Plymouth Argyle using 'Rooney Time' to pick up vital Championship points

In the past there used to be the famous (or infamous, depending on your point of view) 'Fergie Time', That was when Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United sides would often score important stoppage time goals at the end of games at Old Trafford either to win games or draw them.

Wayne Rooney was involved in many of them as he became United's record-setting goalscorer. Now the head coach at Plymouth Argyle, the 39-year-old is experiencing something similar with his current club. So often have Argyle grabbed last-gasp goals at Home Park in the Championship this season that the term 'Rooney Time' seems to be appropriate.

The latest example came when the Pilgrims twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Watford at Home Park in a Sky-televised clash under the Friday night floodlights.

READ MORE: Plymouth Argyle injury updates on Morgan Whittaker and Ryan Hardie

READ MORE: Wayne Rooney hails 'world class' Andre Gray goal for Plymouth Argyle

Argyle were facing the prospect of a first home Championship defeat in six games as they trailed in extra time at the end of five additional minutes after some more Watford time-wasting. When the ball was touched across by Mustapha Bundu to Andre Gray everyone inside the stadium knew it was going to be the final chance for the Pilgrims to equalise.

The former Watford striker was in the corner of the penalty area and sent a superb curling shot past goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann, who was rooted to the spot, to make it 2-2. It was an incredible finish, both in terms of the accuracy of the strike from Gray but also because Argyle had done it again and come up with a dramatic finale to a game at the Theatre of Greens.

Rooney has seen his Pilgrims' side score five of their 17 Championship goals this season in 90-plus minutes of home matches. That is 29.4 per cent of their total, an astonishingly high figure.

All of them have been in front of a packed and now an increasingly expectant Devonport End given what they have witnessed this term. With the exception of Ibrahim Cissoko's 90-plus-three minutes strike against Luton Town on September 27, which made the final score 3-1, all four of the other last-gasp goals have either turned a draw into a win, or a defeat into a draw.

Here is the list of those crucial goals:

September 14: Beat Sunderland 3-2 after Joe Edwards goal in 90-plus-three minutes (two extra points as a result)

October 5: Beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 after Morgan Whittaker goal in 90-plus-seven minutes (two extra points)

October 26: Drew with Preston North End 3-3 after Morgan Whittaker goal in 90-plus-two minutes (one extra point)

November 22: Drew with Watford 2-2 after Andre Gray goal in 90-plus-six minutes (one extra point)

Argyle have picked up an extra six points compared to had none of those stoppage time goals gone in. That is the difference between them currently being in 19th position in the Championship, with 17 points from 16 games, instead of joint bottom of the table with Queens Park Rangers.

Given that staying in the Championship is again the main priority for the Pilgrims this season, after they just about stayed up last term, those goals are proving to be vital.

Some might consider it to be a bit of fluke, and maybe if it had happened just once or twice then maybe, but this has become a habit, and a very welcome one at that, for Argyle. In only three of their eight home league games this season - against Hull City, Stoke City and Portsmouth - have they not scored in second half stoppage time.

And, remember, their 1-0 victory over Portsmouth came courtesy of an 82nd minute goal from substitute Michael Obafemi, so that was quite late on too.

So what is the secret? Well, the fitness of the players to keep going until the final whistle has to be part of it. The support of the Green Army and the atmosphere they create has to be a factor. And, also, Argyle now have the belief that no matter whether they have played good or bad, they are capable of getting last-gasp goals in home games. The 'Rooney Time' phenomenon is the result.

You can read more of our Argyle stories from Plymouth Live by clicking HERE