Szmodics strikes again for Eustace

PROUD Blackburn boss John Eustace praised the “togetherness” of his 10-man side as they dug deep for a battling point against the Pilgrims.

Championship leading scorer Sammie Szmodics gave the hosts the perfect start when he rifled them ahead with a sweet rightfoot strike after only seven minutes for his 21st goal of the season.

But central defender Kyle Mcfadzean was sent off for the first time in three years early in the second half and Rovers found themselves under the cosh.

Mcfadzean hauled down Ryan Hardie as the last man and referee Andrew Kitchen had no choice but to give him his marching orders.

And the pressure told when forward Morgan Whittaker levelled for Argyle with a fine right-foot finish 16 minutes from time for his 18th league goal of a fine campaign.

Whittaker could have won it for the visitors late on but he fired frustratingly wide.

“Going down to 10 men, well it’s a different game then,” said Eustace.

“But I thought the character of the group showed, their togetherness and fight to not lose the game was very evident.

“We started well and scored a fantastic goal but we had a great chance to go 2-0 up and we didn’t take it unfortunately.

“I think you can see the fight’s there that we want to stay in this league.”

Pilgrims manager Ian Foster said: “A point is the very least we deserved.

“We’ve dominated the game. The only disappointment is that we haven’t covered more of the chances we created.”

BLACKBURN: Wahlstedt 7; Hyam 6, Mcfadzean 4, Wharton 6; Brittain 6, Ayari 7, Buckley 6 (Garrett (59) 5), Pickering 6; Gallagher 6 (Dolan (59) 5), Sigurdsson 6 (Hedges (72) 6); Szmodics 8 PLYMOUTH: Cooper 6; Pleguezuelo 6 (Gyabi (72) 6), Phillips 6 (Galloway (84) 6), Gibson 6; Mumba (Sorinola (80) 6), Forshaw 7, Houghton 6 (Randell (80) 6), Miller 6; Whittaker 7, Bundu 6 (Devine (72) 6); Hardie 6 STAR MAN: Sammie Szmodics – Championship top scorer earned a precious point with 21st league goal. REF: Andrew Kitchen 7