Ian Holloway's 10-man Plymouth had to settle for a draw on their manager's return to QPR after Lee Cook's second-half equaliser rescued a Coca-Cola Championship point for the relegation-threatened home side.

Holloway, who was in charge of Rangers for five years before he was placed on 'gardening leave' last February, looked likely to guide Argyle to their first league win at Loftus Road since 1949 when Lilian Nalis headed them in front in the 32nd minute.

But Cook's scrappy effort in the 59th minute allowed struggling Rangers to claim another point in their fight against the drop, before Nalis was sent off in the 80th minute for a second booking - but QPR could not make their late pressure count.

The unchanged home side, who began the day two points clear of the relegation zone, started the match full of purpose, and should have taken the lead inside a minute.

Cook's clever pass was deflected into the path of Dexter Blackstock, who was clean through but waited too long to shoot, allowing Luke McCormick to make a fine save.

When Martin Rowlands headed the ball back into the danger zone, McCormick did well again to push away Cook's close-range effort.

But John Gregory's men steadily lost their way, allowing Argyle - who began the day 11th in the table - back into the match.

With their second real attempt on goal, the visitors took the lead, Krisztian Timar heading Paul Connolly's free-kick into the path of Nalis, who nodded the ball into the bottom-left corner from eight yards.

The excellent McCormick frustrated Rangers again in the final minute of the half, diving bravely at the feet of both Rowlands and Blackstock and sustaining an injury in the process.

However, the knock did not prevent him from finishing the half.

Rangers showed little improvement after the break, but managed to haul themselves level in the 59th minute.

Gareth Ainsworth's low shot was deflected wide by Marcel Seip and, with Rowlands' resulting corner causing confusion in the Plymouth box, Cook volleyed in from six yards after McCormick had blocked his original effort.

Argyle protested loudly to referee Richard Beeby that there had been infringement following the corner, but the goal stood.

At the other end, Rangers' on-loan goalkeeper Lee Camp saved well from David Norris after substitute Peter Halmosi had put him through, before Rowlands raced onto Blackstock's flick-on but was just off target with an angled lob.

Rangers continued to search for the winner, and Blackstock headed just wide from Cook's curling free-kick in the 79th minute.

Nalis' afternoon turned sour 10 minutes from time when he was shown his second yellow card for kicking the ball away, before McCormick made another excellent save from substitute Paul Furlong in the last minute.

Furlong then saw a volley ruled out for offside in stoppage-time.

Teams:

QPR Camp, Mancienne, Cullip, Stewart, Timoska, Ainsworth,Lomas, Bolder, Rowlands (Furlong 81), Cook, Blackstock.

Subs Not Used: Cole, Kanyuka, Ray Jones, Smith.

Booked: Bolder, Cullip.

Goals: Cook 59.

Plymouth McCormick, Connolly, Timar, Seip, Sawyer,Gosling (Halmosi 64), Nalis, Norris, Sinclair,Ebanks-Blake (Hodges 82), Fallon.

Subs Not Used: Doumbe, Summerfield, Djordjic.

Sent Off: Nalis (80).

Booked: Nalis, Norris.

Goals: Nalis 32.

Att: 13,757

Ref: R Beeby (Northamptonshire).