[themaclad]

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
HOME PARK 26/10/2024 15.00 HRS

Second time in about 6 months the 12 hour round trip awaits alarm set for 4 am and no won' be listening to Faron Young

https://www.pafc.co.uk/

MANAGER



Derby County
After a poor start to the 2020–21 season saw Derby County bottom of the Championship table – their lowest position for 12 years – Derby boss Phillip Cocu was sacked, and Rooney was appointed as part of a four-man interim coaching staff alongside Liam Rosenior, Shay Given and Justin Walker on 14 November 2020.[328] His debut a week later saw Derby lose 1–0 at Bristol City to leave them at the foot of the table and three points from safety, though Rooney said he could guarantee that the side would "get better (and) get out of the situation we're in and... start winning games."[329] Following a "painful and chastening" 3–0 defeat to Middlesbrough it was announced that Rooney would take sole control of the side for the next match and had removed himself from the playing squad,[267] with Rooney making clear his desire to take the role full time.[268] Rooney started sole charge with The Rams in 24th, six points adrift of safety and on a run of four consecutive defeats; after improving Derby's form enough to get them out of the relegation zone he was appointed as permanent manager on 15 January.[269]

By mid-February 2021, having accrued 31 points from a possible 54 in his 18 games in sole charge, taking Derby up to 18th in the league and eight points clear of the relegation zone, Rooney was feted by the press for "convincing the doubters"[330] and found himself as 25/1 outsider for the Celtic job following the resignation of Neil Lennon.[331] Following this, however, form faltered badly with just one win from fourteen leaving Derby firmly in trouble,[332] with Rooney's side being criticised for their poor game management and sloppy defending[333] and suggestion that Rooney came across "as a manager who’s accepted defeat, who’s surrender [sic] himself to whatever results might come his way" and should be replaced.[332] Others defended Rooney, saying that though he had made mistakes, particularly in making "too many changes to personnel and shape/tactics" he had not been helped by injuries and too many players who had "been inconsistent (and) unable to maintain form both during a game and from game to game."[334] However, at the last match of the season, Derby County drew 3–3 at home with Sheffield Wednesday to barely avoid relegation.[335]

Incurring 21 points of deductions, Derby were relegated to League One at the end of the 2021–22 season, having spent almost the entire season in administration. With Derby still in administration going into the League One season, Rooney resigned as manager on 24 June 2022.[336][337]

D.C. United
On 12 July 2022, Rooney was announced as head coach for his former club, MLS side D.C. United.[338] He replaced outgoing manager Hernán Losada, on a contract to the end of the 2023 season.[339]

Rooney won 2–1 at home to Orlando City on his debut on 31 July 2022,[340] and picked up 9 points from the 14 last games of the season as his team ranked last in the Eastern Conference.[341][342]

At the end of the 2023 regular season, on 8 October, Rooney and the club agreed to mutually part ways, after United failed to qualify for the playoffs for a second straight season.[343]

Birmingham City
On 11 October 2023, Rooney made his return to English football as he was appointed manager of EFL Championship club Birmingham City on a three-and-a-half-year contract. He was appointed by American new owners Shelby Companies Limited, and replaced the sacked John Eustace at the sixth-placed club. Rooney brought his former teammates Ashley Cole and John O'Shea into his coaching staff.[344]

On his debut ten days later, Rooney's team lost 1–0 at Middlesbrough, managed by his former United and England teammate Michael Carrick.[345] He earned one point from his first five games, seeing his team fall to 18th in the table.[346] Rooney earned his first victory as Birmingham manager with a 2–1 defeat of bottom side Sheffield Wednesday on 25 November 2023.[347]

On 2 January 2024, Rooney was sacked by the club after winning just twice in 15 matches,[348] leaving Birmingham in 20th position.[349] Both before and after his tenure at St Andrew's, Rooney was likened to Gianfranco Zola, who was appointed by new owners in 2016 in place of the less recognisable Gary Rowett and oversaw a decline in results.[350][351] Birmingham ended the season relegated to the third tier for the first time since 1995, and Rooney's spell in charge was mentioned by fans and media as a leading reason for the relegation.[352][353][354]

Plymouth Argyle
On 25 May 2024, Rooney was appointed manager of EFL Championship club Plymouth Argyle on a three-year contract.[355] In his first game he suffered defeat with a 4–0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday.[356]

LAST TIME OUT



Watched it dire game



FORM GUIDE

ARGYLE 6 PNE 9

FORM PLAYERS



NEWBIES



PREVIOUS



OTHER GAMES AND TABLE



CULTURE



Prysten House is a Grade I listed 15th century merchant's house situated close to St Andrew's Church in the city of Plymouth, England.[1] It is a large U-shaped three storey split level house built c. 1498 and extended 1635.

