Plymouth Argyle boss Wayne Rooney has given his verdict on Sunderland ahead of their weekend clash.
Sunderland and Plymouth Argyle meet at Home Park this weekend.
It’s a successive trip to the south coast for the Black Cats who last time out beat Portsmouth 3-1 at Fratton Park.
That win extended Sunderland’s perfect start to the 2024/25 season with Regis Le Bris’ side currently sitting in 1st place of the Championship table.
Sunderland have taken 12 points from a possible 12 compared to Plymouth who’ve taken just two from 12, and currently sit in 22nd.
Wayne Rooney is the man in charge at Plymouth.
He takes on another Championship job after his struggles at Birmingham City last season, where he lasted 15 games and won just two of them.
Le Bris meanwhile is in just his second job as a manager. But the Frenchman is earning huge praise from Sunderland fans for his side’s newfound energy and attacking emphasis.
- READ MORE: Sunderland risk unwanted repeat after latest injury blow, could be a challenge for Regis Le Bris
Plymouth Argyle boss Wayne Rooney gives verdict on Sunderland
Rooney spoke to the press this week, upon his side’s return to action.
Sunderland had several players on international duty this month, and whilst Le Bris has hinted at no new injury concerns, Rooney may be hoping his side have a hand in terms of fitness.
That, and Plymouth boast several older players who bring a bit more experience to the team, whereas Sunderland still remain a very youthful side.
And Rooney has hinted at some possible weaknesses in the Sunderland ranks ahead of this weekend.
He said: “Sunderland are a very young team, a very energetic team, but there’s certainly weaknesses in there we can try to exploit to try to win the game.
“They have been a clinical team. If you watch them against Sheffield Wednesday, they had four chances and scored four goals.
“Sometimes that’s the difference. From our point of view, we certainly see that they’ve got some strengths in there, but we also see that they have got parts of their game which are not as strong, and we can try to exploit them.”
Two Sunderland weaknesses may be clear ahead of Plymouth Argyle
Sunderland are yet to put a foot wrong under Le Bris.
They’ve been clinical in attack and resolute at the back and so what weaknesses Rooney is referring to remains to be seen.
But Rooney may well be referring to a the Black Cats’ lack of first-team experience, and perhaps a slight lack of physicality in the side too.
Plymouth do have some more experienced pros in their ranks and they do boast a bit more physical power, and so Rooney might try to make this match a real physical battle.
That might be his side’s best bet with Sunderland looking dangerous at the moment, and Plymouth not so.