“The fans really got behind us, it’s only three points but it’s a massive three points for us, we can kickstart our season now”- Joe Edwards speaks out after Plymouth Argyle’s comeback 3-2 win against Sunderland as he sends message to fans

Joe Edwards admitted it does not get much better than scoring a late winning goal at the Devonport End of Home Park after he did just that as Plymouth Argyle shocked Championship leaders Sunderland by beating them 3-2.

Pundits such as Don Goodman, Clinton Morrison and Chris Waddle had all tipped the Pilgrims to lose but instead Wayne Rooney’s Pilgrims’ side celebrated their first league win of the season after Edwards struck in third minute of added time at the end of a pulsating second half of action.

A powerful long range shot from Argyle defender Kornel Szucs could only be parried away by Sunderland ‘keeper Anthony Patterson and Edwards reacted first as he slotted the ball into the net to spark scenes of wild celebration behind the goal in the packed Devonport End, as well as around the rest of the stadium.

On scoring such a late winning goal in front of the Devonport End, the 33-year-old added: “I will be honest, it doesn’t get much better. It’s something I will never get over that feeling.

“To score there last minute, big game, it’s amazing. It’s the reason you play football for. To still get that buzz I get now, it’s why I’m still running around like a lunatic!”

The last time Argyle had won a Championship match was when Edwards grabbed the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory over Hull City at the Theatre of Greens on the final day of last term, which saw them escape relegation.

On this occasion, they trailed 1-0 at half-time but then hit back to take a 2-1 lead before Sunderland’s 21-year-old attacker Romaine Mundle grabbed an 86th minute equaliser.

When Edwards was asked how he ranked his winner against Sunderland compared to the 23 others he has got for the club, he replied: “Obviously, the importance of it is not necessarily as big as some of the others because of where they were in the season, but in terms of the game, in terms of our season so far and in terms of the atmosphere and everything like that it was amazing.

“It’s right up there. It’s the old cliché – it’s only three points – but I think it’s a massive three points for us at this stage of the season. I think we would have been really disappointed coming in with it 2-2. It was a brilliant feeling again.

“First half we weren’t great. The tempo wasn’t really there and the gaffer (Rooney) mentioned it at half-time, he said ‘I just don’t feel like you are going to score at the minute, we need to be more aggressive, we need to be hungry to score, we need to get in the right areas, we need to play with a better tempo’.

“I think we came out second half and showed that. The whole place was transformed, the atmosphere was amazing, the fans really got behind us and the boys put in a shift that we needed to do to get ourselves back in the game.

“I felt when we were back in the game we played some good stuff and were really threatening. That side of it was pleasing. After conceding late on, had we drawn 2-2 it would have been really deflating so I think that win was huge in terms of the morale of the team, and getting that first win ticked off. We can really crack on now.”

Edwards continued: “Since I have been here the success we have had in the five years has been down to our home form and how we play. That’s what we need. First half, it was probably too easy to play against, we were a little bit flat. At this level, you are not going to do well at that stage.

“We know if we are on the front foot and play with energy, and play with the tempo we did second half, the fans come with us – and then once the fans come with us, the atmosphere we can create going into that end we always feel like we are going to score, so that was massive for us.

“I think it gives the new boys a little taster of it as well. Everyone is just happy to get that first win and we can kickstart our season now.”

Argyle’s defeat of Sunderland has set them up well for a tough run of games, with a trip to West Bromwich Albion next Saturday followed by games against Luton Town, Burnley and Blackburn Rovers before the second international break of the season.