Construction
It is constructed from Plymouth limestone rubble using relieving arches with Dartmoor granite hooded and ogee-framed Tudor dressings to glazed window openings, dry Devon slate roofs and two original lateral chimney stacks. The front has a distinctive and fine granite transomed bay window arrangement over a decorated and hooded doorway.[2]

History
The building is owned by The Minster Church of St Andrew and has been used as a museum[3] and a restaurant, but contrary to the misnomer has never been a priest's house, its name originating simply from its close proximity to St Andrew's Church, Plymouth.[4]

Prysten House is home to the Plymouth Tapestry designed by Eric Mor and displays a model of Plymouth in 1620.[5] As of April 2015 the museum is not open to the public,[6] but the restaurant is open.[7]

Prysten House also features the "Door of Unity" commemorating the War of 1812.

The Fitness Test
Brad Potts may be available to return after missing the last two fixtures, although manager Paul Heckingbottom says he won't be rushing him back.

Ched Evans, Patrick Bauer and Will Keane remain sidelined, but there are no other fresh injury concerns.

Argyle


After staying up on the final day of their first season back in the Championship last term, Argyle will be hoping to go much better this term.

Under the new management of Wayne Rooney, the Pilgrims have had a mixed start to the campaign, although they’ll be buoyed by winning their previous three matches on home turf.

They head into the weekend following back-to-back defeats on the road and sat 21st in the table at this early stage.

The Officials

Referee: Andy Davies
Assistant Referees: Graham Kane and Ian Cooper
Fourth Official: Farai Hallam

HECKY

Paul Heckingbottom feels that this season more than ever, Championship teams are being punished for dropping below their standards, and that’s something PNE will need to be wary of in Plymouth on Saturday.

Argyle head into the weekend following back-to-back defeats, however it’s been a different story on home turf, having won their previous three matches at Home Park.

For North End, they’ll be looking to make it a seven-point week, following a victory and draw since the return to action after the international break.



Hecky said: “If you can do that all season, you’re up. There’s no point looking at it that way in terms of blocks of games. I think it’s more about the next game: the next one in front of us.

“Also, we acknowledge how good they are at home. You look at their home record, we know it’s going to be a tough game, and that’s the same with any team we play in this league.

“You look at the fixtures every weekend, maybe this season more than any I can remember, where the margins seem so, so fine that if you dip below your standards then you’re going to be lucky to come away with something.”

Argyle are under new management this season, following the summer appointment of former Derby County and Birmingham City boss Wayne Rooney.

He’s had a mixed start to life in Devon, but a real plus point has been their performances on their own patch, having picked up impressive victories over Sunderland, Luton Town and Blackburn Rovers.

Hecky said: “They’re back to where they want to be in terms of their home form. It’s been like that over a number of years.

“They had a bad patch last season where they ended up changing a manager when they didn’t really want to. That’s probably the only time they’ve not been really strong at home.

“This season, they’ve started exactly the same. Their style of play and how they want to play is the same, home and away you can see that.

“There’s certainly more intent about them when they play at home and that’s probably been reflected in their results.”

The manager has been pleased in recent weeks with his side’s aggressiveness in a pressing approach, which is the way he wants his team to set up.


Hecky expects his side to try and do that wherever they go, but to what extent will depend on the team in front of them.

He explained: “It's slightly different depending on who you play. It still looks the same, but you maybe change the line where you engage.

“It’s a mentality we want to keep practicing to try and get better at it, and impose ourselves on everyone and keep developing with the ball as well.

“We’ve been away to Middlesbrough and were really good on the ball in the first half there but didn’t create too much. At Burnley, we were really good on the ball. Oxford at the start of the game, the first half hour was arguably the best [we’ve played], then we went to ten men in the second half.

“We want that but then with the same ability to win the ball back high, and the same organisation and aggression at set plays. Us working towards our best performance won’t change, whoever’s in front of us.”

