'The Wayne Rooney factor!' - Fans rip Man Utd legend as Plymouth pull off 'shock of the season' and dump Brentford out of FA Cup after sacking former England star

Plymouth pulled off what many are calling the shock of the season in Saturday's FA Cup third round tie, as Morgan Whittaker's 82nd minute effort earned them a 1-0 away win. The win comes less than two weeks after Rooney was sacked from his post as manager, leaving them bottom of the Championship, and fans were quick to point out their sudden improvement since his departure.

"Plymouth can’t win for sh*t under Rooney. Soon as he’s sacked, they win away to this seasons best home side in the country," @AVFCCharlie wrote on X. "I know he’s crap but f*ck me."

"Sack Rooney and go and win away at a Premier League club. Fair play Plymouth. Pretty damning on ol' Wazza though isn't it," said @9_Hendo.

Another fan, @darrentimmsgolf said: "Doesn’t take a genius to work out how bad a manager Rooney is. His record at Plymouth P23, 51 goals conceded. Since, P3, 2 clean sheets, unbeaten and beating Prem teams in the cup! Why oh why does anyone hire him!"

"Plymouth pulling off the shock of the season! Absolutely buzzing," said @derv_ed, and @AndyElche said: "It's called the "Rooney" factor lol".

Plymouth won just five of the 25 matches they played under Rooney before his dismissal on December 31. They drew with Bristol City the next day and then with Stoke before appointing Miron Muslic as Rooney's replacement just a day before their triumph against Brentford.

Plymouth are in action again on Tuesday when they face Oxford United in the Championship. Brentford, meanwhile, are up against Manchester City on the same evening.