Wayne Rooney hails 'world class' Andre Gray goal for Plymouth Argyle

Wayne Rooney admitted he had thought about taking off Andre Gray shortly before the striker scored Plymouth Argyle's dramatic late equaliser to draw 2-2 with Watford at Home Park.

However, the Pilgrims' boss stuck with Gray and that turned out to be a good decision as the former Watford forward got his second goal of the Championship clash in the sixth minute of added time. He beat goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann with an expertly-placed shot into the corner of the net.

As good as that strike was, though, Rooney thought Gray's first goal, which put Argyle level at 1-1 in the 23rd minute, was 'world class'. Coming from the England legend, that was high praise indeed.

Watford went ahead in only the eighth minute with a close range finish from Vakoun Bayo and they were totally dominant until Gray met a a long diagonal cross from defender Lewis Gibson on the volley and showed tremendous precision to hit the target.

The Pilgrims fell behind again shortly before half-time when they were caught out defensively at a free-kick and Ryan Porteous slotted home after the ball had been played across to him by Mattie Pollock. Watford were seconds away from clinching a third away league win of the campaign until Gray struck decisively against his fomer employers.

Rooney said: "I'm delighted in the end to get a point. I think Watford are a very good team, a very powerful team and the first 10 minutes we couldn't get to grips with the game.

"After they scored, we did well to get back in the game. It was a fantastic goal from Andre and then I thought we were okay after that. We settled into our shape a little bit and then we concede a terrible goal from our point of view. It was a straight free-kick and a cross across the box.

"I thought there was a real shift in mentality second half. We used Grimmy (goalkeeper Dan Grimshaw) a little bit more, we spread our centre-backs out and made it very difficult for them (Watford) to put pressure on us.

"We were finding the wide areas quite easily but the quality of the crossing into the box wasn't great. If that was better I think maybe we could have created a few more chances. We kept pushing. The lads who came on made a difference again, which is really important to us, and I thought in the end we deserved a point."

Gray made just his second start for Argyle against Watford after joining as a free agent in early October and he responded by coming up with his two very high quality finishes.

Rooney said: "His second goal is a fantastic finish but I think the first goal is world class. I know how difficult that is - the technique, the concentration you need with the ball coming over your shoulder.

"I'm delighted for Andre. I was going to take him off actually not too long before the second goal but made the decision to leave him on because he can have a moment. I felt we would put a few more direct balls into the box and he maybe could have an impact, and thankfully he did with a great finish."

Gray was with Watford from 2017 until 2022 and did not get the best of receptions from the visiting supporters in the Barn Park End but it was the 33-year-old who had the last laugh. Rooney said: "Of course it means something a little bit different playing against a former club. I was surprised really the reception he got from the Watford fans.

"I thought that was a bit disrespectful considering what he did for the club. Karma comes back sometimes. He has scored two fantastic goals against his former club so I'm sure that will hurt the Watford fans and make their journey home a lot less enjoyable.

"For us, it's about what he can do for us. We have been getting more and more fitness work into him over the last few weeks and I'm delighted he has got through the 90 minutes and it has enabled him to pull out a great goal."

Gray is on a short-term contract with Argyle until January and now with him the club's joint top scorer on three goals he is making a strong case to be offered an extended deal by the club.

Rooney said: "We have got a lot of games coming up from now until January and we will sit down, of course, and have a conversation in how we move forward. You can see the quality he has got and the importance he's having on the team. I'm sure there will be conversations before January and we will see where they get to."

Gray led the Argyle attack with Michael Obafemi against Watford as Rooney tried out a new 3-4-1-2 formation, with Morgan Whittaker used in the number 10 position. Rooney said: "The way I wanted to play, I wanted two forwards on the pitch. I think reflecting over the international break I want to try to get the ball in the box more and create more chances.

"So playing with three at the back means you are playing with wing-backs, and Morgan is certainly no wing-back. I think a player of Morgan's quality you try to get him in the team and so I put him in that 10 role, giving him a free role in possession.

"He helped us massively to be fair in the first half, getting back onto their number 10 and trying to stop them, and then we couldn't get the ball to him enough. He had a couple of half opportunities. I just felt it was the right decision tonight."

Argyle's three defenders included Gibson, who also assumed the captaincy of the team as he returned to action after missing the previous four matches due to a thigh injury. Rooney said: "We tried to close the space in the first half and Watford kept playing a lot of direct balls in behind Gibbo, and they have got the speed there as well. I thought he handled that well.

"He was back in as captain and I thought he led by example. He kept us pushing and I used him as an emergency number nine towards the end as well and he put his body in. I was really pleased with him, especially to get through 90 minutes after the amount of weeks he has missed."

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