Plymouth Argyle v. QPR (26 December: Championship Match 24) [R]

[Atouk]

Plymouth Argyle -- 8th, 23 GP, +6 GD, 34 points
v.
QPR -- 21st, 23 GP, -11 GD, 24 points
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26 December 2007 15:00
Home Park
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[R] in this thread for any of today's English league games.

Rangers News:

Damion Stewart is suspended after receiving a red card (for two yellows) on Saturday. Michael Mancienne (hamstring) and Pat Kanyuka (thigh) are listed as out, Sampsa Timoska (virus) is doubtful, and Martin Rowlands "hopes to return after illness" according to the BBC.

The Opponent:

Ian Holloway recently moved well down the table to Leicester and Plymouth has hired their former boss, Paul Sturrock, to replace him. Sturrock managed Plymouth from October 2000 to March 2004. Plymouth won the First Division in 2003/04, the same year the R's were promoted as runner-up. Sturrock left late in that season for Southampton, but only ended up in charge of the Saints for 13 total games, leaving that post in August 2004. Since leaving Southampton, Sturrock led Sheffield Wednesday for 104 games and Swindon Town for 52 before returning to Plymouth in November.

Plymouth lost, 1-2, at Crystal Palace on Saturday, but won at Watford, 1-0, the game before that. They have 2 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw in Sturrock's six games in charge.

The Series:

The Pilgrims beat us, 2-0, at Loftus Road back in September with goals in the 50th (Halmosi) and 62nd (Norris) minutes. Plymouth leads the all-time series 23-7-17. Plymouth won the only cup meeting (73/74 League Cup) with the remainder coming in league play.

[Atouk]

Elsewhere in the Championship, Cardiff led at Watford, 1-0, at the half. Since then, Jay DeMerit scored to bring Watford level in the 49th before Cardiff regained the lead in the 56th.

The table entering today:

Pos Team P GD PTS

1 Watford 23 9 43
2 West Brom 23 19 41
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3 Bristol City 23 4 41
4 Stoke 23 9 40
5 Charlton 23 6 38
6 Ipswich 23 9 36
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7 Wolverhampton 23 3 35
8 Plymouth 23 6 34
9 Burnley 23 2 33
10 Crystal Palace 23 1 31
11 Hull 23 0 31
12 Barnsley 23 -3 31
13 Southampton 23 -6 31
14 Sheff Utd 23 0 30
15 Cardiff 23 -1 29
16 Coventry 22 -9 29
17 Blackpool 23 -2 26
18 Norwich 23 -10 25
19 Sheff Wed 22 -5 24
20 Preston 23 -5 24
21 QPR 23 -11 24
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22 Leicester 23 -2 23
23 Scunthorpe 23 -8 23
24 Colchester 23 -6 21

Today's games:

Barnsley vs Stoke
Burnley vs Sheff Wed
Colchester vs Southampton
Coventry vs Crystal Palace
Hull City vs Wolves
Leicester vs Ipswich
Norwich vs Charlton
Plymouth vs QPR
Preston vs Scunthorpe
Sheff Utd vs Blackpool
Watford vs Cardiff
West Brom vs Bristol City

[Atouk]

Jobi McAnuff scored more than 3 minutes into injury time for Watford.

Watford 2-2 Cardiff City -- full time.

[MetroAnt]

Wrong game on Matchlive... Listening to Argyle link.

[Atouk]

We're underway.

PLYMOUTH: Larrieu, Connolly, Nalis, Timar, Norris, Ebanks-Blake, Hayles, Halmosi, Hodges, Seip, Abdou.

Subs: Fallon, Sawyer, Gosling, Martin, Easter.

QPR: Camp, Barker, Malcolm, Leigertwood, Rehman, Bolder, Walton, Ainsworth, Rowlands, Buzsaky, and Vine.

Subs: Blackstock, Cole, Moore, Kanyuka, Nygaard.

I guess Leigertwood is in defense, Walton and Bolder are in the center of midfield behind Buzsaky in a withdrawn striker role and Vine up top, with Rowlands and Ainsworth out wide in midfield.

[Atouk]

Wrong game on Matchlive... Listening to Argyle link.I'm at the audio commentary link, rather than the match console, and that has a solo guy apparently doing a QPR call (since he just said "hopefully" Hayles wouldn't score today for Plymouth).

[MetroAnt]

I'm at the audio commentary link, rather than the match console, and that has a solo guy apparently doing a QPR call (since he just said "hopefully" Hayles wouldn't score today for Plymouth).

Got it. Thanks.

[Atouk]

The commentator guesses we had around 500 travel all the way to Plymouth on Boxing Day. Well done.

[Atouk]

GOAL QPR!!! :D

Might have been Vine tapping in after Rowlands' nice work sending the ball just across the face of goal past the keeper.

[Atouk]

The QPR goal has been credited to Ainsworth on the BBC site.

Goal by Gareth Ainsworth (QPR) right-footed (bottom-left of goal) from right side of six-yard box (6 yards).Plymouth 0-1 QPR. Assist (pass) by Martin Rowlands (QPR) from left side of six-yard box.

Southampton leads 1-0 at Colchester.

Leicester leads Ipswich, 1-0.

[Atouk]

The commentator is still crediting Vine with the goal.

[Atouk]

Barnsley leads Stoke through a penalty.

Charlton has taken a 1-0 lead at Norwich.

Sheffield United has taken a 1-0 lead at home against Blackpool.

[Atouk]

Akos Buzsaky goes in the book -- apparently for persistent infringement as the referee pointed out several recent Buzsaky fouls.

A good chance for Lilian Nalis just after that on the free kick, but Camp blocked it.

[Atouk]

Stoke with a 31st-minute penalty to draw level after Barnsley's 23rd-minute penalty.

Sheffield Wednesday also scored on a penalty, but Burnley answered in the next minute with a goal by Akinbiyi.

Leicester has scored a second against Ipswich.

[Atouk]

I guess Leigertwood is in defense, Walton and Bolder are in the center of midfield behind Buzsaky in a withdrawn striker role and Vine up top, with Rowlands and Ainsworth out wide in midfield.Just to correct this guess -- it sounds like Leigertwood is in midfield with Bolder, while Walton is in defense (as he was as a sub on Saturday after Stewart received the red card).

[Atouk]

Plymouth earned their second corner of the game. It was sent over our own bar, possibly by Barker. On the next corner, Plymouth's Timar headed out for a goal kick.

We're getting near the half.

Scunthorpe scored late in the first half at Preston and leads 1-0.

[Atouk]

With 3 minutes to go, Plymouth gets their fourth corner. Malcolm heads away and the R's gain possession.

[Atouk]

Chris Barker is down and receiving treatment. The referee comes over to tell him to get off the pitch. Barker appears to be getting treatment on his head.

[Atouk]

Barker had to change his shirt because he had blood on his -- he's currently in a shirt with no number. 4 minutes of stoppage time signaled.

[Atouk]

Martin Rowlands gets a yellow late in the first half for a sloppy challenge on David Norris.