QPR v. Plymouth Argyle (11 Sept: Championship - Match 7) [R]

[Atouk]

QPR -- 20th, 1-2-3, -5 GD, 5 points
v.
Plymouth Argyle -- 4th, 4-1-1, +3 GD, 13 points
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11 September 2004 15:00
Loftus Road
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Rangers News:

Ainsworth is still out, but expected back in training next week. Thorpe's injury is healing slower than expected and he's still out. Culkin remains out long-term. Dan Sh!ttu had a good 55 minute run against Fulham's reserves and could find his way into the 16 or even the 11. Gnohere is back and Rose is fine, so we've got three (or four, if Dan's ready) healthy center backs, plus Edghill as cover.

The Opponent:

Last year's Division Two champions have started well. They opened with a draw at Millwall, then followed that with three league wins -- at Brighton, at Cardiff, and at home against Sunderland. They then loss to Yeovil in the League Cup and were beaten in the league at Watford before defeating Forest 3-2 in their last match. They gave up a two-goal lead, only to win with a stoppage-time penalty!

As of Septhember 7th, Argyle had sold out the bottom tier of the School End and had begun selling tickets for the upper tier. Should be a nice crowd overall tomorrow.

The Series:

In the league, Plymouth holds a slight edge, with Rangers trailing the series 16-1-19 (only one draw in 36 meetings?). We've played four times in the past two years, with QPR winning two, Argyle winning one, and one draw. Last season, each won at home. Before that, the teams hadn't met since the 73/74 League Cup (our only cup meeting and a Plymouth victory), with the teams not having faced each other in league play since spending one year together in 67/68 in the old Division Two. Before that, they hadn't met since 58/59.

The Referee:

André Marriner gets the assignment. This season he's issued 7 yellows in 5 matches (2 Championship, 2 League One, 1 League Cup). Last season, he worked our 4-1 home win over Hartlepool (the only QPR match in his short career), issuing one booking to the visitors, and Plymouth's 6-0 home win over Tranmere.

[Atouk]

A bit of pre-match press:

An interview with Paul Furlong on givemefootball.com (http://www.givemefootball.com/interviews.html?interviewID=817&method=full)

Sporting Life match preview (http://www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide1/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=nonwire_soccer/04/09/10/manual_084841.html&TEAMHD=nationwide1) noting that Argyle had two players on international duty Wednesday (one with Scotland, one with Northern Ireland)

Sky Sports match preview (http://skysports.planetfootball.com/list.asp?hlid=224855&CPID=10&CLID=52&lid=&title=QPR+v+Plymouth+preview)

BBC match preview (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3615264.stm)

[Lloydy]

Thorpe's injury is healing slower than expected and he's still out.

Hey Mark, turns out TT has actually cracked his fibula so its a little more serious than originally diagnosed rather than just being a slow heal

[Lloydy]

oh and...I know you like details of the man in the middle...

well we are having a 'lady on the line' Wendy Toms being one of the assistants

[Atouk]

Hey Mark, turns out TT has actually cracked his fibula so its a little more serious than originally diagnosed rather than just being a slow healI saw that, but phrased it poorly in my post above. Thanks for posting his status more clearly.

I saw a report that Peterborough is interested in Cureton (just posted a link in the other thread), but we can't have any interest in selling, with Thorpe out for a bit. Even with Thorpe fit, I wouldn't think we'd sell Cureton, since he provides cover in midfield as well. Seems extremely unlikely unless Peterborough is walking around with a lot more money to burn than I imagine they are!

[Atouk]

oh and...I know you like details of the man in the middle...

well we are having a 'lady on the line' Wendy Toms being one of the assistantsInteresting. Are there many in the Football League? I don't think I've seen a woman work the lines in an MLS game.

[Lloydy]

yea its hardly even worth posting a denial of the Cureton story as it is never going to happen esp with TT out. They may have a few quid following the Mackenzie sale and the new sponsorship deal they signed but I really couldn't see it

[Lloydy]

Interesting. Are there many in the Football League? I don't think I've seen a woman work the lines in an MLS game.


