Wayne Rooney secured his first victory as Plymouth Argyle head coach with a convincing 3-0 win over Cheltenham Town in the Carabao Cup first round at Home Park. After a challenging debut in charge, where Argyle suffered a 4-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, Rooney made several changes to his lineup. The result was a dominant performance where Argyle controlled much of the match, particularly in the second half.
In the first half, Argyle had the upper hand with several close chances. Ryan Hardie and Freddie Issaka both came close to scoring, while Ethon Archer's low drive hit the post just before the break. Despite their efforts, Argyle had to wait until the 60th minute to break the deadlock. Ben Waine scored from close range after a free-kick from Adam Randell was parried onto the crossbar by Cheltenham’s goalkeeper, Joe Day.
Following the opening goal, Argyle continued to assert their dominance. Substitute Mustapha Bundu and Morgan Whittaker had opportunities to extend the lead, but it was Hardie who doubled Argyle's advantage with a precise close-range finish from Ibrahim Cissoko’s cross. Bundu then added the third goal with a well-placed shot from the edge of the box, ensuring a comprehensive win for Argyle.
Cheltenham did have moments of their own, including a good chance for Harrison Sohna and a close effort by Joel Colwill, but neither could alter the outcome. Rooney’s adjustments and the spirited performance from his squad provided a much-needed boost following their previous heavy loss, making this victory a significant morale booster in front of a supportive home crowd.
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