Sheffield Wednesday thumped Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle side on the opening day of the season.
Going into this season, fans and neutrals had very different expectations for Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle.
Many tipped Wednesday to soar under Danny Rohl following their great escape last season and then their positive summer transfer window.
Meanwhile, Plymouth were backed to struggle under Wayne Rooney, who ultimately set up Birmingham City for relegation last time round.
And after Sheffield Wednesday beat Plymouth 4-0 at Hillsborough, the tone was set for both sides.
But going into this month’s international break, both Plymouth and Wednesday are level on points, sitting in 14th and 15th place of the Championship table respectively.
Rooney has done a steady job so far. His side have picked up some good wins whilst Wednesday themselves have gotten back on track.
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Wayne Rooney explains his big mistake in Sheffield Wednesday vs Plymouth Argyle
That win over Plymouth certainly feels like an age ago, likely for both sets of fans, not just Wednesdayites.
That win set the benchmark for this season. But that win also made the following five winless league matches seem all the more worse.
The Owls returned to winning ways against West Brom at the end of last month and have gone from strength to strength since.
Speaking on The Overlap, Rooney looked back at that opening day defeat vs Wednesday, and explained how he started too many new signings on the day.
He said: “I messed up a little bit as well on that, because I played too many of the new players.
“New signings we brought in from Europe. You’re playing at Hillsborough, big atmosphere, first game of the season.”
Sheffield Wednesday can learn from Plymouth Argyle’s steady start
Nothing separates the two teams now. But when they met, it was as one-sided as we’ve seen under Rohl.
Both teams have learned a lot about themselves since then and both look to be in better shape; Wednesday have been brought back down to earth, but have gotten back on their feet once again.
Plymouth have gone about their business quietly. They’ve won their last three at home and have suffered narrow defeats on the road.
Wednesday also need to make Hillsborough a fortress and prove more stubborn on the road, with Wednesday’s away record under Rohl being very unimpressive.
There’s a long way to go this season and both Plymouth and Wednesday could surprise a few people yet.