I think there's just the one and shes been around for quite some time, hasn't reffed at our level but does quite a lot of conference matches and div 3. She has run the line this high before though and is a well respected official. There may be a few others at non-league level.

[Atouk]

I think there's just the one and shes been around for quite some time, hasn't reffed at our level but does quite a lot of conference matches and div 3. She has run the line this high before though and is a well respected official. There may be a few others at non-league level.Thanks for the info.

Not many women have refereed at the highest level of sports over here, either. There were two women referees in the NBA -- one lasted a couple of years at that level (I think she's working college games now), while the other is still there (I think this will be her eighth season).

I don't think any women have made the highest league in American football or baseball, although there are some women minor league umpires in baseball, as I recall.

[Northside Rovers]

Interesting. Are there many in the Football League? I don't think I've seen a woman work the lines in an MLS game.

I think I remember a few seasons ago there were a couple of games with women refs.

I was going to say that we really need to concentrate on getting points from team in the lower 1/3 of the table and our fellow DIV 2 promotion teams, but Plymouth seem to have landed on their feet.

A result from this game would be very nice indeed.

[art]

What are the odds we see Shittu I wonder. It's gotta be a tough descision, though he's so important I think I'd err on the side of caution and not play him were I Olly.

Then again, I'm not Olly...

[JacksonJazz#9]

Hello from the upper region of the table... things look awfully good up here.... BUT not as good as when we were top of the table...

big game for both of us.... u need the 3 points to climb up, we could just use the 3 point in general to keep with the front runners.... reports of a huge crowd at your place... should be good for the pocket book for QPR. how can it be that we play so well to start the season, but then get bounced from a league cup??? doh!!!! and how did we get this great scheduling with playing you, and then back home to play Leeds a few days later.... would truly like to get 2 wins this weekend.... dont know if its possible... but as they say, past performance is a good predictor or future perfomance.... im going to say... Plymouth 1 Rangers 0..... Plymouth scores on a lucky goal, QPR has the run of play but cant put it away.... we shall see!!!

buy me a beer if im right???

[Atouk]

Another f'in set piece goal. QPR 0-1 Plymouth

Big Dan didn't start, nor make the bench.

Our XI:
Day; Bignot, Santos, Rose, Padula; Rowlands, Bircham, Bean, Cook; Furlong, Gallen

Bench:
Johnson, McLeod, Cureton, Gnohere, Edghill

No keeper on the bench. In fact, Jake Cole is in the commentary box at the moment.

[Atouk]

Cook kept it in, Bignot cross to Furlong. Furs puts it home!!

GOOOOOAAAAALLLL QPR!

QPR 1-1 Plymouth

[Atouk]

Cook kept it in, Bignot cross to Furlong. Furs puts it home!!

GOOOOOAAAAALLLL QPR!

QPR 1-1 Plymouth
Or, probably more accurately, Bignot's cross headed by Cook to Furlong who puts it home. At least, I think that's what happened! Looking forward to seeing the video on that one.

Either way, we're getting close to the half with the score even. The R's have had a couple of half chances since then, so things are looking good.

Also, congrats to Dennis Oli, who has scored for Cambridge United in his first game with his new team.

[Atouk]

QPR 1-1 Plymouth Argyle
HALF TIME

QPR:
Furlong (29)

PAFC:
Friio (7)

[Atouk]

We've kicked off. No changes for either side.

[Atouk]

15,425 in Loftus Road today. Still 1-1.

[Atouk]

With around 29 minutes to play, Olly brings McLeod and Cureton on for Cook and Rowlands.

Just a minute later, Furs had a clear shot on goal, but couldn't force a save. Still 1-1.

[Atouk]

FURS AGAIN!!!!

GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!

QPR 2-1 Plymouth

18 minutes to go