freddie Issaka was red-carded in stoppage time for a crude challenge on Kenneth Paal.

Wayne Rooney is still waiting for his first Sky Bet Championship win as Argyle boss but can take plenty of encouragement from a spirited performance in their second draw since a 4-0 thrashing by Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day of the campaign.

QPR, also without a league win this season, made a blistering start to the game and went ahead after just three minutes through target man Frey’s second goal of the season.

Nicolas Madsen, handed a debut only 24 hours after his move from Belgian club Westerlo was finalised, was immediately involved in the action. Koki Saito’s left-wing cross was just too high for the Danish midfielder, whose glancing header drifted wide.

Moments later, Karamoko Dembele played in Paul Smyth, who was denied by Argyle goalkeeper Conor Hazard.

From the resulting right-wing corner, Frey opened the scoring with a near-post header from Dembele’s left-footed delivery.

The goal was almost a carbon copy of Jimmy Dunne’s header from Dembele’s corner in Rangers’ 2-2 draw at Sheffield United last weekend.

The lively Dembele continued to trouble Plymouth and almost doubled the lead when his 20th-minute effort from near the edge of the penalty area brushed the top of the crossbar.

Having been on the back foot, the visitors equalised in the 29th minute courtesy of a combination of brilliance and good fortune.

After Whittaker cut in from the right and his misplaced pass was miscontrolled by QPR midfielder Sam Field, the Plymouth forward reacted smartly and sent a first-time long-range strike past goalkeeper Paul Nardi.

However, Forshaw got himself sent off straight afterwards. Booked for an early foul on Dembele, he needlessly tripped Dunne and was promptly dismissed.

Field almost atoned for his error when his header five minutes into the second half was tipped onto the post by Hazard and Dunne headed narrowly wide as Rangers kept up the pressure.

Field also set up substitute Zan Celar, who fired wastefully over, and the striker did so again shortly afterwards after a scramble in the box.

The inspired Hazard produced two late saves in quick succession, pushing away Steve Cook’s thumping volley and Field’s header.