Plymouth Argyle are on a terrible run of form, which has culminated in two crushing defeats at the hands of Norwich City and Bristol City.
Wayne Rooney’s side has only won one of their previous nine Championship games, and they have conceded ten goals in their last two games, losing 6-1 and 4-0.
The Pilgrims must respond when they meet Oxford United on Saturday, or they will struggle ahead of the hectic holiday season.
Plymouth’s season has been characterised by heavy defeats.
Rooney would have expected a reaction after Plymouth was hammered 6-1 by Norwich, but he got more of the same when his team was defeated 4-0 by Bristol City.
The defeats were unsurprising, but the manner in which they occurred will bother Rooney, whose team has conceded 38 league goals – five more than any other team.
Plymouth have now conceded three or more goals six times this season, the most notable being their 5-0 defeat to relegation rivals Cardiff City.
The only time Rooney’s side kept a clean sheet was in early November, when they defeated Championship bottom side Portsmouth 1-0.
Following Plymouth’s most recent setback, Rooney slammed his players, saying, “They’re not representing this club in the right way.”
Having made such a big remark, the manager will be expecting a reply from Oxford, but if they fail to deliver, it may appear that he has lost faith in the team.
Oxford United are a significant opponent in more ways than one.
The arrival of Oxford might define Plymouth and Rooney’s futures in what promises to be a critical game at Home Park on Saturday.
Des Buckingham’s side cannot be taken for granted, but if Rooney is serious about stemming the rot, Saturday’s encounter will be viewed as a must-win.
The U’s are now in 17th place, one point ahead of the Pilgrims, and are in poor form, having won only one of their last 13 games
Oxford knows what it’s like to be battered in the Championship, having recently shipped six against in-form Middlesbrough, but they’ll be hopeful about their chances against struggling Plymouth.
Rooney is expected to defeat the U’s on Saturday, taking the heat off Buckingham and his team. If Rooney fails to deliver a result, his status as manager will be jeopardised.
Plymouth’s next back-to-back games against Sheffield United and Middlesbrough in December highlight the importance of a win.
Rooney must solve Plymouth’s defensive weaknesses, but Home Park offers home advantage.
If Rooney is unable to address Plymouth’s defensive issues, relegation becomes inevitable.
After 18 games, the Pilgrims have conceded 38 goals, an average of just over two per game. Worryingly, Rooney’s side has a goal differential of minus 20, which is seven points worse than any other team in the division.
Given how close things are at the bottom of the table, goal difference may be a deciding factor in relegation this season, therefore Plymouth must defy the pattern.
Rooney prefers to play with a back four, as he has done in 16 of Plymouth’s 18 games this season. Interestingly, he started with a back three against Watford and Norwich before switching to a back four after the 6-1 setback.
Clearly, the formation change did not work, and Rooney will have to attempt something different against Oxford. Perhaps a more attacking game plan would benefit the Pilgrims, especially considering their home edge.
Crucially, Plymouth will play Oxford at home, where they have won all four league games. Furthermore, they have won half of their games at Home Park, losing only to Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion.
The importance of Plymouth’s next game cannot be underestimated. The Pilgrims are not only under pressure to produce a win, but they are also up against favourable opponents.
A defeat for Rooney’s side may be disastrous for his future at the club, as the manager is already under heavy pressure to turn things around.
If the Pilgrims suffer a third successive defeat, the management will have to make a decision about Rooney’s future, as the club faces relegation.
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