A backing plate for drywall repair has a body having an outer periphery, and a thickness substantially less than any dimension at right angles to the thickness, made from a semi-rigid material, the body exhibiting two opposite, parallel planar surfaces, a plurality of guiding indentions arranged in a closely-spaced pattern on a first one of the parallel planar surfaces of the body, each guiding indention extending into the body for a first dimension less than the thickness of the body, having an intersection of a first area in the planar surface, and a parallel area diminishing with depth of the guiding indention, and, at the full depth of each guiding indention, a through hole of a diameter centered on the guiding indention and passing through the body and out the opposite planar surface.