Rooney 'embarrassed' by Ashton Gate showing

Wayne Rooney described himself as ‘embarrassed’ by the 4-0 defeat at Bristol City that capped off a week in which his Argyle side were heavily beaten, twice.  

The loss at Ashton Gate came four days after a 6-1 reverse at Norwich City, with Argyle’s away form still a serious concern to the Head Coach. The Greens have gained just two points, and scored three goals, from nine games on their travels so far this season.  

At Bristol City, Argyle were under pressure during the first half but took the game in level at 0-0 at half-time, raising hopes for the second period. However, Scott Twine’s opening goal changed the game’s – and the Argyle players’ – bearing. Anis Mehmeti scored twice, soon after, and the game was long won before Sinclair Armstrong’s late goal made it four.  

“Embarrassed really. I think that's probably the right word to use,” said Rooney, after the game.  

“I think after what happened on Tuesday at Norwich, we came here with a game plan to be in the game going into the last 20 minutes, and I thought for 50 minutes we were.  

“Then we conceded the first goal, and we collapsed. It's exactly what happened at Norwich, exactly what happened at Leeds away. As soon as we conceded the goal, the players out there collapsed, and we looked very fragile.  

“I was trying to make a change; I had Andre [Gray] and Michael {Obafemi] ready to come on, and then [Bristol City] score while they were getting ready to come on to. I was looking to change something because I could feel they were going to score and to get the goal before I can make the change. 

“Then, from that moment, I'm just on the side and - I've said this to players - I could see them shrinking, I could see it happening in front of me, and that's very difficult because to make changes and adjust and adapt to that, was difficult for us to do, to put players into that occasion. 

“I wanted the players out there to try to show some character and some strength, to help us get back in it. Unfortunately, they never did that.   

“It's just something that's just very frustrating, very disappointing. When we're going through this run we're going through, in other away games, you need to dig deep and find something within you.  

“It's something which you have to do throughout your career. Players, if they want to have the career which you'd hope they want to have, then they need to do that very quickly because they're not representing this club in the right way.  

“We've tried different things. I've gone at them. I've tried to do it with the right balance. I've tried to encourage them. Figuring it out and finding that way, that's my job and ultimately, it's my responsibility. I take responsibility, of course, for the results. I'm the one picking the team, putting the team out there, but I think for the players now, they need to realise that they have to do a lot better in what they're doing.  

“From the start the season, away from home, we haven't been good enough. Today's result, and Tuesday result, is far from anything I want to see.”