Sheffield Wednesday’s Four-Goal Rout Spoils Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Debut – EFL CHAMPIONSHIP Sheffield Wednesday’s Four-Goal Rout Spoils Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Debut – EFL CHAMPIONSHIP
Sheffield Wednesday’s Four-Goal Rout Spoils Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Debut – EFL CHAMPIONSHIP

August 11, 2024

Sheffield Wednesday’s Four-Goal Rout Spoils Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Debut – EFL CHAMPIONSHIP

The opening weekend of the Championship season often brings excitement and hyperbole, and this year was no exception. As Wayne Rooney kicked off his managerial tenure at Plymouth Argyle, he hoped his first match wouldn’t set the tone for the struggles ahead.

While the opening weekend results can feel monumental, they are merely the first indicators of what’s to come. Rooney’s debut was undoubtedly disappointing, which can hardly be overstated. Last season, both teams finished near the bottom of the Championship. Still, this match revealed a significant gap in quality between them.

Sheffield Wednesday, invigorated by Danny Röhl’s appointment last October, continued their strong form with a commanding victory over Argyle. Goals from Jamal Lowe, Josh Windass, and Michael Smith, alongside a Brendan Galloway own goal, painted a stark picture of dominance, giving the scoreline a decidedly one-sided feel.

Röhl, three years younger than Rooney, passionately engaged with his players throughout the match. At the same time, Rooney remained largely in his technical area, arms crossed, observing his squad’s performance.

Had Wednesday been more clinical in front of goal, Plymouth’s defeat could have been even more humiliating. Rooney’s previous stint at Birmingham saw him manage just two wins in 15 games, and this loss marks a troubling start for his new role. He did not shy away from acknowledging the reality of the situation in his post-match assessment, emphasizing the challenges ahead.

“I’m disappointed, angry and surprised,” Rooney said. “We knew we were expecting a tough game in a good atmosphere … but the basics of the game weren’t there. Today’s performance can’t happen, and the players know that, and hopefully, that’s the last time this season. Everything about the game, I didn’t like.”

The hosts were in a different mood, although Rooney’s post-match remarks were understandably depressing. There is a sincere hope that Röhl, whom Wednesday persuaded to agree to a new, long-term contract in the summer, can bring Hillsborough back to its glory days. 

Throughout the afternoon, one of the grandest establishments in English football was rocking.

Last season, Wednesday had to wait until late October to win a football game; here, there was always a constant expectation that the wait would be over much sooner. “This is the dominant football I want to see,” Röhl said. “But we know it’s just the first step to the season. There are 45 more.”

Even before the match began, the signs pointed toward a problematic day for Plymouth Argyle, with the misspellings of Adam Forshaw and Ibrahim Cissoko’s names on their shirts foreshadowing the lack of preparation. From the first whistle, Sheffield Wednesday seized the momentum, and it felt only a matter of time before they found the net. That moment came ten minutes before halftime when Jamal Lowe marked his debut for the Owls with a well-placed finish.

Lowe’s goal was set up by a brilliant assist from new signing Svante Ingelsson, who, along with the ever-reliable Barry Bannan, caused havoc for Plymouth’s defense throughout the match. 

The lead doubled seven minutes into the second half when Brendan Galloway inadvertently turned a Lowe header into his net. Despite Rooney’s triple substitution in an attempt to turn the tide, Wednesday remained firmly in control.

Josh Windass added a third with a beautiful finish. Michael Smith capped off the rout, including a fourth goal in the final seconds of injury time. The home crowd erupted into chants for Danny Röhl, their new managerial hero, while Rooney appeared humbled by the defeat.

As the final whistle blew, the unmistakable strains of the Style Council’s “Shout to the Top” echoed through the stadium, celebrating Sheffield Wednesday’s ascent to the top of the Championship table. In contrast, Rooney left the pitch hoping for an ever-changing mood to alleviate the sinking feeling that had settled in after such a disheartening start to the season.

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author
Katarzyna Nowak

Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and football sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Football News Today, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for football, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.