The first weekend of the Championship season often brings a wave of hyperbole that’s easy to get caught up in. Early August performances, like Sheffield Wednesday 4-0 win over Plymouth, rarely predict how things will unfold by May, and Wayne Rooney, in his debut as Plymouth Argyle manager, will certainly hope that proves true.
First-weekend results can feel monumental since they’re our first glimpse of the season. To say Rooney’s start in the Argyle dugout was rough would be an understatement.
A Tale of Two Teams: Momentum vs. Struggles
These two teams finished 20th and 21st in the championship last season, but at first glance, there appears to be a slightly wider separation this time around. Sheffield Wednesday has gained momentum since Danny Röhl arrived in S6 in October, with a well-deserved win against Argyle.
The scoreboard told a clear story, with goals from Jamal Lowe, Josh Windass, and Michael Smith, plus an own goal by Brendan Galloway. Röhl, three years younger than Rooney, energetically guided his team from the sidelines, while Rooney spent most of the afternoon standing in his technical area, arms folded, trying to process what his players delivered—or didn’t.
Brendan Galloway’s own goals and those of Michael Smith, Josh Windass, and Jamal Lowe provided the scoreline with the appropriate sense of one-sidedness. Wayne Rooney spent the majority of the afternoon standing in his technical area with his arms folded, attempting to take in what his players delivered or didn’t, as it were while the daring Röhl, who was 3 years Rooney’s junior, kicked every ball and made every tackle with his team.
Rooney’s Frustration and Röhl’s Confidence
Rooney expressed frustration, anger, and surprise post-match. “The fundamentals of the game weren’t there, even though we knew to expect a tough match in a challenging environment. The players know today’s performance isn’t sustainable, and hopefully, it’ll be the last of its kind this season. I didn’t enjoy anything about the game.”
While Rooney’s tone was downcast, the mood in the Sheffield Wednesday camp was entirely different. One of English football’s storied clubs, Wednesday buzzed with confidence all afternoon. There’s genuine belief that Röhl, who signed a new long-term deal this summer, can lead a return to the glory days at Hillsborough.
Dominant Wednesday and a Humble Rooney
Last season, Wednesday had to wait until late October for a win; this time, there was no such delay. “This is the kind of dominant football I want to see.”, Röhl said. “But it’s just the first step. There are 45 more to go.”
Plymouth set a poor tone for the game by misspelling Adam Forshaw and Ibrahim Cissoko’s names on their shirts. Wednesday took control from the start, and it seemed inevitable when Lowe, in his Wednesday debut, scored 10 minutes before halftime with a well-taken finish.
New signing Svante Ingelsson and the ageless Barry Bannan tormented Plymouth all day. Seven minutes after the break, Galloway’s own goal—following a Lowe header—extended Wednesday’s lead, and Rooney’s triple substitution failed to turn the tide.
Windass scored the third with a magnificent finish, and by the time Smith added the fourth in the dying seconds of injury time, the crowd’s chants for Röhl, the new hero of this part of Sheffield, were relentless. In contrast, Rooney cut a humble figure.
Final Whistle and Hopes for a Turnaround
As the final whistle blew, Wednesday’s fans celebrated with the Style Council’s “Shout to the Top,” marking their team’s victorious start at the top of the Championship. Rooney, meanwhile, will hope for a swift change in fortunes to erase the bitter taste of this defeat.
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