How Plymouth Argyle were allowed to make six substitutes against QPR.
Julio Pleguezuelo, Mickel Miller, Adam Randell, Mustapha Bundu, Joe Edwards and Matt Butcher all came off the bench during the 0-0 draw at Loftus Road
Matt Butcher came on in the 87th minute to replace Luke Cundle in Plymouth Argyle’s 0-0 draw at Queens Park Rangers, the club’s sixth replacement of the game.
Normally, clubs can only employ five of the nine players on their bench, therefore the substitution of Butcher for Cundle prompted some doubt as to whether a mistake had been committed. However, it did not violate any rules because QPR was obliged to replace Ziyad Larkeche, himself a half-time substitute, due to a concussion in the 72nd minute.
He collided with Adam Randell when they competed for a header and tumbled heavily to the ground, but referee Tony Harrington gave a free-kick to Argyle rather than QPR.
How Plymouth Argyle were allowed to make six substitutes against QPR
Larkeche was immediately assessed by Rangers‘ medical team, and while it was evident he wanted to continue playing, he was eventually convinced to leave the field, and Taylor Richards took over.
When a team is forced to make a ‘concussion replacement,’ they can make up to six substitutions during the game instead of five, and the other side can do the same for competitive balance.
“That actually did us a bit of a favour because Cunds had just gotten a yellow card and looked like he had run out of gas,” Argyle manager Steven Schumacher remarked.
“Obviously, we don’t want the lad to go down with a concussion.” It didn’t seem well; it was sluggish. He simply collided with Rands’ shoulder.
“I hope he’s okay but that gave us an extra chance to make substitution and that helped – the last bit of luck away from home we have had in ages!”
After Dan Scarr’s departure in the 25th minute, Schumacher made his first substitution, bringing in defender Julio Pleguezuelo, with midfielder Finn Azaz the unfortunate player to be sacrificed.
In the 57th minute, Mickel Miller and Adam Randell were substituted for Bali Mumba and Morgan Whittaker as the 10-man Pilgrims moved to a five-man defence in response to mounting pressure from QPR.
Mustapha Bundu and Joe Edwards replaced Ryan Hardie and Kaine Kesler-Hayden in the 77th minute, before Butcher came on for Cundle, moments after he had been booked for a foul on Paul Smyth.
