Sunderland took the lead in the first half after Patrick Roberts dispatched a penalty, which was won by Chris Rigg after Bali Mumba’s foul in the box.
The Black Cats took their goal advantage into the half-time interval but conceded shortly after the break as Anthony Patterson’s superb save was turned into the net accidentally by Dan Ballard, who could do nothing to prevent the own goal.
The hosts then took the lead with 73 minutes on the clock through a Ryan Hardie penalty after a foul from Ballard in the area. With just four minutes left of normal time, Romaine Mundle bagged Sunderland an equaliser.
But in stoppage time Joe Edwards fired home to hand Wayne Rooney his first league win as Plymouth boss and Régis Le Bris’ first Championship loss.
Here’s how our chief football writer Phil Smith rated each Sunderland player against Plymouth Argyle in the Championship:
13. Wilson Isidor
Got into some decent areas and with a little more match sharpness might have got on the end of one or two balls. Had one decent chance before Plymouth’s winner but headed over from an angle. 6 | Wilson Isidor by Chris Fryatt