WAYNE Rooney says Plymouth Argyle are being let down by their play in the final third of the pitch and that has got to improve.
Not for the first time in the early stages of the 2024/25 season, the Pilgrims' boss raised that issue after they lost 0-1 to Steven Schumacher's Stoke City in front of almost 17,000 fans at Home Park.
Argyle had good chances throughout the game and forced the visitors' keeper Viktor Johansson into some fine saves but they were beaten by a well-taken 83rd-minute goal from Million Manhoef.
Argyle are 22nd in the Championship, winless and with two points from their first four games, going into the first of four two-week international breaks this term. Rooney said: "The first 15 minutes we didn't press with enough aggression I felt, and Stoke were trying to play balls in behind. We didn't deal with them well enough.
"From there, I felt we took control of the game. Second half, I felt it looked like it was going to be us who scored. Again, I'm sitting here talking about being clinical and being ruthless. If we do that today, I think we win the game.
"We allowed Stoke to still be a threat, especially on transition, second half and they get a goal towards the end. Disappointed with the result but I think there was lots of good things in the game.
"The big thing for us at the minute is we need to be more clinical. It's the same message I have given the first four games really so that's frustrating."
With the game goalless in the 61st minute, summer signings Michael Obafemi and Muhamed Tijani were sent on for their home debuts when they replaced Ryan Hardie and Darko Gyabi respectively.
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