Taarabt keeps Warnock's revival rolling
Queen's Park Rangers 2 Plymouth Argyle
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.For all the emotions he provokes, there is no disputing that Neil Warnock can get the best out of a side, whether they are challenging for promotion or fighting relegation.
Warnock arrived at Loftus Road last week, the fifth manager this season to do so, in an attempt to breathe new life into the Championship strugglers. His arrival has certainly given Queen's Park Rangers the lift they so desperately needed as he secured a second consecutive victory in his second game in charge.
The home side dominated throughout, Hogan Ephraim and Jay Simpson going close before they took the lead. Adel Taarabt has the ability to both frustrate and amaze, and the midfielder, on loan from Tottenham, had demonstrated that midway through the first half when he beat three players on the edge of the box only to crash his effort over the bar. The Moroccan did not have to wait long for another chance, though, and nine minutes before half-time he coolly sent Plymouth goalkeeper David Stockdale the wrong way from the penalty spot after Kari Arnason had needlessly hauled Tamas Priskin to the ground.
"I think I'm the right type of manager he needs and he's already working harder than he ever has," Warnock said of Taarabt. "He's a gifted lad. They've got ability and they've got to add work-rate to it."
Any hopes Paul Mariner had of watching his side recover were all but extinguished four minutes after the interval when Damion Stewart nodded in Taarabt's precise free-kick from the edge of the six-yard box.
Plymouth are still seven points adrift of safety and Mariner said: "It was a poor penalty to give away and then we let another in. In our position we can't keep shooting ourselves in the foot."
Queen's Park Rangers (4-4-2): Ikeme; Connolly, Stewart, Gorkss, Hill; Ephraim (Cook, 78), Leigertwood, Faurlin, Taarabt (Buzsaky, 73); Priskin, Simpson (Vine, 85). Substitutes not used: Cerny (gk), Ramage, Borrowdale, German.
Plymouth Argyle(4-4-2): Stockdale; Duguid, Barker, Arnason, Sawyer; Judge (Bolasie, 55), D Johnson, Fletcher, Eckersley; Fallon (Mason, 55), Mackie. Substitutes not used: Larrieu (gk), Wright-Phillips, McNamee, Summerfield, Cooper.
Referee: P Tierney (Lancashire).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments