Oli Irow has the X-factor – Plymouth boss Tom Cleverley in awe of early strike

Plymouth boss Tom Cleverley claimed Oli Irow has the “X-factor” following the on-loan Tottenham winger’s sensational first-minute strike in a 3-0 Sky Bet League One win at home to Barnsley.

Ronan Curtis doubled the Greens’ lead before the break and striker Bim Pepple made it three in the 50th minute.

Cleverley said: “Thinking back, it’s the best goal I’ve seen at Home Park.

“Twenty seconds into the game, the first touch is really impressive to take it inside his full-back then produce a strike of such direction, power and quality.”

“In Oli we’ve got a player who’s got the X-factor. The kind of player who can turn tight games into winning games, draws into wins.

“It’s a superb strike.

“It was very pleasing to get a goal so soon after kick-off. I wasn’t pleased with the goal at Leicester when we conceded from one our kick-offs.

“It’s an area of the game that we can easily improve so we did some work on it yesterday, but I didn’t expect it to end up in a 20-yard top-corner goal. But you should always get territory from your own kick-off.

“Bim is exceptional with his back to goal. People don’t give Bim enough credit on his finishing, both right and left and an outstanding goal and performance.

“The perfectionist in me wanted to produce more shots in the second half. We should be trying to make it four or five.

“We did what we needed to do today.”

Barnsley boss Daniel Stendel said: “It was a disappointing afternoon. I have to apologise for this performance, especially for our fans who have travelled to Plymouth today.

“The game started really badly for us with the goal in the first minute and especially in the first half we were not really in the game.

“Then the second goal was a goalie mistake and then I think you can see the situation for the young players. It’s not an easy situation.

“I wasn’t expecting this performance to be honest because the week’s training we have just had was the best since we started back.

“But the performance today was the opposite.

“It’s hard to accept. I said to the players it’s not only hard for them but also for the supporters on their longest away trip.

“But we have not got much time. Tuesday is the cup tie at Peterborough.

“We have to stand up again and play better and we have to learn really quickly that we cannot wait for some other guys to take the responsibility for the game.

“You have to give everything you can give. It’s hard to say but that was not every player today. I do not expect them to play like that in future.”