Struggling Plymouth are just one place above relegation zone in the Championship
Rooney's side have conceded 10 goals in a week to forget on the road
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By LEWIS BROWNING
Published: 05:26 EST, 1 December 2024 | Updated: 05:33 EST, 1 December 2024
Wayne Rooney has once again slammed his Plymouth players after their latest away thrashing in the Championship on Saturday.
Rooney's side, who are fourth-bottom of the Championship and appear to be in a relegation scrap to stay in the division, lost 4-0 away to Bristol City on Saturday just days after a 6-1 defeat at the hands of Norwich.
The Greens have now conceded 14 goals in their last four second-division matches away from home, with their struggles on the road evident under the already-under-pressure Manchester United legend.
Rooney was pulling no punches when he addressed the media after defeat by Norwich in midweek, insisting that the club's youth team would have defended better than the first team on the night.
And it was a similar story at the weekend, with a brace from Anis Mehmeti and goals from Scott Twine and Sinclair Armstrong - all four strikes coming in the second half - ensuring it was a simple afternoon out for City.
Rooney again took aim at his players after the match, calling into question their character and desire as he queried why his instructions weren't being taken on board.
Rooney's Greens went down 4-0 against Norwich on Saturday, with the scores level at half-time
Plymouth have conceded 10 goals on their travels in a matter of days in the Championship
'From there [in the second half], the players collapsed,' Rooney said. 'Again, this is not something I haven't told the players. They completely collapsed. It was the same at Norwich away, it was the same at Leeds away.
'When you want to have a career in football you need to dig deep at times, and dig deep within yourself. It's something I have done many times as a player, and I feel the players showed a real lack of character and lack of fight after we conceded the first goal, and that is very disappointing.
'Of course, we have got injuries - and that's certainly not me making excuses - but those players who have come in have all had the game time. I have tried different ways, different systems. I have gone at them, I have tried to encourage them. I have tried to find the right balance between both.
'Up to now, away from home, nothing is getting through to them. I think the biggest thing is when we concede a goal it looks like the game is over and you are looking at hopefully keeping it down to one goal, which is not a good place to be.
'I'm talking a lot on the players and I never like doing that but I think it is at a point now where the players need to understand that they need to give more and show more character, more fight, more desire. I have simplified the game as much as I can today for them, to not over complicate things.'
Questions are being raised over Rooney's position as the man in charge of the team, with the former England captain having struggled in his previous role at Birmingham.
Next up for Rooney's side are fellow strugglers Oxford United at home in a game that could be crucial for Plymouth's season, before they are at home again to host Swansea.
The club currently sit just two points above the relegation zone, and have the worst goal difference of any team by seven goals, sitting on -20.
The former Manchester United star had questioned his players' abilities in midweek defeat
Plymouth lost 6-1 against Norwich Tuesday and their goal difference is by far the worst in league
Rooney took over the club in the summer and admitted responsibility was his after Saturday
'Ultimately, it's my responsibility,' Rooney added. 'I take full responsibility for the result. I pick the team, pick the tactics in which we go out into the game, but I think the players are at a stage now where they need to hear it not just in the dressing room but hear from it from outside as well that they have to show more.
'We have got a duty to this football club to show a pride, a respect, a passion, a fight for this club and the last two games I feel that hasn't been there.
'My reflections from the game at the end is big embarrassment in being honest. know the support the fans have given us. They have come here in numbers, it was the same on Tuesday and the same today.
'It was very difficult walking over to show our appreciation to the fans and not feel embarrassed.'
It wasn't the first time Rooney had criticised his players publicly, with their abilities called into question by the ex-forward on the back of the hammering at Norwich in midweek.
Rooney had some harsh words for his men then, suggesting they 'didn't look like they could get back into it,' 'need to perform better than that' to stay in the team and that he needed to 'get to the bottom of why this is happening.'
It appears however that his cries fell on deaf ears, with his players collapsing at Ashton Gate this weekend.
Football League ChampionshipWayne Rooney