Wayne Rooney accepts Plymouth Argyle criticism coming his way

Wayne Rooney admitted he could feel the anger and frustration of the 3,000-strong travelling Green Army after Plymouth Argyle's 4-0 defeat by Bristol City at Ashton Gate, and he completely understood it too.

The Pilgrims have the worst defensive record in the Championship after conceding 38 goals, including 10 in back-to-back away losses to Norwich City (6-1) and Bristol City, and have picked up only two points from 10 matches on the road this season.

Injury-hit Argyle are just outside the relegation zone in 21st position and now have two very important home games, against Oxford United next Saturday and Swansea City on Tuesday, December 10, to try to stop the rot.

READ MORE: Wayne Rooney calls Plymouth Argyle defeat at Bristol City a 'big embarrassment'

READ MORE: Plymouth Argyle player ratings as Bristol City heap more misery on them

Rooney, inevitably, is coming under fire from fans. He said: "We have to take it. I have been criticised since I was a 16-year-old boy, my whole career, and what you always want is weapons to fight back with. At the minute we have got none, so we have to take it on the chin and hope that we get through this.

"The last two games have been the toughest of my career as a manager so I need to find a way to get through it, but also to get that message through to the players to make sure I lift them.

"We have got another game next Saturday so a bit of time before then so I need to make sure I figure out the right way to go about what has happened over the last two games."

When Plymouth Live's Argyle reporter Chris Errington asked Rooney whether he could turn around the team's fortunes, he replied: "Yes, of course, I think we can.

"The one thing we have got is good home form. That has kept us in the league position we are in, thankfully, but we have to do more. We have to have more fight, character away from home because you are going to have difficult moments at difficult places in difficult atmospheres to play in, and at the minute we are not responding to that."

After the latest heavy away defeat for his side, Rooney went out onto the pitch and headed towards the Green Army to thank them for their support. He said: "It's hard. I'm not going to lie about that. It's very difficult walking over. In an ideal world you want the fans all clapping the players off.

"I could feel the frustration, the anger within the fans, and I get that completely. If I was in that stand I probably would be worse, if I'm being honest, from what I have seen the last two games.

"I completely understand it. I'm not hiding away from it. I'm right here, taking it. I have to take it, and the players will have to take that criticism over the next week until we show the fans a performance and a result which they deserve."

Rooney continued: "There is going to be a lot of conversations, a lot of meetings as a group and individually. I really hope the players can see how much this hurts and feel how much this hurts.

"I want them to understand I have come into this football club to try and improve it. I'm a winner and it hurts so much when you see performances, you see results like we have had. I want to see that pain and that hurt within them. When you see that, you know there is something there to help them get through it."

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