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”
Morocco Coach Dismisses Aguerd injury talk, backs Ait Boudlal ahead of Mali test
- “Who told you Aguerd is injured? He’s training as usual and has no problems,” Regragui told reporters
- He confirmed captain Romain Saiss will miss the game with a muscle injury
RABAT: Morocco coach Walid Regragui has dismissed reports that defender Nayef Aguerd is injured, saying the center back was fit and ready for Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations Group A clash against Mali.
“Who told you Aguerd is injured? He’s training as usual and has no problems,” Regragui told reporters.
Regragui confirmed captain Romain Saiss will miss the game with a muscle injury sustained against Comoros in their tournament opener, while full back Achraf Hakimi, recently crowned African Player of the Year, is recovering from an ankle problem sustained with Paris St. Germain last month and could feature briefly. “Hakimi is doing well and we’ll make the best decision for him,” Regragui said. The coach also heaped praise on 19-year-old defender Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, calling him “a great talent.”
“I’ve been following him for years. I called him up a year and a half ago when he was a substitute at Rennes and people criticized me. Today everyone is praising him – that shows our vision is long-term,” Regragui said. “We must not burn the player. We’ll use him at the right time. We’ll see if he starts tomorrow or comes in later.”
Ait Boudlal echoed his coach’s confidence.
“We know the responsibility we carry. Every game is tough and requires full concentration. We listen carefully to the coach’s instructions and aim to deliver a performance that meets fans’ expectations,” he said.
Morocco opened the tournament with a 2-0 win over Comoros and will secure qualification with victory over Mali at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
“It will be a tough match against a strong team,” Regragui added.
