Blackburn Rovers (H) | Match Preview
The Game
Argyle v Blackburn Rovers. Home Park. Saturday, 2 September. 3pm. Sky Bet Championship.
The Opposition
Blackburn have accrued seven points from their four league games so far. They began with a 2-1 home win over West Bromwich Albion, before heading to Rotherham United, where they drew 2-2. In their second home game, against Hull City, Rovers had Harry Pickering sent off in the first half, and although Sam Gallagher put Blackburn in front, Hull turned the game around and won 2-1. In their most recent league fixture, last Saturday, Blackburn won 1-0 at Watford, with Ryan Hedges (below) on target.
Goals have flowed in Blackburn's Carabao Cup ties. In round one, they beat Walsall 4-3, and on Wednesday night, in the second round, they set a club record for an away win by winning 8-0 at Harrogate Town.
The Gaffer
Jon Dahl Tomasson was appointed at Blackburn in the summer of 2022, and took Rovers to seventh place in the Sky Bet Championship in his first season at the helm. His previous managerial experience came at Malmo, where he won the Swedish title in both seasons, and got them to the Champions League group stages.
As a player, Tomasson came to England to play for Newcastle United in 1997, having impressed in the Netherlands for Heerenveen. He struggled with the Magpies, but went on to have an excellent career, playing for Feyenoord, Milan, Stuttgart and Villarreal. He is also Denmark's joint top goalscorer of all time, with 52.
The Squad
Blackburn possess two former Argyle forwards in their squad. Niall Ennis, who scored Argyle's promotion sealing goal last season, left Home Park for Rovers in the summer. Thus far he has made two substitute appearances in the league, and scored on his only start, in the Carabao Cup.
Sam Gallagher never made an appearance for Argyle's first team, but the Crediton-born forward came through the Argyle Academy before signing for Southampton aged 17. He joined Blackburn for a loan spell in 2016/17, and returned to Ewood Park permanently in the summer of 2019. He has now played over 200 games over both spells, and have scored 46 goals. This season, his league appearances have all been from the bench.
Sammie Szmodics scored both goals for Blackburn in the draw at Rotherham. The midfielder scored seven goals in 41 games last season, having signed from Peterborough United. In attack, Tomasson has been going with teenage striker Harry Leonard. The highly-rated prospect scored his first professional goal in Rovers' opening day win against West Brom.
Fancy a Stat?
The last time an Argyle player scored four goals in a game was when Tommy Tynan scored all of Argyle's goals in a 4-3 win over Blackburn in November 1988.
The History
Argyle have played Blackburn 50 times, the first encounter coming in 1936. Argyle have won 20 of those contests, Blackburn 19. The sides last played in the 2017/18 season, with Argyle winning the home game 2-0, and drawing at Ewood Park, 1-1.
Prior to that, the last games came in the 1991/92 season. In October 1991, Argyle lost 5-2 in Kenny Dalglish's first game as Blackburn manager, then in the final game of the season, Blackburn won 3-1 to clinch a spot in the play-offs - which they would go on to win - seining Argyle down in the process.
Tickets
The game is sold out for home supporters.
If you have a season ticket and cannot attend, you can make your ticket available via the Ticket Exchange and receive face value credit if your ticket is resold. Find out more about the Ticket Exchange.
Argyle TV
Commentary will be provided by Charlie Price and Aaron Cusack.
Argyle TV’s pre-match show, hosted by David Wooldridge and Katie Middleton, will begin at 2pm, and is available to watch for free on YouTube.
Domestic supporters can listen to audio commentary on Argyle TV, while international supporters can buy a match pass to watch the game, here.
