LONDON: Plymouth manager Wayne Rooney insisted he felt “angry” despite his side coming from three goals down in a remarkable second-half display as they drew 3-3 with Preston in English football’s second-tier Championship on Saturday.
Goals by Plymouth debutants Freddie Issaka and Andre Gray and a stoppage-time equalizer for the hosts from Morgan Whittaker canceled out Preston goals by Sam Greenwood, Mads Frokjaer-Jensen and Brad Potts.
The draw left Plymouth a point above the relegation zone, with Argyle boss Rooney saying: “I am angry because that performance is nowhere near good enough. We were easy to play against.
“Obviously I am pleased we drew the game but I can’t accept that performance.”
The former Manchester United and England striker added: “I am frustrated but even at 3-0 you can turn a game and I tried to get more attackers into the box, but we didn’t do that at first.
“The last three games we have hit a bit of a blip but we need to get out of it.
“The one thing I never question with the players is their character. We need to learn the little nuances of the game...I think the fans had every right to boo at half-time but then when they saw us pushing and making changes and getting more balls in the box you could feel the atmosphere growing.
“I was delighted for them we got a point. It was important to stop losing after the last two games.”
Sunderland were left five points clear at the top of the table after a 2-0 win at home to Oxford, secured by goals from Jobe Bellingham and Wilson Isidor.
The Black Cats were left clear of the chasing pack after Leeds and Burnley were both held to goalless draw by Bristol City and QPR respectively.
Sheffield United saw off Stoke 2-0, with Kieffer Moore and Tyrese Campbell scoring either side of half-time.
Coventry came from 2-0 down to defeat Luton 3-2, with the Hatters’ scoring twice before half-time through Carlton Morris’s penalty and a goal from Elijah Adebayo.
But Ellis Simms (59) and Victor Torp (76) revived the Sky Blues after the break and Luton then had Tom Holmes sent off before Coventry’s Hajji Wright scored a winner two minutes into added time.
Edo Kayembe’s 71st-minute penalty secured a 1-0 win for Watford over Blackburn, while Derby and Hull drew 1-1.
Cardiff drew 0-0 at West Brom, while a 90th-minute winner from Casper de Norre took Millwall to a 1-0 victory at Swansea.

RAWALPINDI: Captain Shan Masood said Pakistan need stability to build on Saturday’s memorable victory over England, their first home Test series win in nearly four years.
Masood’s team thrashed England by nine wickets in the third and final Test inside three days in Rawalpindi for a 2-1 series win.
England destroyed Pakistan by an innings in the first Test, before the hosts roared back with their spinners doing most of the damage.
“Like London buses they come together,” a relieved Masood told reporters.
“The first win came after a long time and it was backed up by a series win. It’s special.”
Until Pakistan levelled the series in Multan last week, Masood’s tenure had been tainted by a string of six successive defeats, including a 2-0 loss at home to Bangladesh.
He faced loud calls for his resignation.
Pakistan cricket has been struggling in all formats recently, with a revolving door of leadership overseeing chopping and changing among both players and management.
“For me the biggest thing is progress,” said Masood.
“The Pakistan team needs stability at the moment,” he added. “But when we think that changes are necessary to put the team on a winning track, we will do so.”
Spinners Noman Ali grabbed 6-42 and Sajid Khan 4-69 to bowl England out for 112 in 37.2 overs.
The duo did not feature in the first Test, which saw England post a record first innings score of 823 and led to the axing of star players Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Noman and Sajid combined for a spectacular 39 wickets in the subsequent two Tests, tearing through the England batting and delivering a famous series triumph.
“Noman and Sajid were outstanding, like they were in the second Test,” said Masood. “To be here and standing as the winning team, it’s the most special thing for us.”
Between the duo’s spin wizardry across both England innings, Pakistan were buoyed by a gritty century from middle-order batter Saud Shakeel, ensuring they had vital runs to defend.
“People have grown in stature,” said Masood. “It’s about the whole team and its spirit.”
Saturday’s match ended with Masood smashing Shoaib Bashir for six to chase down the 36-run target in 3.1 overs before lunch.
Pakistan next play a two-Test series in South Africa in December.