IT FELT for much of the second half it would be only a matter of time before Rovers would manage to break Plymouth down and find what would have proven to be a crucial second goal.

But as a succession of chances came and went, the minutes ticked away and the reality of yet more points dropped by Rovers to one of the division’s strugglers became apparent.

Back-to-back home games against the Pilgrims and Portsmouth offered Rovers the chance to move up the table after the disappointment of Oldham last Saturday but once again the Ewood faithful were left frustrated as the hosts failed to win for the sixth time this season.

For all their attacking options Rovers have now scored more than once in just three of their 11 league matches and of their 25 attempts, only four were on target. 

The last meeting between the two sides on the final day of the 1991/92 Division Two campaign saw Rovers book their place in the play-offs which would eventually see them promoted to the Premier League. The Ewood meeting that season came in the same week in which Kenny Dalglish was appointed Rovers manager. In 1991 he watched from the stands as his side pulled off an impressive 5-2 victory over Plymouth.

There was less fanfare this time around although it was still an important test for Tony Mowbray’s men.

The opening 10 minutes were played exclusively in the Plymouth half as the visitors packed men behind the ball. Rovers should have been ahead inside five minutes when unmarked Ryan Nyambe on his return to the side fired wide from eight yards after a Charlie Mulgrew corner.

Plymouth’s Joel Grant saw an effort deflected wide at the other end but the pattern of Rovers staying patient and trying to break the visitors down soon continued.

Bradley Dack, recalled in place of Craig Conway, had two good opportunities within a minute. First he headed over an Elliott Bennett cross before failing to find the target following excellent play down the left by Derrick Williams.

Rovers continued to pass and probe and had a great chance just before the half hour, only for Richie Smallwood to fire over from the edge of the box when a loose ball fell his way.

Then came the sucker punch. With their first shot on goal Plymouth took the lead. Graham Carey needed no invitation to draw back his left foot and arrow a shot in to the far corner away from the despairing dive of David Raya.

There was little sign of a response from Rovers with a Bennett strike which landed on the roof of the net one of the few efforts they could muster as the frustration began to grow.

But when they needed it most the home side’s front two stepped up. Graham played in Dack who fired through the legs of Kyle Letheren to level the scores and probably saved Rovers from being booed off.

The second half started much like the first with the hosts dominating the ball and Plymouth waiting for their chance.

Rovers were beginning to ramp up the pressure and spurned three good chances before the hour.

Antonsson fired over from 10 yards after being found by Bennett who was also the provider for a Graham header which he couldn’t keep on target from six yards. Dack then saw a goalbound shot deflected over.

It seemed only a matter of time before Rovers did take the lead.

Paul Caddis was denied by a Gary Sawyer goal-line clearance before Mowbray turned to his bench and threw on Harry Chapman and Dominic Samuel.

Rovers continued to carry the greater threat but Raya had to be alert to push away a fizzing Carey effort at the other end.

And in the closing stages the game slipped away from Rovers who, for all their attacking players on the pitch, looked short of ideas.

Sub Ben Gladwin did nearly win it late on but he couldn’t find a finish from two yards after Samuel’s cross-shot was deflected into his path and the final whistle was greeted with derision from the stands.