WAYNE Rooney criticised his Plymouth Argyle players for not doing the basics well enough as his first match as head coach ended in a 4-0 defeat by Sheffield Wednesday.
The Pilgrims came under pressure from the start of their Championship season-opener, in front of a passionate crowd of close to 30,000 at Hillsborough, and could not at any point stem the tide of attacking play from the Owls.
Argyle trailed 1-0 at half-time, after a 35th minute goal from Jamal Lowe, and Wednesday went further ahead after an own goal from defender Brendan Galloway early in the second period. Josh Windass and substitute Michael Smith then got on the scoresheet in the closing stages.
When asked for his reaction to the opening day defeat, Rooney replied: “Disappointed, angry, surprised. I think from everything I have seen from the players throughout pre-season today was a big surprise to me.
“We expected a tough game, a good atmosphere. We knew it was important to try to get through the first 20 minutes and then try to get some composure and some calmness to the game, and we didn’t manage to do that.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Van Gogh oil protest pair are jailed
TWO Just Stop Oil activists have been jailed for pouring soup over Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers, after they came close to “destroying” the masterpiece.
Whittaker is wanted but happy to remain a Pilgrim
ARGYLE FORWARD HAS ASPIRATIONS TO PLAY HIGHER, BUT NOT JUST YET
How Argyle played a role in Merson taking Walsall job
EX-FOOTBALLER turned Strictly Come Dancing star Paul Merson made his name winning trophies with Arsenal and starring for England in the 1990s - but his ill-fated career as a manager proved less successful.
Coming home to an Albion win cured my holiday blues!
THANK goodness for that, we are finally back to enjoying the sweet taste of a home win, after sneaking a victory over Leicester Lions last weekend at the Brickfields Fortress.
Dame Maggie dies, aged 89
OSCAR-WINNING actress Dame Maggie Smith has died, aged 89.
Guitarist denies fatal crash charge
GUITARIST Josh Klinghoffer, a former Red Hot Chili Peppers member who has also played with Pearl Jam, has pleaded not guilty through his lawyer to a misdemeanour manslaughter charge over the death of a pedestrian.
Mary's magic will sweep you away!
THE cast has been announced for Disney’s Mary Poppins ahead of its arrival in Plymouth early next year.
Pension claims are up
PENSION credit claims have hit almost 75,000 amid Government efforts to boost benefits take-up.
Danger of Lebanon crisis 'escalating much wider'
THE continuing tensions between Israel and the militant Lebanese Hezbollah group present a risk of spiralling out of control, the UK Defence Secretary has said.
Diamond days after struggle
AFRICAN ADVENTURE ‘THE PERFECT TONIC'