Rooney Seeks Reaction as Pilgrims Head to Bristol City

Argyle Head Coach Wayne Rooney says that, following Tuesday night’s 6-1 defeat at Norwich City, he would make 11 changes for the next game if he were able. 

This, he says, will not happen, because the available is not there to enact such a radical raft of removals, but the boss says he is looking for a serious reaction across the whole squad if the Pilgrims are to get anything from the game at Bristol City on Saturday. 

Argyle’s woes on the road include seven defeats and two draws from nine games, with the loss at Norwich the fourth to be by three goals or greater. 

Last season, at Bristol City, a similar reverse and performance occurred, but four days later – curiously enough, against Norwich, Argyle reacted in the perfect manner, and won 6-2. 

Rooney desires a reaction from Tuesday’s reverse, and is hoping to get it at Ashton Gate. 

“We all know that Tuesday was nowhere near good enough; nowhere near the standards I expect us to play at,” he said. 

“There has to be a reaction. The performance, the goals we gave up: everything about that game I didn't like. I spoke to the players, and we have to make sure we give a positive reaction. 

“It’s obviously a very difficult game, a derby game. I suppose. From our point of view, we have to go in there and try to get a positive result because Tuesday night was nowhere near our expectations. 

“I think that's three games this season - Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff and Tuesday night. Of course they are difficult games, but I think you have to show passion, drive and fight to not allow these results to happen. 

“We have to make sure that doesn't happen again because It's not a great look. I know there's been a lot of positives throughout this season, but results like that on Tuesday really bring everything back down to earth. For us we have to make sure we don't allow that to happen again.  

“We have to remind players about the responsibilities they have for the football club. We have a lot of fans traveling to these away games. We've got a big responsibility to make sure we play with a pride and a fight, to not get rolled over the way we did on Tuesday night.

“We've got a lot of injuries to a lot of key players, but that brings an opportunity for players who haven't maybe played so many games to come in and show me that they deserve to be in the team. Not one of them on Tuesday night did that.

“In an ideal world, I'd change all 11 for Saturday, but I can't do that. This is not something they’re just hearing; I've told all of them that. Some of them are lucky that they're going to get another opportunity on Saturday, purely because of the injuries we've got. 

“There will be changes; the changes I can make, I will. We have to go and show a really good reaction to what we've seen on Tuesday. 

“We'll do fitness checks on Ryan Hardie and Lewis Gibson [on Friday].  I'm hoping to have those two available. 

“We know it's going to be a tough game, but as bad as our away form has been, Bristol's home form hasn't been great as well. It could lead to an interesting game. 

“We have to go there and really get rid of the game on Tuesday night, try to put a positive performance in, and get a positive result.”