Blackburn Rovers were forced to settle for their fifth draw in their last six games, as Kyle McFadzean’s second-half straight red card proved the decisive turning point that allowed Plymouth Argyle the key to unlocking their first goal in two games as Morgan Whittaker’s 19th of the campaign cancelled out Sammie Szmodics’s 21st in all competitions as the points were shared.
As Rovers were setting up for the second of their back-to-back home games this week after drawing 1-1 with Millwall on Tuesday night, John Eustace rotated two members of his team as Yasin Ayari and Arnór Sigurðsson returned to start, whilst Jake Garrett and Tyrhys Dolan dropped to the bench for the encounter, as Leopold Wahlstedt continued in goal after it was announced that Aynsley Pears was dealing with the aftermath of a concussion, which is what saw him miss Tuesday’s action. There was another return for Rovers as Ryan Hedges made his way back into the matchday squad, but was only available from the bench.
As 1,458 staunch Argyle supporters got themselves comfortable in then away end after what was surely a long drive up from Devon, 3pm approached with their side getting the game underway after the starting whistle from Andrew Kitchen. The Devonshire side, who won the reverse fixture at Home Park, 3-0 back in September were hoping that they could replicate that victory and halt their current two-match losing streak with their first Ewood Park win since 11th March 1989 – nearly 35 years to the day.
Four minutes after the visitors got the ball rolling, they were under duress as Rovers started on the front-foot looking to grab an early opener. Callum Brittain saw his long-throw into the area nodded out as far as John Buckley who answered the crowd’s shouts to shoot, but the midfielder’s volley veered wide of Michael Cooper’s net.
With seven minutes gone on the clock, Rovers looked like the side most likely to break the deadlock as Argyle seemed stunned by the home outfit’s fast start to the game. Rovers won the ball back in midfield before Yasin Ayari used Arnór Sigurðsson as a rebounder board before receiving the ball back and threading through Sammie Szmodics who was peeling off ex-Rover, Ashley Phillips who’s on-loan from Tottenham Hotspur. The prolific goalscorer again showed his ridiculous value to the team by taking a touch to create a shooting angle and curling the ball past Phillips and Cooper in goal to find the bottom right-hand corner and give Rovers the 1-0 lead.
From the shock of going behind, Plymouth bucked their ideas up and decided to give their travelling support something to shout about as they began to test Rovers’ resolve. After 15 minutes, the simplest of long balls through the heart of the Rovers defence saw Ryan Hardie slotted through on-goal as he beat the offside trap before creating a wide shooting angle, however Leopold Wahlstedt showed his quality between the posts to make the save and keep his team’s lead intact.
With 21 minutes gone on the clock, Hardie was at it again, using his pace to get behind Rovers’ back-five, however despite beating those in Blue and White and Wahlstedt in red, he couldn’t beat his own thinking as he somehow managed to curl his effort wide.
From the restart of play, Rovers moved the ball well before the three that created the goal, combined again. Ayari again picked out Szmodics who was charging forwards. The goalscorer showed his quality of vision and weight of pass to pick out the unmarked Sigurðsson across the box, however the Icelandic international’s curling effort crashed against the top of the crossbar before going behind for a Plymouth goal-kick.
Bali Mumba was causing Rovers great problems down the right-hand side as he burst forwards again in the 32nd minute after being picked out from deep, yet the right-back’s heavy touch proved perfect for Wahlstedt to come out and claim the ball, which he did with a clatter. Despite looking worse for wear after the challenge, the Swede managed to continue without treatment and without allowing Mumba the equaliser.
Moments later, Callum Brittain became the first player to be booked by Andrew Kitchen after a tug of a green shirt was spotted by the official.
Mickel Miller was next to test Leo Wahlstedt as he picked the ball up inside the box but saw his shot fly past the post as Rovers were left reeling by the 34th minute.
Three minutes later, and Wahlstedt was called upon again to make a fine save to deny the marauding Mumba. After a cross from the left was deflected into the charging full-back’s path, Mumba teed himself up before firing at goal, but Wahlstedt dived to his right to make a fine save and keep his team ahead.
After one minute of added time saw neither side fashion a real opportunity to either enhance their lead or bring the game level, Mr. Kitchen brought the first 45 minutes to an end.
John Eustace would have been on an even keel in the dressing room, as whilst he would have been delighted to have the lead, he would have also been very wary of Plymouth’s attacking threat that had nearly burnt Rovers on multiple occasions in the first period. The boss would have wanted his side to continue playing with the correct balance and try and fashion further opportunities to gain a larger cushion between the sides.
Ian Foster, in the away dressing room, would have been left gobsmacked as to how his team didn’t enter the break level after he had seen his players in green squander some gilt-edged opportunities. The former England under-18s, 19s and 20s manager would have wanted his side to continue playing their normal game and would have encouraged them to not change their tac.
