Wayne Rooney issues a rallying cry after Plymouth’s dismal 4-0 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday in his first match in charge

Spelling errors on players’ shirts, four goals conceded, 30 shots against and a downright humiliating atmosphere: this was a terrible start to life as manager of Plymouth Argyle for Wayne Rooney.

The legendary former England striker spent much of the match standing in his technical box, arms folded and powerless to influence a ridiculously one-sided game.

Everyone looked up when the best English player of his generation played in darkest Devon on May 25, but no one expected such a bad start.

Rooney’s previous spell as manager of Birmingham City ended in disgrace after a 3-0 defeat at Leeds United on New Year’s Day. He was sacked less than 24 hours later, ending an 83-day run in which he managed just two wins.

After much soul searching, Rooney reflected on where it all went wrong and had the humility to talk to many people within the sport about how he had performed at Derby County, DC United and Birmingham.

Like so many former greats whose managerial careers turned sour, Rooney could have opted for the comfort of a television studio as a pundit. But the lure of football struck every chord in his battered heart, as he told Mail Sport last weekend.

For Rooney — who grew up on the streets of Croxteth in Liverpool city centre before making his debut for Everton at 16 — football is a drug and he needs his fix. When Argyle offered him the job in May following their successful battle against relegation, the 38-year-old took it.

It’s a long way from his wife Coleen – although she was in the stands on Sunday to support her husband – and four children who still live in Cheshire, but Rooney appears to be enjoying life in the Plymouth hotseat. At least, he did until serious business began with this Championship opener away at Sheffield Wednesday.

Rooney’s men – two of whom, Adam Forshaw and Ibrahim Cissoko, had been issued kits with their names misspelled – were outclassed by an Owls team who, like Plymouth, only secured their Championship status on the final day of last season.

Few will forget Rooney’s immense influence as a player, who was as intimidating as he was inspiring.

However, he struggled to get his troops on track in Birmingham and it looked as if Plymouth would be outmatched for much of the match.

Rooney brought in new signings Nathanael Ogbeta, Victor Palsson, Muhamed Tijani and Cissoko, but there was little ingenuity or confidence in Argyle’s play. Rooney denied it was a lack of desire.

However, the Liverpool player had to admit: ‘Today was not good enough, that’s clear, I think, and I’m disappointed, angry and surprised.

‘I was surprised by everything we saw in pre-season, but the basics of the game were not good enough, whether it was getting to the ball, tackling or playing aggressively.

‘We knew last season that Sheffield Wednesday were one of the best teams in the league when it came to crosses and cutbacks, and all four of their goals came that way.

“We had a plan, but we didn’t execute it at all. This is a wake-up call for all of us.”

Owls debutant Jamal Lowe opened the scoring in the first half, but the tide opened up after the break.

Brendan Galloway headed in his own net and Josh Windass fired home a third, before substitute Michael Smith added a fourth to add salt to Rooney’s wounds.

As on New Year’s Day at Elland Road, Rooney was, as expected, the target of vicious abuse from the home fans.

As Rooney headed to the away end of the game, Wednesday colleague Danny Rohl’s name was chanted loud and clear by the cheering home fans. The Owls appeared to be on the rise, but Rooney played down the significance of the result.

He added: ‘It’s the first game of the season and I’ve seen what we’ve done in preparation. That gives me courage, so this is not a moment to panic.’