Burton star Irvine, who has been linked with a move away from the Championship club, was at the centre of the action in a crazy nine-minute passage of play during their clash with Hull City.
The 24-year-old picked up a yellow card in the 29th minute, before producing a brilliant curling strike to score his first Championship goal of the season and draw his side level just four minutes later.
But before Burton - who finished 20th in the Championship last season - could celebrate their equaliser, the Australia midfielder was given has marching orders in the 38th minute, after picking up another yellow while trying to prevent a Hull counter-attack.
In Irvine's absence, Burton suffered a second-half collapse to go down 4-1 to Hull, who were relegated from the Premier League last campaign.
Elsewhere, Scott McDonald, who was recently targeted for a homecoming to the A-League, scored the opener in 10-man Dundee United's 2-1 Scottish Championship win over Queen of the South.
It was McDonald's first goal of the league season.
Former A-League striker David Williams bagged a brace in Hungary in Haladas' 3-1 win over Balmazujvaros Sport.
The 29-year-old scored the opener from the spot, before doubling his side's lead in the 70th minute to bring up his third goal of the Hungary league campaign.
Williams' ex-Melbourne City team-mate Connor Chapman also got on the scoresheet in Korea, giving his side Incheon an early lead, before they prevailed 2-1 over Sangju Sangmu in the K-League classic on Saturday night (AEST).
In the Premier League, Aaron Mooy was instrumental in Huddersfield Town's shock 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.
While Mat Ryan impressed despite a plucky Brighton & Hove Albion going down 2-0 at home to Manchester City.
And former Brisbane Roar star Jamie Maclaren was a second-half substitute - playing the last 22 minutes - in Darmstadt's 3-1 loss to Regensburg in 2.Bundesliga.