Rooney happy to see Argyle rewarded for their efforts

HEAD COACH NEVER LOST FAITH IN HIS PLAYERS DESPITE TRAILING AT HALF-TIME TO SUNDERLAND

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

WAYNE Rooney declared that Plymouth Argyle’s stirring second half fightback to beat Championship leaders Sunderland 3-2 at Home Park did not come as a surprise to him.

Even though his Pilgrims’ side trailed 1-0 at the interval after conceding a 24th minute penalty scored by Patrick Roberts, Rooney had confidence in his players they could turn it around if they played with more energy in the second half.

That belief proved well founded as Argyle put in a strong, determined display, firstly to take a 2-1 lead through an own goal from Daniel Ballard and a Ryan Hardie spot kick, and then after Romaine Mundle equalised in the 86th minute they clinched victory with an added time strike from captain Joe Edwards.

It was Rooney’s first Championship win as the Pilgrims’ boss, silencing some of the national narrative surrounding him and at the start of his tenure at the club, but he wanted to make sure the players got the credit for it.

“I’m delighted with the three points,” he said. “First half, we gave the ball away a little bit sloppy at times early on and then they take the lead through a penalty.

“I felt then we started getting back into the game, trying to get a little bit more control. I said to them at halftime if we upped the energy, got players in the box and got shots off we would win the game, I really did feel that. They have gone out and did exactly what I asked and we get the reward. I’m pleased for the lads because I think they deserved that.”