QPR 2 Plymouth Argyle 0
Adel Taarabt made a name for himself as Neil Warnock’s QPR revival gathered pace at Loftus Road tonight.
Warnock, who oversaw victory over West Brom in his first game in charge on Saturday, made it two wins in two to edge Rangers clear of the drop zone and deepen his old club’s relegation worries.
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The 61-year-old admits he is struggling to remember his new players’ names, but the man he has christened ’Tarbs’ put in a display he will not forget in a hurry.
Taarabt might not be wanted by parent club Tottenham but a host of scouts, including from Barcelona and Juventus, are keeping an eye on the 20-year-old.
He hit his sixth goal of the season from the penalty spot, and set up Damion Stewart for Rangers’ second.
Warnock also succeeded where three previous managers have failed as Rangers kept a clean sheet for the first time in 25 games – although that said more about Plymouth’s toothless attack.
Taarabt was a nuisance right from the first whistle, when he dispossessed Karl Duguid and teed up Hogan Ephraim who drilled in a 20-yard shot which was dealt with by Argyle keeper David Stockdale.
In the 18th minute Taarabt split the Argyle defence with a slide-rule pass but Jay Simpson, who has hit 13 goals this season, put his first-time effort wide.
Taarabt almost broke the deadlock with a piece of magic midway through the first half, when he was faced with three Argyle defenders on the edge of the box but wriggled free of all of them only to fire his shot into the side-netting.
But Taarabt made no mistake when given the chance from 12 yards in the 35th minute.
Kari Arnason clumsily pulled down Tamas Priskin in the area as they both challenged for Matt Connolly’s cross and Taarabt sent Stockdale the wrong way from the spot.
Rangers could have gone two ahead moments later but Stewart headed Kaspars Gorkss’ flick-on over the top.
Plymouth’s best effort came in the first half when Alan Judge floated in a free-kick which former Hoops defender Chris Barker headed over.
Five minutes after the break Rangers went two up when Duguid felled Taarabt, who picked himself up to curl in the free-kick which Stewart headed home.
The hosts could have had more, with Alejandro Faurlin blasting over and also firing at Stockdale.
Simpson missed two gilt-edged chances, side-footing wide from in front of goal and then rolling a shot wide with Stockdale beaten.
READ CHRIS ERRINGTON'S VERDICT IN TOMORROW'S HERALD
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by CG, Plymouth
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 2:45PM
“Rod, Brizzle..The Board might have backed Sturrock with new players last summer but that's not quite the same as "investing" is it?. They deliberately spent money we didn't have and put us in a position of spiralling debt. Lo and behold we're now selling the ground to balance the books. Please dont confuse sabotage with investment.”
by Rod, Brizzle
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 10:35AM
“Not so sure I agree about the board not investing - they backed Sturrock again last summer, he bought in another 7 or 8 players on top of an already bad squad with long contracts - that all cost money and they new the season ticket sales were low. Their big mistake was backing Sturrock in the summer and we've have been reeling from it ever since - I might agree they have been naive though.
As for Mariner I really did like the guy but we are going backwards so quickly it's unbelievable.
Very very sad to see the Premiership dream disappearing for another generation”
by Dave, Devonport
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 6:59AM
“Well once again Mariner shows he is not a Championship Manager another Player to pay wages for
this team is so poor and the wages so high, all the legacy of Sturrock and a japanese Board that will not invest they have no interest in the club they only want the ground, five year plan my backside, everyone saw this happening since last season though nothing done, a poor game poor players poor management
poor directors poor football Div 1 without doubt, start the season next year with youngsters and get rid of Mariner for gods sake he is Sturrocks clone !!”
by madds79, Roborough
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 5:09AM
“Lets start planning for next season . Get rid if the dead wood and play some youngsters . We have to be realistic and realise we are not good enough for the Championship . We deserve to go down .”
by Mark, Plymouth
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 1:54AM
“Well aint it nice to see the 5 year plan to the prem going so well, what a load of old tosh . . . rather go and see Plymouth Parkway.”
by greenarmybill, argyle
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 11:51PM
“enough of this rubbish now,we must now start building for next season, as this team is and have been useless,get shot of fallon, duguid and cooper, bring on the youngsters, and if wright phillips is good enough to sit on the bench then he should be good enough to start a game.”
by JohnInBlack, Plymouth
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 11:29PM
“All we can do is support the team and watch the inevitable happen.
In truth we have known for ages that we are going down.
We must support the team ready for a fresh start in League One next season.”
by KD, Plymouth
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 11:22PM
“does a penalty count for opposition?”
by KD, Plymouth
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 11:21PM
“Interesting, BBC gives Argyle 2 shots on target to QPRs 1, Argyle lose 2-1 how does that work?”
by boris, plymouth
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 11:11PM
“not one shot on target the whole game- and yet another loss-what an absolute shambles this club has become”