Queens Park Rangers 3 Plymouth Argyle 0

Last updated : 15 November 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Kevin Gallen scored a brace as QPR thumped promotion rivals Plymouth Argyle 3-0 at Loftus Road to go top of Division Two.

Gallen scored in each half, with strike partner Tony Thorpe also getting his name on the score sheet, as Rangers leap-frogged their rivals to the summit.

Rangers, who boast an unbeaten home record this season, took control almost from the outset.

Though, they were given an early scare when Graham Coughlan struck a fine 25-yard free-kick which keeper Chris Day fumbled only to re-gather at the second attempt.

But Rangers began to dominate midfield and only the final ball was lacking.

Rangers finally got a reward for their dominance on 33 minutes when Gallen curled in a free kick through a crowd of players and into the bottom corner.

Any hopes the large travelling support had of a second half comeback soon disappeared.

QPR continued to have the better of the play and Clarke Carlisle was unfortunate to see his effort blocked by Coughlan.

But Rangers put the game beyond doubt with two goals in three minutes.

Thorpe netted his fifth goal of the season when the ball broke at the edge of the area and his low shot found the bottom corner and, on 75 minutes, Marcus Bean played in Gallen to fire a shot sweetly past Luke McCormick.

Argyle sub Nathan Lowndes wasted a chance of a consolation goal when he headed wide from six yards, but Rangers were not flustered by the three-goal margin and Gallen could have got a hat-trick but for McCormick's fine stop at the death.