Wayne Rooney cut a forlorn figure as he addressed the media following an eighth match in a row without victory. His Plymouth Argyle side were beaten 2-0 by fellow Championship strugglers Oxford United in a match that piles the pressure on Manchester United's former captain.

Already languishing at the bottom of the table, Plymouth lost their seventh match in the last eight to condemn Rooney to an utterly miserable festive period. Argyle were well beaten on Boxing Day by Frank Lampard's Coventry City, going down 4-0 away from home.

Another trip before New Year offered the chance to bounce back but Plymouth's fortunes continued to go unchanged with yet another damaging result. It leaves Rooney with just four league wins in 23 since joining over the summer.

Speaking afterwards, there was little positivity from the ex-Birmingham City, D.C United, and Derby County boss. "I thought it was quite a tight, even game to be honest until they score," he said, analysing play before the 14th minute opener. "And it's a goal we've seen [before] and it's a goal we've done a lot of work on over the last two days after conceding goals against Coventry from crosses.

"Again we don't get tight enough to crosses, I think [Adam] Randell slips and they get a goal. So, it's just the basics of football we've been working on and drilling into the players a lot over the last two days. I think that's cost us today."

Damning words indeed for his team's ability to remain resolute. Rooney also fielded questions over his own future, which had been under the microscope already due to the extended run of poor form.

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"That's a question for the board," he replied. "I understand how football works. All I can do is keep trying to work as hard as I can. It's difficult, of course it is, but that's part of the game. It's frustrating. We know what we are doing, and the work we are doing is good work. It's something I have already looked at, should we be doing something different in preparation for games.

"Unfortunately, we are not getting the results. For me, I'm not someone whose emotions are high when you win or on the floor when you lose. I try and keep myself balanced. It hurts. It's not nice, it's disappointing and we have to keep trying.

"I think you have to look at every possible outcome," he responded when asked if he would consider his own position. "I think that's normal with the results we are going through.

"You have to feel can you turn it around, have you got the players to turn it around, can I turn it around, can the coaches turn it around. That's all stuff we really have to look at."

Rooney and his players were greeted with an angry reaction from the travelling supporters as well, adding to the bad mood around the club. "I get it, I understand it," he said, addressing the reaction. "I have been there myself when I was young. I have been there as a fan and you want to see your team win, you want to see your team running, you want to see them tackling.

"When you are losing games, as we are, that frustration is there. I get it, I don't take it personal. I think for all of us we are trying to do the right things and help us win games. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case over the last few weeks."

Rooney did defend his squad but had already been critical of their handling of the match. "I'm not going to stand here and have a go at the players individually or collectively," he said. "From my point of view we have come here, we have tried to compete and we have lost the game. Of course, there will be chats with players individually but that's obviously between me and them."

Given just how much ill-feeling there is towards Rooney, he may not get the chance to prove anyone wrong.