Wayne wants cool Jay after celebrations tip over edge
WAYNE ROONEY has warned Jay Stansfield not to let his heart rule his head after Birmingham blew a two-goal lead. Stansfield headed the Blues into a 15th-minute lead before triggering an angry reaction from the Plymouth fans.
The striker, on loan from Fulham, lifted his shirt with the message ‘once a red, always a red’ in a tribute to his hometown club and Plymouth’s fierce rivals Exeter.
Stansfield has been mocked by a small section of Plymouth fans in the past over the death of his father and former Exeter striker Adam, who died from cancer.
Plastic bottles and cups were thrown at Stansfield before he was booked for his celebration.
Blues boss Rooney said: “It is something I have done as a player and, especially with his father, those emotions were really high.
“I spoke to Jay but I don’t think it helped by getting involved with the crowd, sometimes you are better focusing on your job on the pitch.
“This game was really emotional for him and his family but when you get involved with fans, you never know what the reaction will be. “It is something he will learn from.” Lee Buchanan was stretchered off after a seventh-minute collision with Stansfield before the opener arrived.
Juninho Bacuna swung over a corner and Stansfield’s glancing header squeezed into the far corner.
Blues doubled their lead in the 39th minute when Bacuna crossed for Jordan James to crash in a volley.
Plymouth pulled one back through Joe Edwards and Birmingham were reduced to 10 men in the 48th minute, midfielder Krystian Bielik receiving a red card for clattering into Jordan Houghton.
Blues opened a two-goal cushion when Bacuna finished from close range.
Plymouth reduced the arrears through Marc Roberts’s own goal before Morgan Whittaker rescued a point.
Plymouth director of football Neil Dewsnip said: “I am really proud to lead the team but I won’t be the next manager.”
PLYMOUTH: Hazard 6; Edwards 6 (Kesler-hayden (53) 6), Pleguezuelo 6, Gibson 6, Galloway 6 (Miller (68) 6); Cundle 6 (Randle (68) 6), Houghton 7, Azaz 6; Mumba 6 (C Wright (89) 6), Whittaker 7, Waine 6 (Issaka (89) 6) BIRMINGHAM: Ruddy 7; Aiwu 6, Sanderson 5, Roberts 6, Buchanan 5 (Longelo (10) 6); Sunjic 6, Bielik 4; Dembele 6 (Jutkiewicz (75) 6), James 7, Bacuna 8 (Miyoshi (84) 6); Stansfield 7 (Burke (66) 6) STAR MAN: Juninho Bacuna – Ran Plymouth ragged, capping an impressive display with two assists and a goal. REFEREE: Graham Scott 5