Jon Stead's first goal of the season gave Town a point at Home Park and made it four draws in five games for Roy Keane's side.

The Blues' striker's cool finish midway through the second-half cancelled our Carl Fletcher's opener for Plymouth who played the closing stages with 10 men after Darcy Blake was sent-off.

Alan Quinn had a shot cleared off the line but it needed an excellent save from Asmir Begovic in added on time to earn Blues a point.

Town made two changes from the side that drew with Watford on Tuesday, Jack Colback coming in for Liam Trotter and Jaime Peters keeping his place after coming on as a half-time substitute against the Hornets, Lee Martin making way.

Jon Walters recovered from an ankle injury and partnered Pablo Counago up front, the Spaniard having the first shot at goal on six minutes, Romain Larrieu making the save.

Grant Leadbitter sent a long distance effort wide, the former Sunderland midfielder tested Larrieu with another drive soon after as Blues searched for an opening.

Rory Fallon headed over from Gary Sawyer's cross before Plymouth got the breakthrough on 22 minutes, Fletcher beating Begovic with a left foot strike from 25 yards.

Gareth McAuley, who was booked early on,  was replaced by Alex Bruce three minutes later, the Northern Ireland international looking to have picked up a thigh injury.

Larrieu dealt with another strike from Leadbitter, the midfielder then seeing his shot blocked by Fletcher. The Pilgrims were forced into a change just past the half hour when Fallon going off with an injury, Cillian Sheridan joining the action.

Begovic saved from Fletcher with Counago heading wide from David Wright's cross in the last opening of the first-half.

Quinn replaced Liam Rosenior at the break, Plymouth making an early change in the second-half with Chris Clark on for James Paterson.

Roy Keane made his final substitution just before the hour mark with Counago making way for Stead, Plymouth following suit with Blake on for David Gray.

Begovic punched clear from Sawyer's cross, Fletcher volleying wide before Blues levelled on 67 minutes, Stead pouncing on Sawyer's backpass and calmly finishing with his right foot.

Quinn had shot cleared off the line by Blake, while at the other end Karl Duguid tested Begovic, Blake then shooting wide.

Stead fired goalwards at Larrieu from 25 yards as both sides searched for that crucial second goal, Carlos Edwards sending a cracking drive just over from distance.

Shane Lowry picked up a yellow card for a foul on Stead as the game entered the closing stages and Plymouth were then reduced to 10 men when Blake was shown a straight red for a challenge on Quinn, the Pilgrims' substitute protesting his innocence, claiming he got the ball.

Begovic denied Alan Judge with his feet in added on time as Plymouth threatened to heap more last gasp misery on Town, with the point completing a hat-trick of draws as Town continue the search for that first League win of the season.

Plymouth: Larrieu, Gray (Blake 61), Arnason, Lowry, Sawyer, Judge, Fletcher, Duguid, Paterson (Clark 52), Fallon (Sheridan 37), Mackie. Subs not used: Letheren, Timar, Gow, Barnes. Sent-off: Blake. Booked: Lowry.

Town: Begovic, Rosenior (Quinn 46), McAuley (Bruce 25), Smith, D.Wright, Edwards, Colback, Leadbitter, Peters, Walters, Counago (Stead 58). Subs not used: R.Wright, Delaney, Trotter, Healy. Booked: McAuley.

Att: 10,875