MACS VIEW

Think this possibly was our last away win last season, ideal place to get our first this season, not be easy Argyle better at home than they are away , they have had a tough week on the road.
Whittaker a danger although suspect he might be gone in January. It's a tough place to go scenario but time for an away win

[themaclad]

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 3 Issaka, Gray, Whittaker Preston North End 3 Greenwood, Frokjaer, Potts

Argyle: 31 Dan Grimshaw, 2 Bali Mumba, 6 Kornel Szucs, 8 Joe Edwards (capt) (50, 5 Julio Pleguezuelo), 10 Morgan Whittaker, 14 Michael Obafemi (72, 9 Ryan Hardie), 20 Adam Randell, 27 Adam Forshaw (58, 19 Andre Gray), 28 Rami Al Hajj (58, 18 Darko Gyabi), 35 Freddie Issaka (72, 15 Mustapha Bundu), 44 Victor Palsson. Substitutes: 25 Marko Marosi (gk), 3 Nathanael Ogbeta, 4 Jordan Houghton, 11 Callum Wright.

Goals: Issaka 58, Gray 82, Whittaker 90+2

Preston: 1 Freddie Woodman, 4 Ben Whiteman (capt), 6 Liam Lindsay, 8 Ali McCann, 9 Emil Riis Jakobsen, 10 Mads Frokjaer-Jensen (63, 25 Duane Holmes), 11 Robbie Brady (30, 44 Brad Potts), 14 Jordan Storey, 16 Andrew Hughes, 20 Sam Greenwood, 29 Kaine Kesler-Hayden (72, 22 Stefan Thordarson). Substitutes: 13 David Cornell (gk), 5 Jack Whatmough, 17 Layton Stewart, 18 Ryan Ledson, 23 Jeppe Okkels, 33 Kian Best.

Goals: Greenwood 16, Frokjaer-Jensen 45+3, Potts 48

Booked: Kesler-Hayden 41, Greenwood 46, Ledson 60

Referee: Andy Davies

Attendance: 16,443



Probably the high point of the afternoon, just after half time three up, game over, job done, well not exactly, the phrase it went tits up big time from here although it could have been worse.

4 am alarm, coach left at 6pm on the 640 mile round trip from front door to front, stop at Strensham, early morning stroll, take usual picture of the Malvern Hills majestic in the last October sunshine with the base covered in low lying mist no doubt near the Severn. Arrived nearly three hours before the kick off, unlike last season it was pouring down, so a yomp around the park before the game.
Octoberfest talking place people wandering around in Lederhousen, alcoholically challenged whilst looking like Germans could be the way forward.

On to the game Mads back in the starting line, Potts returning from injury on the bench.
The home side clearly the better side in the opening period Issaka a handful gave KKH a hard time, we weren't helped by our ability to give the ball away on a regular basis, Lindsay producing a superb tackle to stop a promising Argyle attack, then probably against the run of play we score, KKH down the right his shot is saved by the ex Lasher between the sticks, rebounds bounces out towards penalty spot, Green wood shoots deflected GOAL.
Different game from then home side started to get on the backs of the Argyle players and we started to play with freedom, the home side not helped by the playing out from the back as we put the squeeze on that.On the stroke of half time Riis great work in deep midfield found his Danish colleague and Mads did the rest 2 up.
Three minutes after the break it's three Potts an early substitute for Brady out muscles defender chips Grimshaw and that's that.
Argyle pull one back after Woodman pushed a free kick out, first to pounce was Issaka as the defender marking him forgot to do so,
from then on to give them credit they went for it, but we should have scored two more, Riis dragged wide when well place and Grimshaw made a good save with his legs to deny Riis again.
Twenty minutes to go the pivotal moment in my view KKH off injured, Holmes to right back and Thor on in midfield.
Looked unbalanced after this and when Thor missed a tackle Argyle were away again, ball in from the left, two home players unmarked Andre Gray did the rest.
Hanging on was an understatement and into injury time and Whittaker duly fired home the equaliser after hapless defending by Potts. Could have lost Woodman denied Gray with a really deent save.
Can't actually describe it as a classic the game highlighted both sides inability to defend.
Home at midnight no hold ups either way another one to put down to experience.

HECKY

Paul Heckingbottom felt his side had “given two points away” in the 3-3 draw against Plymouth Argyle.

Preston North End were on their way to a brilliant away win at Home Park, thanks to goals from Sam Greenwood, Mads Frøkjær, and Brad Potts.

The visitors from Lancashire were the team well on top, even after Freddie Issaka’s 55th-minute strike, but late goals from Andre Gray and Morgan Whittaker sent PNE back up north with a single point.


Hecky said: “We were totally dominant and we’ve given two points away there.

“We know why. I’ve spoken to the players about why. I don’t just want to focus on that. When we watch the game back, I want to be really clear on why we were so dominant.

