Wayne Rooney sent off as Plymouth claim dramatic late win over Blackburn

Posted Sunday, October 06, 2024 by PA

Manager Wayne Rooney was sent off as Plymouth secured a dramatic 2-1 win over Blackburn at Home Park.

The former England striker was incensed by Blackburn’s equaliser four minutes from time and remonstrated with the fourth official after Joe Rankin-Costello had headed home.

Rooney felt there was a foul in the build-up and was sent to the stands by referee James Linington following a heated exchange – but his mood was improved when Morgan Whittaker headed home a dramatic Argyle winner in the seventh and final minute of stoppage time.

Plymouth had earlier swept into a 15th-minute lead against the run of play through on-loan Burnley striker Michael Obafemi.

Argyle had a first-minute let-off when defender Lewis Gibson had to clear off the goal-line as Rovers striker Makhtar Gueye beat oalkeeper Dan Grimshaw with an angled drive.

The Argyle keeper did much better dealing with Rovers’ next attack in the 13th minute when he denied Andreas Weimann with his feet.

The home side went ahead in the 15th minute and Whittaker was architect of the goal with a superb 60-yard pass that set Ibrahim Cissoko away down the wing. The Netherlands Under-21 international cut inside and teed up Obafemi to spin and score from 10 yards.

Within a minute of Argyle taking the lead Cissoko cut in from the left and let fly with a shot which looked to be sneaking under the bar until Aynsley Pears tipped the ball over at full stretch.

Obafemi came close to doubling his tally in the 34th minute when he latched on to a bouncing pass out of defence, beating defenders Danny Batth and Hayden Carter, before firing inches wide past Pears and the post.

Darko Gyabi went just as close in the 39th minute after a characteristic run from midfield. With defenders backing off, Gyabi sent a shot on the run just wide from 20 yards.

Cissoko fired high and wide when teed up with a clever back-heel pass by Rami Al Hajj in the opening minute of the second half.

Hedges produced a diving save from Grimshaw with a low 20-yard drive on the run in the 52nd minute.

Pears made a brilliant save to keep out Joe Edwards’ first-time shot in the 53rd minute, palming the ball over the bar, after a superb flowing move by Argyle down the left flank.

The Rovers keeper made a double save minutes later, stopping Adam Randell’s shot on the run and then using his feet to deny El Hajj as he followed in on the loose ball.

Pears made yet another superb stop to deny Cissoko as Argyle sought to double their lead, and then Whittaker looped a 65th-minute shot just over the bar after being set up by sub Ryan Hardie.

Hardie then teed up fellow sub Mustapha Bundu, whose shot was turned around the post by Pears after 72 minutes.

Rankin-Costello then headed home Dominic Hyam’s cross after 86 minutes, leading to Rooney being sent from the dugout.

Grimshaw made another superb stop with his feet to deny sub Yuki Ohashi as he homed in on goal in the 89th minute but just as the game looked destined for a draw, Whittaker won it for the Pilgrims.

The forward nodded home Randell’s header back into the goalmouth from Gibson’s deep cross as Argyle piled on the pressure in the seventh and final minute of stoppage time.