Wayne Rooney enthuses over Plymouth Argyle character in QPR draw

The Pilgrims played for more than an hour with 10 men after Adam Forshaw was sent-off, and then had substitute Freddie Issaka dismissed in the closing stages but were still able to pick up a hard-earned point

Wayne Rooney praised his Plymouth Argyle players for the way they did the 'the ugly side of the game' in the 1-1 Championship draw with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

It was a far cry from the Pilgrims' previous away game this season, when they were comprehensively outfought and outplayed as they lost their league opener 4-0 at Sheffield Wednesday. This time, they dug deep after having midfielder Adam Forshaw sent-off in the 29th minute for a second bookable offence, shortly after Morgan Whittaker had equalised for the visitors with his first Championship goal since late March.

Rooney was delighted with the character and resilience of his players during a second half which saw QPR pile on the pressure, finishing the game with 30 goal attempts but only a point to show for it. Goalkeeper Conor Hazard produced some excellent saves when Argyle could not block shots or crosses in their penalty area.

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The Pilgrims' boss thought his side should have been awarded a late penalty after Hungarian defender Kornel Szucs, making his debut as a second half substitute, appeared to be pulled back by QPR defender Jake Clarke-Salter, but referee Gavin Ward let play continue.

There was one late twist to the match as 18-year-old Argyle substitute Freddie Issaka was sent a straight red card by Ward after crashing into QPR defender Kenneth Paal in the first minute of added time but the nine-man Pilgrims, wearing their yellow kit for the first time, held out for a 1-1 draw.

Rooney said: "The character the players showed, the energy, the ugly side of the game if you like - especially second half - I thought we were fantastic. We defended the box really well.

"Conor Hazard made some really good saves, defenders were blocking shots and heading balls out. We showed a real desire to get something out of the game. I'm delighted with the performance.

"Early on they (QPR) get the goal which we knew was a strength. QPR scored a similar goal against Sheffield United as well. We prepared for that and didn't deal with it well enough.

"Then I felt from there we really got control of the game. We took the ball away from QPR, started moving it and creating some really good opportunities in the final third with our attacking players.

"We get the equaliser and then immediately go to 10 men. Forshy knows it's a silly tackle, especially when you are on a yellow card, so I have no complaints with that one.

"I thought we were very unlucky with quite a few decisions. I thought we should have had a penalty. Their defender has pulled our player back and spun him around.

"I think the referee was going to give it and the linesman told him not to, so I would like the linesman to get involved a little bit more with quite a few decisions today, which unfortunately he never.

"Freddie's red card, I'm not sure. I haven't seen too many angles of it but to me it looked like he tried to pull out. I might be wrong on that one, if I am I hold my hand up for that, but for me it didn't look like a red card. So disappointed with decisions but delighted with the performance and the character the players have shown."

Rooney added: "We knew we had to dig in because after analysing QPR they put a lot of balls in the box. Second half they go with two strikers. We went with a 4-4-1 and tried to stop crosses, but we struggled to stop the amount of crosses which were coming in but then we showed a real desire to go and head the ball and out our bodies on the line.

"I don't think it was anything special tactically when we went to 10 men. The credit goes to the players, not to me and not my coaches, because under difficult circumstances and difficult moments they stood up and showed the passion I want to see in the team.

"Everything we didn't show against Sheffield Wednesday we showed today and showed what a good team we can be, but ultimately what has got us the point is the players' willingness to do the ugly stuff and that's exactly what you need in every game."

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