LONDON: Plymouth manager Wayne Rooney insisted he felt “angry” despite his side coming from three goals down in a remarkable second-half display as they drew 3-3 with Preston in English football’s second-tier Championship on Saturday.
Goals by Plymouth debutants Freddie Issaka and Andre Gray and a stoppage-time equalizer for the hosts from Morgan Whittaker canceled out Preston goals by Sam Greenwood, Mads Frokjaer-Jensen and Brad Potts.
The draw left Plymouth a point above the relegation zone, with Argyle boss Rooney saying: “I am angry because that performance is nowhere near good enough. We were easy to play against.
“Obviously I am pleased we drew the game but I can’t accept that performance.”
The former Manchester United and England striker added: “I am frustrated but even at 3-0 you can turn a game and I tried to get more attackers into the box, but we didn’t do that at first.
“The last three games we have hit a bit of a blip but we need to get out of it.
“The one thing I never question with the players is their character. We need to learn the little nuances of the game...I think the fans had every right to boo at half-time but then when they saw us pushing and making changes and getting more balls in the box you could feel the atmosphere growing.
“I was delighted for them we got a point. It was important to stop losing after the last two games.”
Sunderland were left five points clear at the top of the table after a 2-0 win at home to Oxford, secured by goals from Jobe Bellingham and Wilson Isidor.
The Black Cats were left clear of the chasing pack after Leeds and Burnley were both held to goalless draw by Bristol City and QPR respectively.
Sheffield United saw off Stoke 2-0, with Kieffer Moore and Tyrese Campbell scoring either side of half-time.
Coventry came from 2-0 down to defeat Luton 3-2, with the Hatters’ scoring twice before half-time through Carlton Morris’s penalty and a goal from Elijah Adebayo.
But Ellis Simms (59) and Victor Torp (76) revived the Sky Blues after the break and Luton then had Tom Holmes sent off before Coventry’s Hajji Wright scored a winner two minutes into added time.
Edo Kayembe’s 71st-minute penalty secured a 1-0 win for Watford over Blackburn, while Derby and Hull drew 1-1.
Cardiff drew 0-0 at West Brom, while a 90th-minute winner from Casper de Norre took Millwall to a 1-0 victory at Swansea.
Rooney ‘angry’ despite stunning Plymouth fightback in Preston draw
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Rooney ‘angry’ despite stunning Plymouth fightback in Preston draw
- The draw left Plymouth a point above the relegation zone, with Argyle boss Rooney saying: “I am angry because that performance is nowhere near good enough”
- “The last three games we have hit a bit of a blip but we need to get out of it”
‘Winning mindset’: Yazeed Al-Rajhi ready to defend title at Dakar 2026
- Race runs from Jan. 3-17, will start and conclude in Yanbu
YANBU: Saudi rally star Yazeed Al-Rajhi is gearing up to defend his Dakar Rally title as the 2026 edition of the race kicks off in Yanbu on Jan. 3.
Last year’s victory confirmed Al-Rajhi as the first Saudi driver to win the overall car category (Ultimate), the highest class in what is considered the world’s toughest rally.
Al-Rajhi said: “We are approaching Dakar 2026 with great determination and an even greater sense of responsibility after our achievement in 2025. Winning the title was a historic moment, but the real challenge now is defending it. The car is fully ready, the team is working as one, and our objective from the start is clear: to fight for victory and secure a strong opening to the W2RC season.”
He highlighted the complete readiness of co-driver Timo Gottschalk as the team looks to repeat last year’s success in their Overdrive Toyota Hilux.
Gottschalk said: “The preparation for this season has been intense and extremely precise. We focused on every aspect Dakar demands in terms of concentration and discipline. Our synergy is at its best, and we are ready to manage the rally stage by stage, intending to fight for victory from day one.”
The Dakar Rally 2026, set to run from Jan. 3-17, will cover 7,994 km, with 4,840 km of timed stages across Saudi Arabia’s diverse landscapes. It will consist of 13 competitive stages, in addition to a prologue stage, with a rest day in the capital city. The rally will start and conclude in Yanbu, featuring seven loop stages and two marathon stages, which significantly increase the level of difficulty and place greater physical and technical demands on crews and teams.
Al-Rajhi has also expressed his desire to compete for the title of the World Rally-Raid Championship W2RC. Since the championship’s launch in 2022, he has finished runner-up twice and third overall once, highlighting his consistency at the highest level. The Saudi star said that his clear objective this season is to claim the W2RC title, with Dakar serving as the opening round of the championship.
Al-Rajhi acknowledged that competition this year will be extremely intense, but added that the goal has been clear from the outset: to defend the Dakar title and move forward steadily toward winning the World Rally-Raid Championship.
“Early preparation and attention to the smallest technical and physical details give us strong confidence heading into the rally,” he added. “We know the competition will be tough, but we enter Dakar with a winning mindset, aiming to deliver a complete season that reflects the name of Saudi Arabia and matches our global ambitions.”
Al-Rajhi extended his sincere gratitude and appreciation to Jameel Motorsport, his official partner, for their unwavering support. He credited their backing as one of the key pillars behind his continued success and achievements in the Kingdom.
