WAYNE ROONEY SAID he was “angry and surprised” at his team’s performance after his first game in charge of Plymouth ended in a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.
Rooney is back in management after being appointed by the Pilgrims in May after being sacked from his previous job as Birmingham head coach in January.
He won just two of his 15 games at Birmingham and Owls debutant Jamal Lowe, Brendan Galloway’s own goal, Josh Windass and substitute Michael Smith ensured a miserable start to his latest role as the Owls ran riot at Hillsborough.
The former England striker said of Plymouth’s performance: “Disappointed, angry, surprised. After everything we saw in pre-season, I was surprised.”
“We expected a tough game and it was important to try to get through the first 20 minutes.
“The fundamentals of the game were not good enough today. Be it getting the ball, tackling, being aggressive.
“We knew that Sheffield Wednesday were one of the best teams in the league last season in terms of crossing and back passes and all four of their goals came from back passes.
“Today it wasn’t good enough, I think that’s clear.”
Rooney started last season’s top scorer Morgan Whittaker but left goalkeeper Michael Cooper on the bench amid speculation over both players’ futures at Home Park.
“I don’t think (the performance) had anything to do with the situation of Michael Cooper or Morgan Whittaker,” Rooney added.
“Morgan was really happy and showed no signs of leaving the club.
“We didn’t implement the fundamentals properly. We had a game plan, but we didn’t execute it well at all.”
“I’m really surprised. This is not what I saw throughout the preseason, neither in the games nor on the training ground. This is a wake-up call for all of us.”
“I don’t think it’s time to panic. It’s the first game of the season. Of course we’re disappointed, but it’s not time to panic.”
“I have seen the work we have done throughout the preseason and that gives me courage.
“I think you have to give credit to Sheffield Wednesday. I thought they were really good and made it difficult for us.”
Owls boss Danny Rohl, who signed a new long-term contract in May after saving the club from relegation, said his side’s performance was the culmination of a successful pre-season.
The former assistant coach of the German national team and FC Bayern Munich, who is playing his first full season at Hillsborough, said: “We have worked hard over the last six weeks, with lots of long training sessions and good friendlies.
“I think it was very helpful and we were very good from the first minute today. That’s the dominant football I want to see. I like that.”
“Four goals, three points. We will continue this performance and then we will see what happens.”
