BARNSLEY head coach Conor Hourihane said he was delighted with the opening day win against Plymouth Argyle - but he's not going to get too excited just yet.

The Reds were backed with 888 travelling fans who made the long journey down to the south coast, and they made the trip back to Barnsley in good spirits thanks to a 3-1 win.

The Reds took the lead on 13 minutes thanks to an own goal by Plymouth's Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu and Adam Phillips doubled their lead on the half hour mark thanks to a sublime strike from Adam Phillips.

The hosts pulled one back just after half time through Caleb Watts before Jack Shepherd was sent off for Barnsley in the 63rd minute.

And despite pressure from the hosts, it was Hourihane's side who scored the fourth goal of the game as Davis Keillor-Dunn calmly slotted in in front of the travelling fans.

Hourihane said: "I think it was a mad game.

"So much happened - there was a red card, a disallowed goal from the start.

"I think we played some good stuff.

"I just think it was an open day, frantic bit of everything game.

"I'm just delighted to come out the other side of it."

The head coach, who was returning to Home Park as a manager more than a decade after leaving Plymouth as a player, said it's clear there's now an 'edge' to the group.

He added: "I'm delighted to tick one off straight away.

"It's a long, long season so I'm not going to get too excited but my big thing from the group is the togetherness and the grit.

"We'd 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 just seems a bit of an edge to the group."

And he says that it's a testament to the work the side have put in over pre-season.

He said: "It's great for the lads.

"I've really pushed them hard over the course of pre-season.

"They've not had many days off.

"They've been out on the training pitch when they've got tired bodies.

"I'm really pleased for them.

"They fully deserve it."