Barnsley's victory at Home Park was their first opening day win since they beat Port Vale 7-0 at Oakwell two years ago
Tom Cleverley's first game as Plymouth Argyle head coach ended in a controversial 3-1 loss at home to 10-man Barnsley in League One.
The visitors scored two goals against the run of play in the first half as Argyle dominated much of the game but failed to convert a host of chances and had a number of decisions go against them.
Caleb Watts controversially had a fifth-minute goal ruled out for an infringement in the build-up - Bradley Ibrahim had found Xavier Amaechi on the right flank with a superb cross-field ball and the winger crossed in for Watts to put away.
It got worse for the hosts seven minutes later when debutant Brendan Wiredu deflected Davis Keillor-Dunn's excellent curling free-kick into his own net as Barnsley took the lead.
Watts went close with a long-range effort soon after, before Barnsley were grateful to Argyle again for their second goal. A poor clearance by Wiredu was equally badly headed away by Victor Palsson and Adam Phillips was there to superbly volley into the bottom corner from the edge of the box with just his side's second shot of the day.
Watts saw a 39th-minute header superbly tipped over by Murphy Cooper before the a second controversial incident five minutes later as Cooper brought down the onrushing Watts well outside the area, only for referee Declan Bourne to wave play-on.
The hosts got a deserved goal back soon after the break as Watts chested down Palsson's header and volleyed in from close range after Brendan Galloway had won a header.
There was more controversy after an hour when Barnsley's Jack Shepherd - who had already been booked at the end of the first half as tempers flared following the Watts incident - received a second yellow card for a handball.
But Bourne initially forgot it was his second caution and was about to get play under way again before realising his error and dismissing the Tykes defender.
Argyle continued to attack as they tried to find an equaliser, but the likes of Amaechi and Watts could not hit the target.
As the Pilgrims poured forward they left gaps at the back - Ashby-Hammond did well to save after Keillor-Dunn had put substitute Jonathan Bland through with seven minutes left.
But he could do nothing three minutes later when another defensive mistake - this time by Kornel Szucs - put Keillor-Dunn through from Cooper's long clearance and the forward calmly slotted home.
What was the main talking point?
There were a number of controversial moments during the game
Sadly for the opening day of the season this game will be remembered for the decisions referee Declan Bourne did and did not make.
His call to disallow Watts' goal in the opening minutes caused consternation among the home fans, but replays suggest it was a justifiable, if strict, decision.
The game turned on his decision not to give a foul against Cooper when Watts was through on goal shortly before half-time.
The Tykes goalkeeper appeared to clear out the Argyle player as the pair came together to meet a long ball 15 yards outside the Barnsley box - and a free kick and possible red card could have been the outcome.
But he waved play on, raising tempers on the field - Cleverley was booked after registering his unhappiness from the dugout before Shepherd and Wiredu were yellow-carded for an altercation soon after.
When Shepherd was shown a second yellow card for handball Bourne almost allowed the game to restart before realising his error - much to the annoyance of the crowd.
Shepherd then showed his lack of respect for Bourne's authority by slowly walking down the middle of the field to the changing rooms, delaying the game for about two minutes.
Keillor-Dunn and Watts impress
Davis Keillor-Dunn scored five goals in the final eight games of last season
Davis Keillor-Dunn was the toast of the away end at full-time as he was rightly celebrated for his contribution.
Having scored 19 goals last season in all competitions he again showed his value as he created the chances that ultimately won his side three points.
His superb curled ball forced Wiredu into the error for Barnsley's opening goal, while he got the late winner having almost set up a goal soon before.
Tykes Boss Conor Hourihane was quick to praise the striker after the match.
"He's a really good footballer, we're really fortunate to have him," he said.
"It's what he does in games, scores goals, sets up goals, works his socks off, handles the ball, really, really well.
"I know we'll score goals, David McGoldrick, Adam Phillips, Keillor-Dunn, obviously, Caylan Vickers, we've got goals in us, there's no question about it."
Meanwhile, going into the game the talk around Plymouth Argyle had been the lack of a signing at centre forward - an issue exacerbated when Bim Pepple injured his hamstring last week.
It meant central midfielder Watts - a summer signing from Argyle's bitter rivals Exeter - was thrust into a central striking role.
But it was one he took on with relish as he hassled and harried defenders throughout and created numerous chances that on another day he would have scored.
His performance will have given Cleverley some breathing space as he tries to get an experienced striker to sign for the Pilgrims.
Cleverley said: "I thought Caleb Watts was our shining star today. I thought he was excellent in that role. I thought our number nine did excellent today."
Tom Cleverley was unhappy with Plymouth's defending
Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley told BBC Sport:
"It's just a 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 at, the second one we've not contested any duels with that aerially and ended up clearing half-heartedly to the edge of the box, and then the third one is a lack of conviction when it just needs someone to take control of that situation and deal with a routine long ball.
"I think Barnsley will be very thankful for the gifts they received today and if there's something that we need to work on in the week it'll certainly be defending with a little bit more conviction than we did today."
Cleverley: "Barnsley will be very thankful for the gifts they received today."
Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane told BBC Sport:
"I think it was just a bit of a mad game to be honest with you.
"So much happened - red cards, 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 10 men particularly. I just think it was an opening day, frantic, bit of everything game and I'm just delighted to come out the other side of it really."
Hourihane: "This year there is a different mentality"
Who's next?
Plymouth Argyle hit the road for the first time next Saturday when they face former head coach Steven Schumacher's Bolton Wanderers.
Meanwhile Barnsley's first match of the season at Oakwell sees them face Burton Albion in a week's time.
