“What was your overall impression of the ‘wow’ factor?” It could have been a question for the Plymouth supporters as they headed for the exits after witnessing a welcome first win under Wayne Rooney but it is actually a line from the judging criteria for the British Fireworks Championships, the other show in town on the night, down on the waterfront. After a chastening start to life back in the dugout, this victory, in Rooney’s first home match, was largely one of relief, no matter the competition or its questionable importance in the grand scheme of things. It will also surely make his Thursday more comfortable, with Rooney the headline act for a sold-out Q&A evening at this stadium.
This threatened to be an awkward evening until Ben Waine, fresh from representing New Zealand at the Olympics, opened the scoring soon after the hour, at which point the shot count was totting up for Plymouth (it finished at 32, eight of which were on target) and Cheltenham were very much alive in the contest. But nine minutes from time Ryan Hardie slotted home and then the substitute Mustapha Bundu capped the scoring with a smartly taken strike from the edge of the box. In the end Plymouth were into the Carabao Cup second round with minimal fuss, League Two opponents dispatched and Rooney departed the pitch applauding the home support, many of whom were singing his name.
