Argyle pay heavy price for defensive mistakes

PLYMOUTH Argyle were beaten 3-1 by Barnsley in their League One season-opener at Home Park on Saturday despite the South Yorkshire being down to 10 men for the closing half-an-hour.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

It was a hugely disappointing way for Tom Cleverley’s first competitive match as head coach to turn out as his side were severely punished for some very poor defending.

Caleb Watts, playing out of position as a makeshift striker, had an excellent game for Argyle and thoroughly deserved his goal in the 50th minute which saw the hosts close to within 2-1 of Barnsley.

Cleverley also received a yellow card after complaining about a decision by referee Declan Bourne not to award Argyle a free-kick late in the first half.

By that stage Barnsley were already 2-0 up after an own goal from Pilgrims’ midfielder Brendan Wiredu and a volley from Adam Phillips.

When Watts replied early in the second half and Barnsley then had defender Jack Shepherd sent-off in the 63rd minute for a second bookable offence it looked like Argyle might be able to get back on level terms, but a defensive mix-up sealed their fate as Davis Keillor-Dunn netted a third for Barnsley in the 84th minute.

Cleverley gave debuts in Argyle’s starting lineup to five of the club's 10 summer signings - Luca Ashby-Hammond, Wiredu, Xavier Amaechi, Watts and Bradley Ibrahim.

Another three were named among the substitues - Jamie Paterson, Ayman Benarous and Owen Oseni - while Jack MacKenzie and Bim Pepple were ruled out by injuries.

Oseni was Argyle’s only fit striker for the match but Cleverley decided not to start the match with the 22-year-old in the team. Instead, the Pilgrims’ went with a front three of Amaechi on the right, Watts through the centre and Bali Mumba on the left.

There was no place in the starting lineup for Joe Edwards, with Matty Sorinola in the right-back role, so Iceland international defender Victor Palsson wore the captain’s armband.