“Wayne Rooney’s Stunning First Championship Victory: Plymouth’s Last-Minute Thriller Topples Unbeaten Sunderland!”
Wayne Rooney expressed his joy after securing his first Championship victory as Plymouth boss with a thrilling 3-2 win at home against previously unbeaten leaders Sunderland.
Captain Joe Edwards netted a stoppage-time winner after Romaine Mundle had equalized Ryan Hardie’s second-half penalty, which had initially given Plymouth a 2-1 lead. Sunderland’s Patrick Roberts had given his team the lead with a first-half penalty, but Daniel Ballard’s own goal restored parity.
Rooney commented: “We’re thrilled with the three points. I’m pleased for the players because they put in a lot of effort. Every win is significant. We had some strong performances across the board.
“We were a bit sloppy in the first half, conceding a penalty and going in 1-0 down at halftime. I told the team to increase their energy, take more shots, and the game would open up for us.
“We improved in the second half with more energy, delivering crosses, and getting players into the box. When they equalized, it felt like a setback, but Joe’s late winner was crucial. Having a good captain makes my job easier. Ryan came off the bench, won a penalty, and scored to put us ahead 2-1.
“It’s always satisfying to win, and getting our first league victory is a relief. Now we look forward to the next win. I’m genuinely happy for the team and the fans who have supported us. This could be the start of a positive run. I anticipated a late winner, though not quite this late. I had to make crucial decisions about the starting and finishing lineup.”
Sunderland’s head coach, Regis Le Bris, took a measured approach after the match: “We managed to score two goals away, which is never easy, but we conceded three, which is our issue.
“We had some control in the first half, but it wasn’t strong, and we struggled with their wingers. We had chances to disrupt their defense but didn’t capitalize on our possession.
“A key point is that we need to balance having the ball with defending effectively and creating opportunities. The game became more chaotic with many second balls, and we lost possession several times, leaving us vulnerable to their attacks.
“We need to learn from this experience. Even when we’re not playing well, we should manage the game to secure a win or at least maintain the score. Observing the reaction in the dressing room has been interesting—we’re not overly optimistic after our four wins, nor overly pessimistic after a loss.
“It’s now a matter of finding balance.”
