Misspelt names on players’ shirts, four goals, 30 shots conceded, and utterly abject throughout, this was an awful start to life as Plymouth Argyle boss for Wayne Rooney.
The legendary former England striker spent much of this game stood in his technical area, arms folded and powerless to affect a ludicrously one-sided game.
Eyebrows were raised when the greatest English player of his generation pitched up in deepest, darkest Devon on May 25 but no one could have expected a start as bad as this.
Rooney’s previous spell in management at Birmingham City had ended in ignominy following a 3-0 defeat at Leeds United on New Year’s Day. He was thrown out less than 24 hours later, ending a tenure which lasted 83 days and harvested just two wins.
After much soul-searching, Rooney reflected on where it had all gone wrong. He had the humility to speak to many people within the game about how he had performed at Derby County, DC United and Birmingham.
There was an awful start to life as Plymouth Argyle boss for Wayne Rooney on Sunday
The Pilgrims were thrashed 4-0 by Sheffield Wednesday in their first match under Rooney
Like so many former great players whose managerial careers turn sour, Rooney could have opted for the comfort of a television studio as a pundit. But the allure of football struck every single one of his battered heart strings, as he told Mail Sport at the weekend.
To Rooney — raised on the streets of Croxteth in inner-city Liverpool before making his debut for Everton aged 16 — football is a drug and he needs his fix. When Argyle offered him the job in May following their successful fight against relegation, the 38-year-old took it.
It is a long way from his wife Coleen — although she was in the stands here on Sunday to support her husband — and four children who remain based in Cheshire, yet Rooney appears to be enjoying life in the Plymouth hotseat. At least he was until the serious stuff began with this Championship opener away to Sheffield Wednesday.
Rooney’s men — two of whom, Adam Forshaw and Ibrahim Cissoko, had been given jerseys with their names misspelt — were outplayed by an Owls side who, like Plymouth, only secured their Championship status on the final day of last season.
Few can forget Rooney’s talismanic influence as a player, intimidating and inspiring in equal measure.
He struggled badly, though, to get a tune out of his troops at Birmingham and Plymouth looked like no-hopers for much of this game.
To the former Manchester United and Everton striker, football is a drug and he needs his fix
Adam Forshaw (left) and Ibrahim Cissoko had been given jerseys with their names misspelt
Rooney fielded new signings Nathanael Ogbeta, Victor Palsson, Muhamed Tijani and Cissoko, yet there was precious little invention or confidence in Argyle’s play. Rooney denied it was a lack of desire.
Nevertheless, the Liverpudlian was forced to concede: ‘Today wasn’t good enough — I think that’s clear — and I’m disappointed, angry and surprised.
‘From everything we’ve seen in pre-season I was surprised, but the basics of the game were not good enough, whether that’s getting to the ball, tackling or being aggressive.
‘We knew last season Sheffield Wednesday were one of the best teams in the league for crosses and cutbacks — and all four of their goals came that way.
‘We had a gameplan and we just didn’t execute it at all, so it’s a wake-up call for us all.’
Owls debutant Jamal Lowe fired in a first-half opener before the floodgates opened after the break.
Brendan Galloway headed into his own net and Josh Windass slammed home a third before substitute Michael Smith rubbed salt in Rooney’s wounds with a late fourth.
Josh Windass scored alongside Max Lowe, Brandon Galloway and Michael Smith
Rooney admitted Plymouth's performance 'wasn't good enough' but remains encouraged
Just as he had been at Elland Road on New Year’s Day, Rooney was predictably subjected to vicious taunts from the home supporters.
When Rooney headed towards the away end at the end of the game, Wednesday counterpart Danny Rohl’s name was belted out loud and clear by the jubilant home fans. The Owls, it would seem, are on the up but Rooney played down the significance of the result.
He added: ‘It’s the first game of the season, and I’ve seen the work we’ve done in pre-season which gives me encouragement, so it’s not a time to panic.’