Blackburn Rovers' Adam Forshaw celebrates his first goal for nearly nine years, the opener against former club Plymouth Argyle
Adam Forshaw's first goal for nearly nine years set Blackburn Rovers on their way to a 2-0 victory which ended Plymouth Argyle's remarkable run of victories.
The midfielder, signed from the Pilgrims last month, had not found the net since he scored for Middlesbrough against Reading in April 2016, but his timing was perfect to maintain Rovers' push for a Championship play-off place.
Plymouth have had a phenomenal fortnight, their famous FA Cup win over Liverpool being sandwiched by important league wins over West Bromwich Albion and Millwall, but Tyrhys Dolan made it back-to-back league wins for the Lancashire side.
The Pilgrims' defeat was worsened by the sight of cup hero and leading goalscorer Ryan Hardie being forced off through injury in the first half.
Plymouth have rallied spectacularly under new manager Miron Muslic, also beating Premier League side Brentford in the FA Cup, and losing only two out of eight in all competitions, but they came up against a Rovers side seeking their first win over them since 1992.
With David Lowe in caretaker charge following the departure of John Eustace this week, they beat West Bromwich Albion in midweek, and this made it two from two for the former Leicester City winger.
Dolan scorned a great early chance by failing to connect properly with a header, but the sight of Hardie being forced off, after he had scored five goals in his previous three games, simply made Plymouth's task even more difficult.
Callum Wright crossed for Mustapha Bundu to head goalwards but Blackburn goalkeeper Aynsley Pears was perfectly positioned to save, before Wright blazed the visitors' best chance over the bar in a goalless first half.
Ten minutes after the break, Forshaw, who only left the Devon club 35 days ago, came up with that rare goal - only his 15th in more than 350 appearances - to break the deadlock.
It was fashioned by Dolan, doing well to touch on Callum Brittain's cross, and the 33-year-old midfielder's looping effort was enough to beat Conor Hazard.
Blackburn pushed for a second as Makhtar Gueye's header was well saved by Hazard, and defender Yuri Ribeiro stabbed a shot just wide, but Dolan secured the points with 12 minutes to go.
Augustus Kargbo was instrumental, playing a one-two with Gueye and then finding Dolan to finish.
Blackburn caretaker manager David Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"It's been a hectic few days but the players have applied themselves brilliantly and I'm really pleased they gave a good show for the fans at Ewood [Park].
"We played some decent football in the first half without getting any reward, and second half the quick play and movement, in and out of possession, was really good. We were prepared to tackle and win second balls, and then to play football and score two quality goals.
[On Forshaw's goal] "He was saying he hasn't scored many goals over the years but in fairness to him today he managed to get into the penalty area and it was a fantastic finish.
"I'm pleased for him because he's a terrific pro and has been really good since he's been at the club, setting good habits for the young players."
Plymouth head coach Miron Muslic told BBC Devon:
"We found the right balance before the Liverpool game, and found the right balance after it to deliver a performance like we did against Millwall and win the game.
"No-one can expect us to ride from victory to victory every three days, but we are very competitive and in a better place than three or four weeks ago.
"We have closed the gap. A lot of teams are involved in this [relegation] scenario, six or seven at least, and it's up to us to keep a cool mind and keep this organisation, structure and intensity - and then we can get all the points we need to stay up.
[On Hardie] "We have to wait, such an important player, and he will have to go straight to the specialist to see, but there is a back issue with his nerves."
