BARNSLEY, England (Interstat) — Plymouth Argyle opened its League One season with a commanding 3-0 victory over Barnsley at Oakwell Stadium on Monday, defying a pregame projection that foresaw a closer contest.

The visitors, entering the match with a slight statistical edge, controlled proceedings from the outset and secured the points with a pair of second-half goals after taking an early lead. The result immediately separated the two sides in the early table, with Plymouth Argyle beginning the campaign at 1-0 and Barnsley starting 0-1.

Plymouth’s breakthrough came in the 16th minute. Substitute Owen Oseni, who would prove decisive, found the net for the first time to give the visitors a lead they would not relinquish. The goal settled Plymouth’s nerves and established a rhythm that Barnsley struggled to disrupt.

The home side offered little in response, and Plymouth effectively put the game beyond reach just before the hour mark. In the 57th minute, another substitute made a crucial impact as Lorent Tolaj doubled the advantage, scoring Plymouth’s second goal to firmly shift momentum in favor of the away team.

Oseni capped the performance and sealed the comprehensive scoreline with his second goal of the match late in the game. His brace, both assisted by teammates coming off the bench and from defense, highlighted the depth and effectiveness of Plymouth’s substitutions. Defender Jack Shepherd provided an assist, as did substitute Mathias Ross, who was also shown a yellow card in the 10th minute. Shepherd later received a yellow card in the 78th minute.

The final score stood in stark contrast to the pregame simulation from Interstat, which had projected a 1-1 draw. Their ELO rating system gave Plymouth Argyle a 53.2 percent probability of winning, a figure the team exceeded with a display that yielded a clean sheet and three goals.

The victory provides a perfect start for Plymouth Argyle in League One play, their record now identical across all competitions. For Barnsley, the opening-day defeat at home presents an immediate challenge, as they were outplayed and failed to register a goal in front of their own supporters. The teams will look to build on these contrasting beginnings when the league schedule continues next weekend.