Eustace’s verdict on Blackburn red card and Plymouth draw which saw him axed out but unfortunately…
John Eustace was pleased with the way Blackburn Rovers limited Plymouth Argyle to few clear-cut chances after being reduced to ten men.
The visitors spurned multiple opportunities to equalise in the first half after Sam Szmodics had scored an excellent early goal for his 27th of the season.
Kyle McFadzean’s red card ten minutes into the second half changed the game with Rovers then forced to protect what they had. The team dug in but Morgan Whittaker broke their resolve after a goal-mouth scramble.
Rovers managed to hang on for a point, which makes them winless in seven matches since Eustace took over as head coach. The boss was pleased with the way they managed the game when they were a man down.
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“I thought we started the game really well, played some good football,” Eustace said.
“We scored a very good goal and had the chance to go 2-0 up but we didn’t take it unfortunately. Plymouth had a few good chances as well themselves.
“It was a bit open but that’s the way they play as well. They’re an attacking team and we knew that would be how would it be. We knew we would have chances on the turnover, the game was how I thought.
“We’re disappointed not to win but pleased we didn’t lose it.
“We adjusted a few things at half time and started the second half quite well. We changed a few things with the front players but we didn’t have time to see that. We went down to ten men and it becomes a different game then.
“I thought the character the group showed, the fight and togetherness was pretty evident for everyone to see.
“They fought and scrapped against a good attacking team and we limited them to hardly anything in the second half. They had pressure but only real one chance. We had a few half chances ourselves.
“They weren’t really damaging us, it’s about being hard to beat and staying together. We limited them to one or two chances and we were always a threat on the break.
“The boys stuck together, the fans were magnificent and got us through difficult moments.”
On the red card incident itself, McFadzean brought down Ryan Hardie with the striker through on goal. Eustace didn’t have any real complaints with the decision.
“I think it was a coming together, I haven’t seen it back,” Eustace said.
“I think Dom (Hyam) was quite close as well. I’ll have to look at that again. Listen, we have to look at the positive which was the way the team stuck together and fought.
“You can see the team wants to stay in the league.”