After both sides re-emerged for the second period, John Buckley got the game restarted as Rovers were looking for a vital three points that would help their relegation fears and give John Eustace his first win as permanent manager.
With just nine minutes played in the second period, Rovers’ world came crashing down on them as they played right into Plymouth’s hands. Another direct ball through the heart of the high Rovers line saw Ryan Hardie gallop past the three centre-backs, leaving Kyle McFadzean in his wake. The 37-year-old then made the split-second decision to bring down the runaway attacker and was forced to leave his teammates a man light after he was given his marching orders via Andrew Kitchen’s red card.
The subsequent set-piece was played short to allow Whittaker to have a pop from range, but despite Wahlstedt nearly spilling the powerful effort, he recomposed himself to gather safely away from any incoming green shirts.
Moments after the ball was back live, play was stopped again after Bali Mumba was booked for infringing upon Arnór Sigurðsson.
With just under an hour gone, John Eustace looked to his bench for a double change to react to the red card as Jake Garrett and Tyrhys Dolan were introduced, as John Buckley and Sam Gallagher departed the field.
With 62 minutes gone, Rovers were exclusively playing on the counter-attack as Szmodics picked out Sigurðsson, but the forward couldn’t find his eighth of the season in all competitions and Rovers’ second as Cooper made the save.
Moments later, Ryan Hardie was at it again, breaking through the Rovers lines but his effort from a tight angle narrowly rolled past the far-post.
Mustapha Bundu was next to try and draw the visitors level as he released a shot from range, but Leo Wahlstedt again was determined to keep a clean-sheet as he got behind the shot to make the save.
As time passed with Plymouth holding most of the ball after the red card, both sides moved to make changes in the 72nd minute as Rovers introduced Ryan Hedges for Arnór Sigurðsson, whilst Plymouth threw on loanee duo, Alfie Devine and Darko Gyabi for Mustapha Bundo and Julio Pleguezuelo.
Those alterations seemingly did the trick for the Pilgrims as within two minutes of their arrival, they managed to force the equaliser and peg Rovers back, gaining all of the momentum in the process. Some good play in Plymouth’s own half saw them release Mickel Miller down the free on the break, in acres of space. The 28-year-old stormed down the left before pulling it back for Alfie Devine on the edge of the area. The Tottenham Hotspur man controlled the ball on the penalty area before bursting towards the six-yard box and releasing a shot that Leo Wahlstedt denied before Ryan Hardie’s follow-up was blocked on the line by Sammie Szmodics, before Morgan Whittaker popped up at the back-post to tuck home the loose ball to level proceedings at 1-1.
In the 77th minute, Rovers burst forwards and managed to fashion half-a-chance for Harry Pickering who got himself into a position to strike on the half-volley, however Cooper was alert and managed to get down quickly to stop his side from going behind again, just three minutes after the equaliser.
As Plymouth began to control the tie, pushing forward with Rovers pegged back inside their own half, Ian Foster moved to make his third and fourth changes as Matty Sorinola and Adam Randell took the places of Bali Mumba and Jordan Houghton.
In the 84th minute, Morgan Whittaker was sniffing around for a brace and what would no doubt be the winner, but his effort from range bounced past the post and went behind.
Plymouth’s final change came in the 84th minute as former Everton full-back, Brendan Galloway took the place of ex-Rover Ashley Phillips who departed the field to some boos from a section of the home crowd.
Just before four minutes of time were added onto the end of the tie, Yasin Ayari was booked for dissent in what eventually proved to be the final act of the game, as neither side managed to really manage to cause issues in the added time, as Rovers managed to fight off a late winner from the Devonshire side.
Although this game will no doubt have an asterisk on it as a result of the red card, there is no denying that Plymouth will walk away from Ewood Park feeling unlucky not to have at least scored two goals given the number of chances that they squandered. As for Rovers, it’s a case of ‘what next’ for John Eustace, who remains winless at the helm. The team lack confidence, pace, power and if not for Sammie Szmodics, the season could have turned a multitude of different ways. The fact that Rovers ended the game with two unused substitutes, is – in my opinion – unforgivable, even with ten men. However, given the situation that Rovers found themselves in, playing exclusively on the break, they would have probably not found a second goal if they were still playing now.
With a fifth draw in seven league games under Eustace in the books, Rovers are currently sat in 18th place on 41 points with a negative goal-difference of -13, just three points away from the drop zone.
Rovers’ fight for survival continues next weekend as they make the trip north to Middlesbrough on Saturday 16th March for the 3pm start, before the final international break of the campaign. After the final international fixtures before Euro 2024 are wrapped up, Rovers return to action on home soil as they host Ipswich Town on Good Friday (29th March) at 5:30pm, in a game that will be live on Sky Sports. After that clash, the Blues are back in the North East to battle Sunderland on Easter Monday, at 3pm.
