Barnsley boss Conor Hourihane relieved to emerge from ‘mad’ game with victory

Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane was glad to come out on the right side of a “mad” game as the Tykes got their Sky Bet League One campaign off to a winning start with a 3-1 League One win at Plymouth.

Barnsley led 2-0 at half-time thanks to a Brendan Wiredu own goal and a thumping volley by Adam Phillips.

Makeshift striker Caleb Watts got the Pilgrims back into the game and Barnsley were reduced to 10 men when central defender Jack Shepherd was sent off for a second caution after 63 minutes.

The Tykes sealed victory when Davis Keillor-Dunn scored in the 83rd minute.

Hourihane said: “It was a frantic, bit of everything opening game so I am just delighted to come away with something in the end. I think it was just a bit of a mad game, to be honest.

“So much happened you know, cards, that disallowed goal at the start.

“There were some good goals from our point of view as well. We played some good stuff, particularly when went down to 10 men. I am just glad to come out the other side of it really.

“There were some decisions in the game where some went for you, some went against you and like I said, a bit of a frantic game.

“It’s a long, long season so there’s nothing to get too excited about.

“We would have lost that last year, no question. We had a couple of situations last year where we may have been ahead and folded a little bit, but there’s seems like a bit of an edge to this group and the culture togetherness that we’ve tried to bond over the course of preseason.

“That was there to see in abundance in the game.

“I know this team will score goals. You know, Dave McGoldrick, Adam Phillips, Keillor-Dunn and Caylan Vickers. We’ve got goals in us. There’s no question about it.

“Technically Adam’s an outstanding footballer, you know, it was a great goal technically and I am delighted for him.”

New Plymouth head coach Tom Cleverley has urged his side to tighten up defensively.

Cleverley said: “You can’t question the players’ application, their work ethic, their character to stick with it at 2-0 down, and I felt like there was only one team that was going to press on.

“We maybe didn’t manage that part of the game well enough as when we were 2-1 and looking like scoring the next goal, an unforced every or two let them off the hook, maybe not being tight enough at the back, gave them a chance.

“The overriding feeling is there was a lack of conviction in what we did without the ball today.

“Today highlighted if we are half-hearted in what we do we will be punished.

“We know we are lacking a centre forward so I thought Caleb Watts was our shining star today. He did an excellent job and got his goal in that role.

“Even though we don’t have a starting nine it’s in defensive areas we need to look at ourselves.”