Blackburn Rovers vs Plymouth Argyle. Sky Bet Championship.
Ewood ParkAttendance14,108.
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Blackburn Rovers and Plymouth Argyle at Ewood Park on Saturday | Morgan Whittaker's equaliser cancels out Sammie Szmodics early opener as points are shared
Saturday 9 March 2024 18:31, UK
Morgan Whittaker's 19th goal of the season gave Plymouth a valuable 1-1 draw at 10-man Blackburn in the Sky Bet Championship.
The struggling duo both went into this game knowing they could be in the bottom three by the end of the day and the early signs were good for Rovers, who led through Sammie Szmodics' 27th goal of the season.
But the hosts elected to sit in and protect their lead, with that approach yielding chances to the impressive Pilgrims who created numerous opportunities in the first half, with Ryan Hardie and Bali Mumba both fluffing their lines with just the goalkeeper to beat.
Plymouth's chances improved when Kyle McFadzean was sent off early in the second half and they rescued a point their performance deserved when Whittaker slammed home at the far post in the 74th minute.
Both sides are three points clear of danger but where they would be without two of the Championship's leading marksmen is anyone's guess.
The wait for a first win under John Eustace goes on for Blackburn who are winless in seven and although Argyle have won once in that time, there was plenty to be encouraged by at Ewood Park.
Blackburn settled quickest and clinically took the lead in the seventh minute when Yasin Ayari found Szmodics 20 yards out, who stepped inside and curled the ball superbly into the right corner.
But Plymouth settled and Hardie, having already stung Leo Wahlstedt's palms, missed a gilt-edged chance when a long clearance fooled the Rovers defence but, with just the goalkeeper to beat, he slotted wide.
They should have immediately paid the price when Szmodics found Arnor Sigurdsson 12 yards out but he struck the outside of the post with the goal at his mercy.
Plymouth opened Blackburn up once again in the 32nd minute but Mumba's touch was poor, allowing Wahlstedt to gather.
The chances continued and Lewis Gibson's ball found Mickel Miller, who skidded a shot past the far post as the onslaught continued.
Blackburn's vulnerability to the long ball was exploited when McFadzean was dismissed after hauling Hardie down when he was through on goal.
The visitors came close again just after the hour when Hardie evaded a tackle before rolling the ball wide.
Plymouth's pressure finally paid off 16 minutes from time when Miller's cross found substitute Alfie Devine, whose left-foot shot was brilliantly saved by Wahlstedt. Although Hardie's rebound was blocked on the line, there was no denying Whittaker who slotted home at the far post.
To their credit, Blackburn pushed for a winner and only a save from sprawling goalkeeper Michael Cooper denied Harry Pickering just minutes later.
Whittaker almost won it with a piledriver that flew past the post but Plymouth had to settle for a point.
Blackburn's John Eustace:
"I thought we started the game really well, played some really good football, scored a fantastic goal, had a great chance to go 2-0 up which we didn't take unfortunately.
"Plymouth then had a couple of good chances themselves. We came in at half-time, adjusted a couple of things, started the second half quite well and obviously going down to 10 men, it's a different game.
"I thought the character the group showed, the togetherness, the fight not to lose the game was very evident for everyone to see.
"I think the way the boys defended, fought, scrapped, and stuck together against a good attacking team and limited them to hardly anything really second half - they had pressure but no real clear-cut chances, maybe one. But we still had a couple of half-chances ourselves.
"The big positives to take out of the game...the way the group really stuck together and fought. You can see the fight is there that we want to stay in this league."
Plymouth's Ian Foster:
"A lot of people will look at the game, see the result, see the sending off and think we've only scored because they've been reduced to 10 men.
"Before their goal and after their goal, we've dominated the game, literally from start to finish.
"The whole 95 minutes we've been the team on top - 20 shots away from home, our xG is through the roof and the only disappointment that we go away with is that we haven't converted all those chances, or some of them.
"I'm really proud of the players. We picked the team today to dominate the ball. We felt that we could here and we did that - 66 per cent I think in the first half.
"I've never witnessed a team 1-0 up at half-time getting booed off. (It's a) quite unique thing to see and hear but that just shows you the dominance we had in the first 45 minutes.
"No halves are ever the same but the players continued to knock on the door and we eventually got what we deserved.
"We're all that little bit disappointed to come away with just the one point."
