Rooney Stresses Importance of Portsmouth Fixture

Wayne Rooney, the manager of Plymouth Argyle, has described Tuesday night’s home fixture against fellow struggling team Portsmouth as “very important”. The Pilgrims currently sit in the relegation zone at 22nd position, following a sequence of four games without a win (one draw, three defeats). A loss against bottom side Pompey would mean the visitors going above them. Rooney conveyed to BBC Radio Devon, “Especially after the last four games, it becomes a bit more important.” He added, “It’s an opportunity for us to try and get back to winning ways. I’m really looking forward to it.” Rooney further stated, “It will be a difficult game. Portsmouth present different qualities to Leeds and the teams we’ve played over the last few weeks. We’re expecting a tough game.” He concluded this point by saying, “We’re going into it with fresh legs, fresh minds and hoping we can get three points.” A win has the potential to elevate Plymouth to 18th place, contingent on the outcomes of other matches played during the midweek, a situation Rooney highlighted as characteristic of the Championship’s unpredictable nature. “I think this league is a crazy league, we all know that,” Rooney remarked. “One good week can elevate you right up the table, one bad week you can fall down.” Rooney indicated that both he and any new players or staff members at the club must “embrace and understand the reasons” behind the rivalry existing between the south-coast clubs Argyle and Pompey. He further commented, “There’s a lot of passion and pride at stake.”