Plymouth Argyle challenged to show reaction at Leeds today

WAYNE Rooney says his comments after the chaotic Preston North End match were right and has challenged his Plymouth Argyle players to show a reaction at Leeds United today.

The Pilgrims found themselves 3-0 down at home last week, although they rallied to come back and claim a point at the bitter end after a rousing last half hour or so.

Asked about the comments he made last weekend, the Argyle head coach said: “I think, what I said after the game was right.

“What I saw was the accumulation of the week and I think it was a bad week for us.

“We are conceding goals too easily, something we have worked on since the last game.

“We have to be harder to score against and a bit more aggressive getting to the ball and covering.

“Players make mistakes – that happens – but you hope that, if you make a mistake, one of your team-mates pulls you out of that. But at the minute we are conceding goals way too easily.

“We certainly have to tighten up for this game... because Leeds are obviously a very good team and they will punish us.

“Obviously I was disappointed with the performance but I thought we showed real character at the end to come back into the game and get a point.

“I think that’s important when you are not at your best you try and take something from games and I thought that’s what we did.”

The draw against Preston came after a 5-0 drubbing at Cardiff City was followed by a 1-0 loss at Millwall. The Pilgrims were poor in both games and the run of form has seen the them slip perilously close to the relegation zone.

While the defeats hurt, it was the manner of the performances that hurt the former manchester United and England striker more.

“I think we all know we are going to lose football games,” he said. “You can accept losing a football game... But I pride myself on my teams have to play with a certain amount of aggression and hunger and determination and be hard to play against and we were none of that last week.

“When that happens, whether we get something out of the game or not, the principles of what I want have to be right and, as I said, we didn’t deserve anything out of the game, but we showed a good character towards the end.

“You don’t want your team or the opposition to look at you and think that you’re a soft team and you’re easy to play against and I felt that’s what we were.

“I have challenged the players, of course I have. The players are well aware I wasn’t happy with that performance and I hope I see a reaction in this game.”