Plymouth Argyle: Wayne Rooney must respond to 10-goal embarrassment | OneFootball

Wayne Rooney must stop the worrying trend when his side face Oxford United on Saturday.

Plymouth Argyle are on a wretched run of form, which spiked on the back of two heavy defeats at the hands of Norwich City and Bristol City.

Having only won one of their last nine Championship matches, Wayne Rooney's side shipped a combined 10 goals in their last two outings, losing 6-1 and 4-0.

The Pilgrims must respond when they face Oxford United on Saturday, or it will leave them struggling ahead of a busy festive period.

Heavy defeats have been a theme of Plymouth's season

When Plymouth were beaten 6-1 by Norwich, Rooney would have been hoping for a reaction, but he got more of the same when his side were defeated 4-0 by Bristol City.

The defeats themselves were unsurprising, but it is the manner of the defeats that will be concerning for Rooney, whose side have conceded 38 league goals - five more than any other side.

Plymouth have now conceded three or more goals on six separate occasions this season, with their 5-0 defeat to relegation rivals Cardiff City a standout result.

The only time Rooney's side have managed a clean sheet was when they defeated the Championship's bottom side Portsmouth 1-0 in early November.

Following Plymouth's most recent defeat, Rooney made a damning statement about his players, saying"they're not representing this club in the right way."

Having given such a bold statement, the manager will be expecting a reaction against Oxford, but if they fail to produce, then it may appear he has lost faith in the dressing room.

Oxford United represent a key opponent in more ways than one

The visit of Oxford could be one that defines Plymouth and Rooney's futures in what is set to be a crucial encounter at Home Park on Saturday.

Des Buckingham's side cannot be taken for granted, but if Rooney intends on stopping the rot, then Saturday's game will be considered a must win.

The U's currently sit in 17th position, just one point ahead of the Pilgrims and are on a torrid run of form themselves, having only won one of their last 13.

Oxford know what it is like to take a battering in the Championship, having recently shipped six against in-form Middlesbrough, but will be optimistic of a result against struggling Plymouth.

Rooney will be expected to beat the U's on Saturday, meaning the pressure will be off Buckingham and his men. If Rooney fails to pull off a result, then his position as manager will be severely under threat.

Considering Plymouth will face Sheffield United and Middlesbrough back-to-back in December, this further emphasises the need for a result.

If Rooney cannot fix Plymouth's defensive problems, then relegation seems inevitable.

After 18 games, the Pilgrims have shipped 38 goals, which averages at just over two goals a game. Worryingly, Rooney's side have a goal difference of minus 20, which is seven worse than any other side in the division.

Considering how close things are at the bottom of the table, goal difference could be a defining factor in relegation this season, so Plymouth must buck this trend.

Rooney prefers to operate with a back four, which he has utilised in 16 of Plymouth's 18 games this season. Interestingly, he opted for a back three against Watford and Norwich but switched to a four at the back following the 6-1 defeat.

Clearly, the adjustment in formation did not work and Rooney will need to try something new against Oxford. Perhaps a more attacking game plan would suit the Pilgrims, especially given they have the home advantage.

Crucially, Plymouth will play against Oxford at home, where all four of their league wins have come. Furthermore, they have won half of their matches at Home Park, losing only to Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion.

The significance of Plymouth's next game cannot be underplayed. Not only are the Pilgrims under pressure to get a result, but they are also playing against favourable opposition.

A loss for Rooney's side could be catastrophic for his future at the club, with the manager already under intense pressure to turn things around.

If the Pilgrims were to suffer a third successive defeat, then the club would have a decision to make about Rooney's future, with the club facing the prospect of relegation.