Plymouth Argyle’s dismal run of form continued on Sunday, with a defeat to Oxford United sparking furious chants of “sacked in the morning” aimed at manager Wayne Rooney.
The Manchester United legend cut a disgruntled figure on the touchline as the Pilgrims slumped to their 13th defeat of the season, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the Championship table. The Kassam Stadium faithful made their discontent clear, with Rooney’s tactics and team selection coming under intense scrutiny.
The 39-year-old head coach faced further criticism on social media, with Plymouth fans urging him to leave the club. Addressing the backlash, Rooney acknowledged the fans’ frustration, saying: “I think you have to look at every possible outcome. I think that’s normal with the results we are going through. You have to feel can you turn it around, have you got the players to turn it around, can I turn it around, can the coaches turn it around.”
Rooney, who played for Manchester United and England, also drew on his own experiences as a player and fan, saying: “I get it, I understand it. I have been there myself when I was young. I have been there as a fan and you want to see your team win, you want to see your team running, you want to see them tackling. When you are losing games, as we are, that frustration is there. I get it, I don’t take it personally.”
Meanwhile, Rooney’s wife Coleen was spotted watching Everton play Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park, opting not to travel to Oxford to support her husband.
Plymouth will seek to turn their fortunes around on New Year’s Day, when they host Bristol City in a Championship clash.
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