“We were much better” Wayne Rooney after breaking The Black Cats winning streak reveal Sunderland were totally outclassed and Plymouth deserved the whole 3pts from onset..
Wayne Rooney expressed his joy after securing his first Championship win as Plymouth manager with a thrilling 3-2 home victory over Sunderland, who were previously unbeaten leaders.
Captain Joe Edwards scored a stoppage-time winner, following Romaine Mundle’s equaliser after Ryan Hardie’s second-half penalty had given Plymouth a 2-1 lead. Earlier, Patrick Roberts had put Sunderland ahead with a first-half penalty before Daniel Ballard’s own goal made it 1-1.
Rooney said: “We’re obviously delighted with the three points. I’m happy for the players because they worked hard for it. Any win is important, and we’ve had strong performances across the pitch.
“We were a bit sloppy in the first half, giving away a penalty and going into half-time 1-0 down. I told the players, ‘If you raise the energy and take your chances, we’ll open the game up and win.’
“We improved in the second half, played with more energy, delivered crosses, and got players into the box.
“When they equalised, you fear it could slip away again, but then Joe scored the late winner. Having a strong captain makes things easier. Ryan did exactly what was needed—he came off the bench, won the penalty, and scored to put us ahead 2-1.
“Winning always feels good, and getting that first league win is a relief. Now, we’re looking for the next one.
“I’m genuinely pleased for the team and the fans. They’ve seen what we’re trying to build here. It was a big win, and hopefully, this is the start of a good run. I felt the game would be decided late on, though maybe not that late. I had to make choices about the lineup, both who started and who finished.”
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris remained composed after the defeat. He commented: “We scored two goals, which isn’t easy away from home, but we also conceded three, and that’s the problem.
“We had a level of control in the first half, but it wasn’t strong. We faced challenges, especially with their wingers. When we had possession, there were chances to unbalance their team, but we didn’t capitalize.
“A key issue is maintaining possession while defending and being willing to create opportunities. In the second half, their wingers continued to cause us problems.
“As the game became more chaotic, with many second balls, we lost control during our build-up, leaving us open to their attacks and chances.
“We need to learn from this experience. Even when we’re not at our best with the ball, we need to manage the game to either win or maintain the scoreline. That didn’t happen today. It’s been interesting to see the players’ reactions. After four consecutive wins, we weren’t overly optimistic, and now, after a loss, we’re not too pessimistic.
“It’s all about finding balance.”