Muslic looking ahead after Blackburn defeat
Argyle’s flying start to February ended at Blackburn Rovers, but Head Coach Miron Muslic was philosophical about the 2-0 defeat at Ewood Park.
Rovers started the game brightly, but Argyle improved during the first half, and went in at 0-0 at half-time. Ten minutes into the second period, former Pilgrims midfielder Adam Forshaw scored to give the home side a boost, and they always looked likely winners from that point.
Tyrhys Dolan added a second goal with 12 minutes remaining, and that was that for Argyle, who never hit the heights of recent victories against West Bromwich Albion, Liverpool and, most recently, Millwall.
Preparations will instantly turn to the games on Wednesday and Saturday coming, as the Greens meet Luton Town and Cardiff City, on the road and at home respectively. Luton are the only team below Argyle in the Sky Bet Championship table, with Cardiff three places, and four points, proud of the Pilgrims. It is a pivotal week.
Speaking after full-time at Ewood Park, Muslic said: “We struggled in the first 10 to 15 minutes. Blackburn were on us from the first whistle, wave after wave, but, after the first 10 to 15 minutes, we found our structure back. We got back in the game and had some good transition moments.
“We missed a little bit of composure to stay clean until the end. The second half was more or less the same. Blackburn opened up the game with a beautiful goal and, from there on, it was difficult for us to bounce back.
“The plan was to be structured, to be organised and then have some moments when we find the gaps for transition. I think we had them, but we have to be better and more calm in those moments.
“Don't forget, it's still Blackburn, a play-off team. They have all the quality to maintain the pressure and to keep attacking us.
“We tried to go all-in in the last 15 minutes, as we prepared another offensive play. Exactly in this moment, we concede. We then had a big chance, for [Michael] Baidoo from Adam [Randell’s] early cross. [If that goes in, then] you never know for the last five or six minutes, but, in the end, it was a deserved win for Blackburn.
“It is a little step back for us, but we will not continue this journey riding from win to win. The most important thing is that we are way more competitive than we have been just weeks ago.
“We have to go again in a couple of days. We have a big one in front of us, then a big, big week in front of us, with two massive games. These are the games we want to compete in and collect points.”
