Wayne Rooney says he can see the improvements Plymouth are making after guiding them to their first league win since taking over as head coach.
Joe Edwards’ stoppage-time goal saw Argyle beat Sunderland, who were top of the Championship, 3-2 in a dramatic match at Home Park.
It was the first win for Argyle in five league games under the former England captain’s leadership.
“It always feels nice to win, in any game, and of course to get off the mark in the league. I think it’s been coming and we’ve been gradually getting better performance-wise,” Rooney said.
“I’m really pleased for the players and the fans, because the fans are seeing what we’re trying to do, they’re seeing little improvements to the team and obviously that always helps when you win games.
“So I’m really pleased for the fans and for the players, who are trying to take all the information we’re giving them every day, and they are doing that and I’m glad we’ve seen them improve as well.”
Rooney was quick to praise Argyle’s 33-year-old skipper Edwards, who scored for the first time since getting the winning goal in the 1-0 victory over Hull City on the final day of last season.
That win ensured a second successive season in the Championship for Argyle, who hired Rooney in May after parting ways with Ian Foster at the start of April.
Rooney said: “It shows the work we’ve done because we can keep pushing, especially Joe Edwards at the and at his age showed why he’s the leader and the captain of the club, getting in there in added time to get the winning goal.
“I think as a manager if you have a good captain it makes your job easier.
“I’ve got a very good relationship with Joe and we speak on how Joe manages the dressing room.
“He’s been fantastic – he missed the first game of the season and since then I think he’s shown why he’s the captain of the club. He’s a real leader.”