“We’ve come to a place where no one gets results, or they haven’t been for a long time, and we’ve come to a group of fans that are buoyant here and quietened them down. We’ve gone 3-0 up and it could have been a lot more.

“It’s our fault. We’ve made errors and they’ve capitalised towards the end in a game where I never felt uncomfortable at all.”

It was a scoreline you just couldn’t see coming once North End had gone 3-0 up, at a time where they seemingly had full control.


The aggressive press was working wonders and a lot of PNE’s chances were coming courtesy of nicking the ball high up.

Hecky said: “We passed the ball really well and controlled the game with the ball. All the first half was played in their half.

“Without the ball we were aggressive. The centre backs and their deep midfielder were probably their players who have had the most touches. We‘d take it from them and create opportunities that way as well.

“With and without the ball we were really good. We started the second half in the same fashion. It’s just a matter of when we were going to get another one – a fourth one or a fifth one.

“We didn’t and then we switch off with a rebound from a free-kick, which is always a poor goal to concede. We were still on top in terms of thinking we were going to get the next goal again.

“We don’t, and then we miss a tackle on the touchline, they cross in our box and it’s 3-2, and you’re thinking, ‘Where’s this come from?’

“Then one or two moments we didn’t do well. Credit to them, they kept going, but they should never have had those opportunities.”

Hecky’s side were backed by just short of 600 supporters in Devon, as the North End faithful made the long journey down, and a number of them had to endure 11-hour journeys on Friday due to issues on the roads.

The manager appreciated their support, saying: “To bring that many fans down here is incredible so we should have been sending them home with three points.

“I know they’ll appreciate the performance and everything that went well and the effort of the players, but they’ll also be as frustrated as I am that we allowed a team that we’d got dead and buried back into a game out of nowhere.

“Even at 3-1 we never felt any concern at all. If anyone was going to score another goal it was us, but sometimes it can kick you in the teeth this game and today was one of them moments.”

WAYNE

Wayne Rooney was a man with mixed emotions on Saturday, following the conclusion of Argyle’s astounding encounter with Preston North End.

When the visitors scored their third goal, just after half-time, through substitute Brad Potts, it felt like the game was completely beyond Argyle, with Potts’ goal augmenting first-half strikes from Sam Greenwood and Mads Frokjaer-Jensen.

A glimmer of hope came from a Freddie Issaka goal on the 18-year-old’s first start for Argyle, but even then another 25 minutes went by before Andre Gray’s first Pilgrims goal really allowed the Green Army to believe the comeback could be on.

When Morgan Whittaker scored in stoppage time – a fourth consecutive home game in which the Greens have scored after the fourth official’s board has gone up – it sent Home Park into delirium, but the Head Coach’s reaction was more mitigated.

“It was difficult to believe after an hour, being 3-0 down. I was very concerned. Some of the defending was nowhere near good enough.

“I'm angry today. I'm very angry today with that performance because we're better than that, and that's not us.

“Great, we come back, we kept fighting, we showed a spirit, but that performance is not us, and I'm very disappointed.”

“I just felt we were in a bit of a daze really. We weren't getting to the ball; stray passes were getting them one v one. The goals we conceded were very easy goals to concede.

“I can't accept that performance. I’m delighted, obviously, that we got something out of the game, and we kept fighting. It's great when you come back and you do get something from being three goals down but, performance wise, that's nowhere near good enough.”

Issaka and Gray are at different ends of their career – aged 18 and 33 respectively – but both made telling impacts, each scoring their first Argyle goals.

Issaka started the game on the left side of Argyle’s attack, and he followed up a saved Adam Randell free-kick to prod home in front of the Babcock Devonport End. Gray, on as a second-half substitute, made a noticeable impact, not just with his neat headed goal from a superb Bali Mumba cross, but for his intelligent, effective build-up work.

“TJ [Muhamed Tijani] is obviously injured, but with Ryan [Hardie], Andre and Michael [Obafemi], we've got three different types of strikers, really. When Andre came on, he used his body, he used his experience and was a nuisance. He put himself in the right areas like he did for his goal.

“I thought he did really well when he come on and took his goal really well. I was pleased for him.

“It was a great day [for Freddie], a special moment for him, obviously, to get his first start and to score. I think it's a good learning game for him as well. I was delighted for him, because he's been in-and-out with injuries, and he's come on the pitch [at times]. I felt it was the right game for him to start and, in the end, it worked out, getting a goal, so I'm really pleased for him.”

[themaclad]