As Blackburn Rovers fought back from a goal behind to draw 1-1 at home to in-form Millwall, John Eustace was pleased with his team’s character and fight as they managed to pick up their 22nd home point of the 2023-24 campaign.
“I thought the boys showed fantastic character tonight against a really difficult opponent in Millwall. They have just beaten Southampton and Watford, back-to-back and I thought we played some really good football up until the final third. That part of our game was frustrating, but Millwall made it extremely difficult. The most important thing for me is the character that the group showed after going 1-0 down against the run of play. They kept going, which was really pleasing.
“We were in control for long spells without really testing their goalkeeper, but Millwall are a team that make things very difficult. They’re a very established Championship team with good Championship players who know how to play a certain way. The way they went ahead was a typical Millwall goal, but the way we kept probing was great and I’m pleased that we got the break to level at 1-1. It was a fantastic through ball from Siggy (Arnór Sigurðsson) and Sammie (Szmodics) put it away.
“The character that the boys have shown, not just today, but since I’ve come in has been immense. I’m proud of their efforts, but we want to be better, and we want to score more goals and get more points, but if you can’t win a game, it’s important that you don’t lose it. This is the third home game in a row where we’ve not lost, which is a first for this season, against good opposition. It’s pleasing, and there’s more to come; we’ve just got to keep believing and keep doing the right things.
“I certainly hope the goals will come if we keep up the performance and control levels! We haven’t done much work in training, especially in then final third, because we’ve had back-to-back games, non-stop, so hopefully when things settle down, we get more time and various aspects to our game improves. But, again, the character that the boys showed, again, was immense.
“It’s vital that we don’t lose the games, if we can’t win them. Since we’ve come in, we’ve only had two defeats from the seven games we’ve overseen, and we’ve been in every game. We probably deserved to win a couple of those games, so we’re making big steps forwards, which is pleasing. We’ve been swamped with injuries; seven players out injured isn’t ideal when most, if not all of them are regulars. Even losing Aynsley Pears this morning, with illness, isn’t ideal, but that means we’re using the squad, and everyone gets a chance to prove themselves.
“We’re asking players to run through brick walls when they’re on their last legs and some have come in after some time in the cold. Tonight, was Kyle’s (McFadzean) sixth or seventh game in a row and he needs a rest; of course he does, but we haven’t got the right personnel to do that at the moment. The way the boys are going through some really difficult moments together, is good.
“They’re digging deep, both physically and mentally and it’s been really pleasing to see their commitment and effort as a group. Of course, we want to win games, but it’s important that we show everyone that we’re fully committed, that we don’t give up and we’ll continue to fight until the end. Coming back from a goal behind, tonight, is pleasing and it gives us an opportunity to head into Saturday’s game at home to Plymouth Argyle and try to get three points.
“The lengthening injury list is a concern, of course it is, but everyone needs to take that into consideration. They’ve also got to see that the squad of players are coming in, performing really well and remain committed. We have a ‘no excuse culture’ here at the club now and we have to get on with it. The players who are training and playing in the games, are doing well, despite the immense pressure.
“Aynsley was poorly this morning, unfortunately, but Leo (Wahlstedt) stepped in and only had the goal to deal with. Apart from that, he didn’t have much to do. He did well with the ball and marshalled the backline well, so I’m pleased for him. He’s taken his chance and he’s been fine.
“26 goals in all competitions this season for Sammie is a fantastic achievement, but we have to remember that it’s a squad game. The rest of the players have been serving him and giving him the opportunity to score and he’s been brilliant since I’ve come in. It’s not about any individual, however, it’s about the collective group. He can’t score the goals on his own, it’s up to the whole team to work hard to give him the required service for him to tuck the ball home, which they’re all doing at the moment and he’s taking his chances.”
