Frank Lampard said Wayne Rooney deserves time to prove his worth as a manager after Coventry forced Plymouth Argyle into making unwanted history on Day.

The former England team-mates met on Thursday afternoon with Lampard’s Coventry coming out 4-0 on top.

And that meant basement side Plymouth have now conceded a record 49 goals in 22 Championship fixtures - worse than any team in the 20 years since the competition rebranded. They have also taken just one point from their past six games to leave Rooney staring at a premature exit from Home Park.

But Lampard said at full-time that he believes Rooney should be backed despite the challenges he has faced.

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"I know the challenges of each job and you only know when you're in it," Lampard told Talksport. "Wayne obviously has his career behind him and now his management career as well, which he's gone straight into. There will be challenges for him there.

"It's not for me to comment on that, I'm very happy with us today. I always wish Wayne well because he's a proper football person.

"Again, there's challenges so people have to understand he's working. I hope to see him do well because he's a young English manager with a lot to give and that continues to be the case."

Lampard, whose team moved up to 15th place with the win, then said he would then extend an invite to Rooney and his back-room staff after the game.

"The offer's always there for any manager to come in and have a chat between staff, so that's certainly there," Chelsea's record goalscorer said. "That's his call. I said it to him before the game when we spoke so hopefully I'll see him."

Plymouth travel to fellow strugglers Oxford on Sunday afternoon, while Coventry host Millwall prior to visiting on New Year’s Day.

Rooney insisted he was the right man to turn things around at Argyle after the Coventry defeat but said he is aware that he needs to find results quick to remain in his job.

"I believe I am [the right man],” he said. “I know how football works, I'm not stupid, you need to pick up results. The biggest frustration for me all season really is we look like two different teams at home and away. So psychologically is there an issue? It's something we're looking at."

He added: "I'm sure the fans have questions, I'm sure a lot of people from the outside will, and I'll do my best to answer them as best I can."

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