Plymouth Herald Report
Plymouth Argyle denied victory by Jamie Mackie's late strike at Loftus Road
Plymouth Argyle denied victory by Jamie Mackie's late strike at Loftus Road
FORMER Argyle striker Jamie Mackie grabbed a late equaliser to deny the Pilgrims victory at Loftus Road last night.
Mackie, who cost Rangers £500,000 when he moved from Home Park in May, struck in the 83rd minute.
Although Argyle had to settle for a draw, there was much for manager Peter Reid to be encouraged about.
Their passing, particularly in the first half, was composed and precise and, as has been the case during the pre-season, they defended very solidly.
Argyle had taken the lead in the 11th minute with a penalty from midfielder Luke Summerfield.
Although that did not prove to be the winning goal, it was still a confidence-boosting performance from the Pilgrims.
They kick-off their League One campaign away to Southampton next Saturday.
And spirits should be high in the dressing room after the way they played against QPR, one of the favourites for promotion from the Championship.
Argyle had won three, drawn one and lost two of their previous six pre-season friendlies before the clash against QPR.
Reid included two trialists in the Pilgrims' starting line-up at Loftus Road.
One of them was former Southampton left-back Lee Molyneux, who had played the second half of the 1-0 win away to Hereford United on Wednesday.
The other was Stephane Zubar, a French right-back who has spent the last two seasons with SC Vaslui in Romania's Liga 1.
Zubar was making his first appearance for Argyle, after they obtained permission to play him.
There were two more trialists on the substitutes' bench for the Pilgrims.
They were Birmingham City goalkeeper Colin Doyle, who is being considered for a loan move to Argyle, and Laurent Manuel.
Manuel, an American right-back, had trained with the Pilgrims earlier in the pre-season until suffering an ankle injury.
Argyle's attack was led by Rory Fallon and Steve MacLean, who scored the winning goal against Hereford.
It was Fallon's second game in three days, after returning to training on Monday following his participation for New Zealand at the World Cup.
Only one side of Loftus Road was open to supporters, and even that was nowhere near full.
Seated in the directors' box were Argyle chairman Sir Roy Gardner and executive director Keith Todd.
The newly-signed Anton Peterlin was paired in the centre of midfield with Damien Johnson, while Summerfield was on the right-side.
Argyle showed early promise, first when MacLean had a free-kick saved by QPR keeper Paddy Kenny.
Then, moments later, Fallon headed narrowly wide after a deep, diagonal cross from Molyneux.
Argyle had another decent chance in the eight minute when Timar sent a glancing header across the face of goal, from a corner taken by Bhasera.
The Pilgrims' early pressure paid off in the 11th minute, though, as Summerfield put them ahead.
He scored from the penalty spot after MacLean darted in behind QPR centre-back Matthew Connolly and the striker was sent tumbling.
It was a clear penalty and the referee, Mick Russell, gave it immediately, and with no complaints from Rangers.
QPR were playing a 4-3-3 formation, with Mackie, Patrick Agyemang and Hogan Ephraim interchanging positions.
But Rangers could not get into their stride at all in the early exchanges and they were easily contained by Argyle.
QPR's first chance did not come until the 26th minute, when Agyemang stabbed the ball wide after midfielder Alejandro Faurlin fired a low shot into the six-yard area.
Argyle continued to impress, with Fallon having a header saved by Kenny after a fine cross the far post from Summerfield.
Summerfield had picked up possession after some slick passing in midfield from Bhasera and Peterlin.
Finally, Rangers started to apply some pressure as half-time approached and had two opportunities to equalise
Argyle keeper Romain Larrieu was called into action for the first time in the 41st minute when he saved an angled drive from Ephraim.
Then, on the stroke of half-time, Faurlin crashed a 20-yard shot wide of the left post.
The Pilgrims made four substitutions for the start of the second period.
Doyle took over between the posts from Larrieu, while Bondz N'Gala replaced Zubar at right-back.
Also sent on to play in midfield were Chris Clark and Karl Duguid, for Damien Johnson and Summerfield respectively.
QPR also made four substitutions, with former Argyle midfielder Akos Buzsaky replaced by Shaun Derry in midfield.
The home side also switched to 4-4-2 as Heidar Helguson came of the bench to partner Mackie in attack.
Doyle had warmed up during the interval with the assistance of Larrieu.
And the trialist 'keeper made a fine save from Faurlin's curling free-kick in the 56th minute.
Apart from that, however, Rangers continued to struggle to create chances.
Argyle were defending more than they had done in the first half, with Fallon and MacLean not seeing much of the ball, but they remained very solid.
Argyle made two further substitutions in the 64th minute, taking their tally to six.
Craig Noone and Yannick Bolasie took over from Bhasera and MacLean respectively.
Doyle had impressed in the defeat of Hereford and it was the same against QPR.
He made one good save at the feet of the onrushing Mackie as the former Pilgrims' striker tried to latch onto a pass from substitute Josh Parker.
Argyle could have then increased their lead to 2-0 in the 71st minute but Fallon wastefully headed wide after an excellent cross from Bolasie.
That was Fallon's last involvement in the match as he was replaced by Rory Patterson before play restarted.
Argyle had a let-off moments later when Ephraim headed over the bar after a fine cross from Parker.
The visitors conceded a series of free-kicks around their penalty area but QPR could not capitalise on any of them.
Manuel was sent on as Argyle's eighth substitute in the 80th minute.
Timar made way for him, with Manuel slotting into the right-back role and N'Gala moving inside.
Kenny carelessly spilled a 20-yard free-kick from Noone soon afterwards, with the ball bouncing past the outside of the right post.
Mackie then came to QPR's rescue in the 83rd minute when he put them on level terms.
His shot was partly blocked by Argyle centre-back Kari Arnason but still ended up in the bottom corner of the net.
Jim Paterson replaced Molyneux at left-back two minutes later for Argyle's ninth substitution.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS (4-3-3): Paddy Kenny; Bradley Orr, Fitz Hall (Peter Ramage 72 mins), Matthew Connolly (Kaspars Gorkss h/t), Clint Hill (Gary Borrowdale 85 mins); Mikele Leigertwood (Josh Parker h/t), Akos Buzsaky (Shaun Derry h/t), Alejandro Faurlin; Hogan Ephraim (Franck Moussa 77 mins), Patrick Agyemang (Heidar Helguson h/t, Antonio German 85 mins), Jamie Mackie.
Substitute (not used): Radek Cerny (gk)
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE (4-4-2): Romain Larrieu (Colin Doyle h/t); Stephane Zubar (Bondz N'Gala h/t), Krisztian Timar (Laurent Manuel 79 mins), Kari Arnason, Lee Molyneux (Jim Paterson 85 mins); Luke Summerfield (Karl Duguid h/t), Anton Peterlin, Damien Johnson (Chris Clark h/t), Onismor Bhasera (Craig Noone 64 mins); Rory Fallon (Rory Patterson 72 mins), Steve MacLean (Yannick Bolasie 64 mins).
Substitutes (not used): Bradley Wright-Phillips, Marcel Seip.
REFEREE: Mick Russell (Hertfordshire)
GOALS – QPR: Mackie 83 mins; Argyle: Summerfield (pen) 11 mins
YELLOW CARDS – QPR: None; Argyle: None
ARGYLE STAR MAN: Krisztian Timar: Very strong at centre-back
NEXT MATCH: Monday, away to Saltash United, pre-season friendly (7.45pm)
www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/sport/Pilgrims-denied-victory-Mackie-s-late-strike/article-2477156-detail/article.html
