Plymouth Argyle 1-3 Barnsley: FLW reports as Tykes give Tom Cleverley baptism of fire | OneFootball

Action from the opening day of the 2025/26 League One season, as Plymouth Argyle hosted Barnsley.

Barnsley started off the new League One season with a 3-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle at Home Park, thanks to goals from Adam Phillips, Davis Keillor-Dunn, and an own-goal from Brendan Wiredu.

Argyle thought they'd taken the lead inside five minutes when summer signing Caleb Watts drilled home Xavier Amaechi's low cross, but it was ruled out for offside.

Less than ten minutes later, a deep free-kick was turned into the Plymouth net by new signing Wiredu, beginning an afternoon he'd want to quickly forget on his debut for the Greens.

Things got worse for the Pilgrims when another defensive mix-up saw Phillips smash home a loose ball to extend Barnsley's lead to two goals.

Tom Cleverley's side got one back after half-time when Watts got his deserved goal, turning home Victor Palsson's header, before Jack Shepherd was sent off for a second yellow card.

However, Keillor-Dunn wrapped up the points for Conor Hourihane's side with just minutes remaining, as yet another defensive mistake cost Argyle dearly.

Plymouth Argyle 1-3 Barnsley

The teams walked out of the tunnel to a rapturous reception from both sets of fans, as competitive football finally returned to Home Park 91 days after the conclusion of the Championship season.

Former Exeter City star Watts made the perfect start to life at his new club, or so he thought. The summer signing slotted home Amaechi's low cross, sending three sides of the ground into bedlam, until the linesmen raised his flag for offside.

The mood was quickly dampened for the home fans when Wiredu turned the ball into his own net less than ten minutes later. A nightmare start to his life in Green as Luca Connell's free-kick cannoned off his foot, catching Lucas Ashby-Hammond off guard.

Watts was involved again to almost get Plymouth level. He received the ball just outside the box and curled a beautiful effort towards goal, which had to be clawed away by a full-stretch Murphy Cooper.

Argyle would pay for their missed chances when a stunning strike from Phillips doubled Barnsley's advantage. Wiredu and Victor Palsson failed to clear their lines, which teed up the number eight, who leathered home a sumptuous effort.

Watts continued to shine and provided a glimmer of hope for a frustrated Green army. He met Kornel Szucs' cross and flicked it goalwards, forcing Cooper into an excellent save to tip it over the bar.

On the stroke of half-time, Marc Roberts had to be withdrawn for the Tykes after he picked up a knock in a challenge. He was replaced by Jonathan Bland.

There was outrage as a long ball forward played in Watts. Cooper rushed off his line and clattered the Kiwi, but somehow the referee waved play on. Tom Cleverley was booked as he voiced his feelings on the decision.

A brawl then ensued just before the whistle was blown, as Wiredu pinned down Jack Shepherd from a corner. Bradley Ibrahim was booked by Declan Bourne, who really needed to get a hold of the game.

Half-time: Plymouth Argyle 0-2 Barnsley

Cleverley rolled the dice at half-time, bringing on Jamie Paterson for his Argyle debut in place of Wiredu, who had a nightmare first 45 minutes in a green shirt.

The Greens finally had their breakthrough, and it was a deserved goal for Watts. Palsson's header fell kindly to the former Exeter City man, who turned it home from just a few yards out, and it was game on.

Things went from bad to worse for Conor Hourihane's side as they were reduced to ten men with 25 minutes to play when Shepherd was sent off. After the melee in the first half resulted in a yellow, a handball on the edge of the box earned him his marching orders.

Argyle smelled blood, and pushed on after the dismissal. Both Bradley Ibrahim and Xavier Amaechi came close, but couldn't quite squeeze their efforts the right side of the post.

Ashby-Hammond produced an excellent stop to prevent a certain goal from Bland. The ball split the Argyle defence, leaving the substitute one-on-one with the keeper, but the former Fulham man got down quickly to deny Barnsley what would've been a certain winner.

Sadly it wouldn't matter, as talisman Keillor-Dunn made sure the ten men took the three points back to Yorkshire. A mix-up between Szucs and Bali Mumba allowed the striker clean through on goal, and he made no mistake by calmly slotting past Ashby-Hammond.

Patrick Kelly almost made it four and rounded out a miserable afternoon for Plymouth, but skipper Palsson was on hand with a crucial block to deny Phillips a second of the afternoon.

Bourne brought the opening game to a close at Home Park, with Barnsley rounding out comfortable 3–1 winners and starting the season with a strong performance.

There were plenty of positives for the Green Army to take, but unfortunately the three costly defensive errors outweighed any of those.

Plymouth Argyle player ratings

L. Ashby-Hammond - 6

M. Sorinola - 8 (F. Issaka 84'(6))

K. Szucs - 6

V. Palsson - 4

B. Galloway - 5 (J. Edwards 73'(6))

B. Wiredu - 2 (J. Paterson 46'(6))

M. Boateng - 3 (O. Oseni 84'(6))

X. Amaechi - 8

B. Ibrahim - 6

B. Mumba - 6

C. Watts - 8

Unused substitutes: Z. Baker, A. Benarous, T. Finn

Barnsley player ratings

M. Cooper - 7

M. Roberts - 6 (J. Bland 43'(6))

J. Shepherd - 4 (Sent off 63')

M. De Givegney - 6

J. Earl - 7

L. Connell - 7

A. Phillips - 8

V, Yoganathan - 6 (J. Russell 58'(6))

C. Vickers - 6 (C. Barratt 65'(6))

D. McGoldrick - 6 (P. Kelly 65'(6))

D. Keillor-Dunn - 7

Unused substitutes: K. Flavell, R. Cleary, R. Woodcock

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Match attendance

There was a crowd of 16,483 at Home Park on the opening day, which included 888 Barnsley fans who made the long trip down from Yorkshire.

Tom Cleverley reacts as Plymouth Argyle lose out on opening day

Speaking to the press after the match, a disappointed Cleverley said: "If we start dissecting that game, it's just [the] lack of conviction in our defensive work really.

"If you look at all three goals we conceded today, the first one we've dangled a leg out, the second one we've not contested any duel aerially and ended up clearing half-heartedly to the edge of the box, and the third one is a lack of conviction. We just need someone to take control of that situation.

"I think Barnsley will be very thankful for the gifts that they've received today, and if there's something we need to work on in the week, it will certainly be defending with a lot more conviction than we did today."

Conor Hourihane reacts as Barnsley start the season with a win

Speaking to the press after his side's 3-1 win over Plymouth, Barnsley boss Hourihane said: "I think it was just a bit of a mad game to be honest with you.

"So much happened, [the] red card, a disallowed goal at the start, some good goals from our point of view as well on top of that. I thought we played some good stuff, when we went down to ten men particularly.

"I just think it was a frantic opening day, bit of everything game, and I'm just delighted to come out of the other side of it really."