Why Man United legend Wayne Rooney was sent off as Plymouth match vs Blackburn ends in drama

Manchester United legend and current Plymouth boss Wayne Rooney was shown a red card as his team secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Blackburn at Home Park.

The former England forward was left fuming by Blackburn’s equaliser just four minutes from the end and voiced his frustrations to the fourth official after Joe Rankin-Costello netted the goal.

Rooney believed there was a foul in the lead-up to the goal and was dismissed by referee James Linington following a heated exchange. However, his spirits were lifted when Morgan Whittaker scored a dramatic winner for Argyle in the seventh and final minute of stoppage time.

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Earlier in the match, Plymouth had taken an unexpected 15th-minute lead through on-loan Burnley striker Michael Obafemi, despite Blackburn dominating the early play. Argyle had a close call in the first minute when defender Lewis Gibson had to clear off the goal-line as Rovers striker Makhtar Gueye beat goalkeeper Dan Grimshaw with an angled drive.

Grimshaw redeemed himself during Rovers’ next attack in the 13th minute, denying Andreas Weimann with a foot save. The home side took the lead in the 15th minute, with Whittaker setting up the goal with a brilliant 60-yard pass that sent Ibrahim Cissoko down the wing.

The Netherlands Under-21 international cut inside and set up Obafemi to spin and score from 10 yards. Just a minute after Argyle took the lead, Cissoko cut in from the left and fired a shot which looked to be sneaking under the bar until Aynsley Pears tipped the ball over at full stretch.

Obafemi nearly doubled his score in the 34th minute, latching onto a bouncing pass out of defence and beating defenders Danny Batth and Hayden Carter, only to shoot just wide of Pears and the post. Darko Gyabi came equally close in the 39th minute after a typical run from midfield, sending a shot just wide from 20 yards as defenders backed off.

Cissoko's shot went high and wide after being set up by Rami Al Hajj's clever back-heel pass in the first minute of the second half. Hedges forced a diving save from Grimshaw with a low 20-yard drive on the run in the 52nd minute.

Pears made an excellent save to deny Joe Edwards’ first-time shot in the 53rd minute, pushing the ball over the bar following a fantastic 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 another great stop to deny Cissoko as Argyle looked to double their lead, and then Whittaker sent a 65th-minute shot just over the bar after being set up by substitute Ryan Hardie. Hardie then set 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 fantastic save with his feet to deny substitute Yuki Ohashi as he targeted the goal in the 89th minute. However, just when it seemed like the match was heading for a draw, Whittaker secured the victory for the Pilgrims.

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

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