### Wayne Rooney Sent Off in Championship Clash Against Blackburn, Plymouth Argyle Clinches Late Victory

Wayne Rooney, Plymouth Argyle's head coach, was ejected from the touchline during a heated Championship match against Blackburn Rovers. This incident marks the first time Rooney, who has been red-carded eight times in his playing career with Manchester United and England, has been dismissed as a coach.

Rooney, who began leading Plymouth Argyle at the start of the 2024-25 season, lost his temper after Blackburn netted an equaliser. The frustration led him to kick a bottle into the crowd, an action that prompted the referee to issue a red card. Despite his dismissal, Plymouth Argyle's players maintained their composure and managed to secure a 97th-minute winning goal courtesy of Morgan Whittaker.

In the aftermath, Rooney had to refrain from addressing the media due to his ejection, leaving his assistant, Pete Shuttleworth, to step in. Shuttleworth spoke on Rooney's passionate nature, a trait well-known from his playing days. "He's still passionate -- we all watched him play for many years and we all know that passion is what drives him and he's been brilliant down here," Shuttleworth remarked.

He added that Rooney's passion is evident on the sidelines just as it was on the pitch, despite his typically calm and calculated approach to management. "I've seen him like that - he has still got that passion on the touchline. He likes to be calm and calculated at times and see the game, and that's his management style. You're never going to take that [passion] out of Wayne."

Commenting on the incident that led to Rooney's outburst, Shuttleworth mentioned a controversial decision. "We were disappointed a foul wasn't given on Ryan Hardie - and Wayne reacted to that with passion. I don't know what the exact sending-off was for or what they will accredit it to but he just reacted in that way."