Plymouth Argyle

Image source, Rex Features

Plymouth Argyle boss Miron Muslic did not hide his disappointment after suffering his first defeat since taking charge of the team.

The Pilgrims were beaten 1-0 at home by QPR and only managed one effort on target during the match.

"I'm very disappointed because simply we lacked the desire to win the duels. Those are the basics," Muslic told BBC Radio Devon.

"We had some injury doubts the last couple of days, but I don't think this was the problem and had to adapt the system because you cannot play with a back three if you only have two centre-backs.

"But I don't think this was the problem. We just lacked physicality and the difference between our players and the physicality of QPR was just immense in everything - defensively, offensively, set-plays, throw-ins.

"We lacked that desire to win duels and if you can't win duels, you don't have a chance."

Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City have cooled their interest in a loan move for Wolves midfielder Luke Cundle after competition from Bristol City, Swansea and Millwall. (The 72, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip here.

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Plymouth Argyle head coach Miron Muslic says Morgan Whittaker is focused on helping the club, rather than leaving it.

The highly-rated 24-year-old forward has drawn interest in the last few transfer windows.

Burnley and Hull City have been linked with a bid for Whittaker this month, with the former Derby County and Swansea City man scoring a fine goal to knock Premier League side Brentford out of the FA Cup last week.

But Muslic, who replaced Wayne Rooney as head coach last Friday, says while Whittaker is ambitious, he is focused on helping the club out of the Championship relegation zone.

"It's not about how much I want to keep him at the club, it's also about what's the best for Morgan," he said.

"He's a fantastic football player. He is the player who can have one individual moment and decide the game for us. That's quality. Normally those guys cost a lot of money.

"I think the Brentford goal, that's what you get with Morgan, he can just finish the game for you or kill your opponent.

"That makes him super-interesting, I think, for a lot of other clubs and I think he's ambitious enough to also realise that he wants to take the next step.

"I like players who have ambitions and we will see then what's the best for Morgan and what's the best for us.

"Right now I consider him fully, fully as an Argyle player. Everything I saw so far over the last three or four or five days - very professional.

"One talk between us wasn't about moving or a transfer, it was about being ambitious, achieving goals, what we can achieve right now."

Miron Muslic takes charge of his second home game as Plymouth boss in the space of four days as QPR head to Home Park on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 GMT).

Argyle remain bottom, effectively four points from safety because of their goal difference, and are now 11 behind QPR, who have risen up to 13th off the back of a run of 21 points from their past 10 matches.

• Plymouth Argyle have lost just one of their past 14 league games against QPR since December 2004 (W4 D9), though six of their last seven meetings with the London side have ended in draws (L1).

• QPR have failed to win any of their past eight away league games against Argyle (D4 L4), scoring exactly one goal in each of their last seven visits.

• Plymouth have failed to win any of their past six league games against sides from London (D3 L3), scoring just two goals across those matches.

• Since the beginning of December only Leeds United (18) have won more points in the Championship than Queens Park Rangers (17), who have won five of eight matches in that period (D2 L1), after winning just two of their first 18 league matches this season (D9 L7).

• Michael Frey has scored in his past two league appearances and could be the first QPR player to net in three straight Championship outings since Chris Willock in December 2023; five of the Swiss striker's six Championship goals have come at home, however.

Image source, Rex Features

Plymouth Argyle striker Ryan Hardie is fit to play against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

The 27-year-old Scot has missed the past three games with a shoulder injury he picked up on New Year's Day.

Argyle have played Michael Baidoo up front in their past two matches, with Hardie and Muhamed Tijani out and Andre Gray having left the club.

"He did everything had to do yesterday," Argyle head coach Miron Muslic said.

"It was a big, big session and he did everything and we got the green light.

"He's selectable and I have some plans for him."

Meanwhile, centre-back Kornel Szucs is still two weeks from fitness, while fellow defender Brendan Galloway is out after picking up a quadricep injury at the end of the 1-1 draw with Oxford United on Tuesday night.

Goalkeeper Conor Hazard missed Tuesday's game with injury and is unlikely to feature against QPR.

"It's impossible for us to think only short term, because if we think only game-by-game we will lose players for weeks and months, and this is something we clearly cannot afford," Muslic added on the Northern Ireland goalkeeper.

"He's a very important player for us, so I will use him only if he is able to play 100% and if there are no risks for later.

"It's not about one or two games it's about staying up after the last game."

