Rooney previews first home league match
After Sunday’s opening Sky Bet Championship game at Sheffield Wednesday, in which Argyle lost 4-0, the mood in the green camp was understandably a little low.
However, a 3-0 win against Cheltenham Town in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night assuaged that a little and gave the Pilgrims a little momentum going into Saturday’s encounter with Hull City.
Argyle Head Coach Wayne Rooney saw enough from his much-changed team in midweek to feel that messages are getting through, and the quality is there, for his team to register their first league points of the season, in their first league game at Home Park. They will, however, not be getting ahead of themselves.
“When you win a game, [it is important to] not get too carried away,” said Rooney. “You lose a game, it’s the same: don’t get carried away.
“For us, it's about not just trying to get our first point in the league this season but trying to find a consistent level throughout this season. I think that's important in the Championship. If you can be consistent, you'll be fine.
“On Wednesday I saw some really good things, and there's things as well we can improve on which we have to be better at.
“There were some really good patterns of play which we've worked on, some really good one-and-two touch play, breaking lines, getting our attacking players in space on the ball and being able to drive at defenders.
“A lot of stuff we worked on, we did quite well, especially in the second half, so that was really pleasing. We want to be a hard team to play against, but an enjoyable team to watch; a team who go and take chances, take risks on the top end of the pitch, because I feel if you do that, you will create more chances and score more goals.
“For us now, it's about going to take that into a tough league game on Saturday and doing the same thing.
“If you do the right things and you play with energy, you're aggressive, that will allow you to go and show your quality. That's what I expect every game.”
Hull’s start has not been scintillating, either. They began with a draw at home to Bristol City, earned by a late penalty scored by Oscar Estupinan, then lost to, curiously enough, Sheffield Wednesday, in the Carabao Cup.
Their previous manager, Liam Rosenior, was dismissed at the end of the season, after Hull were unable to reach the play-offs, partly because of a final-day defeat at Home Park at the end of last season.
After his first taste of the Theatre of Greens as home boss on Wednesday, Rooney is keen to experience it again, and for the team and Green Army to work in tandem to make Argyle’s HQ a tricky prospect for visiting teams.
“They've got a new coach who's got a different way of playing to how they were playing last season,” said Rooney, discussing Hull.
“Analysing them, we know it's going to be a tough game; I think every game in this league is tough. We have to be at our best to get three points. It’s an exciting game, the first league game at Home Park, so looking forward to that.
“It's very important, for teams coming here, it's our duty really to make it as hostile and as difficult as possible for them to come and play here. We're used to the travel, every other week to away games, teams are maybe not as used to that as us, so we have to take advantage of that.
“I think we have to create an atmosphere here, when teams come here, they feel the atmosphere and other sorts of intimidation to the opposition. That's on the players to create that energy to allow the fans to do that. We all have a part to play in that to try to make it as difficult as possible for teams to come here.
“On Wednesday, as I said after the game, the atmosphere was good. I thought the attendance was good, and I know how difficult it is for fans, especially with ticket prices.
“At Sheffield Wednesday, ticket prices were ridiculous. To travel there, to pay for the ticket, then to come and get behind the team on Wednesday and then again on Saturday, I think it is incredible support. Myself and the players, we all appreciate that.
“Saturday will be a bit different, it's the first home game of the season; it’s a full house, which I'm excited about. I'm ready for the atmosphere.
“We need to make sure we allow the fans to keep that atmosphere and keep that energy within the stadium because I think that will be important for us.
“Not just for Saturday, but for the rest of the season.”