Leeds want to sign versatile Plymouth wing-back Bali Mumba to aid their promotion push this month. (Leeds United News, external)

The Whites are ready to let veteran French midfielder Josuha Guilavogui return home to join Paris FC just three months after his arrival at Elland Road. (Football League World, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport England

Image source, Rex Features

New boss Miron Muslic says the reception he got from Plymouth Argyle's fans was like something from "some beautiful dream".

The Austrian was given a rousing reception by the Green Army when he was introduced to supporters shortly before the 1-1 draw with Oxford United on Tuesday.

Muslic was appointed as Wayne Rooney's successor as head coach last Friday, having recently left Belgian side Cercle Bruges.

He is tasked with trying to secure Championship survival for a Pilgrims side two points adrift at the bottom of the league, having not won a match in the second tier in more than two months.

"It was very emotional. If you see the reception - that's something you cannot imagine, maybe you imagine it in some beautiful dream," he told BBC Sport after the match.

"But when you go out and you feel that, I was very impressed. I was hoping for this, but you never know.

"Now I know what it feels like to play a home game and what Home Park and the Argyle fans and the Green Army can deliver.

"I have nothing but respect for that, thank you very much, and this will also give us the boost we need and the confidence we need.

"It's like a 12th man almost for the future to face the challenge we have in front of us.

"The challenge will remain the same. It's never about the game, it's about where we'll be after the last game, and there I'm very confident."

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Goalkeeper Marko Marosi has left Plymouth Argyle following the expiration of his short-term contract.

The 31-year-old Slovakian joined the Pilgrims in September after Northern Ireland goalkeeper Conor Hazard underwent ankle surgery.

The former Shrewsbury Town and Coventry City player did not make a first-team appearance for the Pilgrims but was a regular understudy to Dan Grimshaw.

But with Hazard's return to fitness Argyle have enough goalkeeping cover.

"Despite not making an appearance for Argyle, Marko has been an exemplary squad member and provided valuable cover while Conor Hazard was out with injury," a club statement read.

"He showed true professionalism during his time at the club and everyone at Argyle would like to wish Marko all the best for his future career."

Image source, Rex Features

Defender Saxon Earley has returned to Plymouth Argyle after spending the first half of the season on loan at Lincoln City.

The 22-year-old failed to make an appearance in League One for the Imps but played twice in the EFL Trophy and featured in their 4-0 win at Chesham United in the FA Cup first round in November.

Earley started his career with Norwich City before joining Argyle in January 2023 and has scored two goals in five starts.

He ended last season on loan at Wycombe Wanderers.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport England

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Miron Muslic says he has not had any time to think about Plymouth Argyle's forthcoming FA Cup tie against Premier League leaders Liverpool.

The Pilgrims will face the six times champions of Europe early next month after beating Brentford in the third round on Saturday.

Muslic, who was appointed late on Friday night, was in the stands for the victory and takes charge of his first game on Tuesday night when Argyle host fellow Championship strugglers Oxford United.

The Pilgrims are bottom of the second tier and parted company with head coach Wayne Rooney on 31 December.

The Liverpool tie will be Muslic's sixth game in charge, five of which are at Home Park.

"I'm not thinking about stuff like this," Muslic told BBC Sport when asked about Liverpool's visit.

"The last 72 hours has been so much for me and I've tried to maximize my attention towards the team.

"I tried maximise my attention towards the things I can immediately impact, and this is my team and Oxford and QPR next Saturday.

"Liverpool is far, far away. So when Liverpool is in front of us two days before I will jump in on Arne Slot and Liverpool for sure, but not before."

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport England

Image source, Rex Features

New Plymouth Argyle head coach Miron Muslic says he has been impressed with the support he has had in his first few days in the job.

The 42-year-old Austrian has taken charge of the Championship's bottom side after Wayne Rooney left the club on 31 December.

Muslic was in the stands for Argyle's 1-0 FA Cup third round win at Premier League side Brentford before returning to Devon alongside members of the club's renowned fanbase.

"I'm here for 72 hours and I met a million people in the last 72 hours, but every time I had the feeling 'these are good people, these are honest, hardworking, straight people," he told BBC Sport.

"Maybe that's why I also felt immediately this connection, because I'm also trying to be hardworking, try to be honest, try to be straight, try to be open minded.

"I had a very interesting trip from London to Plymouth on the train for four hours with the Green Army. I know every single supporter in and out, but it was very important for me to be on that train.

"I was not expecting this, but at this moment I realised it means a lot to them.

"And it means a lot to me. This is now my new home, this is my club, these are my colours, this is also my patch and I'm here to give it my all."