Town suffered a first home defeat in six months as goals from Bradley Wright-Phillips and Joe Mason gave Paul Mariner a winning return to Portman Road.

The Plymouth boss received a great reception from the Town fans when he walked out before kick-off and watched on as Wright-Phillips' strike on 34 minutes put his side in front.

Jon Walters headed just wide, Pablo Counago forced a save from David Stockdale and the 'keeper blocked Daryl Murphy's effort when the striker was clean through but Plymouth sealed the points when Joe Mason poked the ball in from eight yards 12 minutes from time.

Town, unchanged from the win over Barnsley at the weekend, struggled to inject any tempo into the play in the first-half with the Pilgrims frustrating the home side, catching Blues with a succession of offsides.

Murphy fired over with a left foot effort after Gareth McAuley had headed Damien Delaney's free-kick into the area, the Republic of Ireland international firing into the sidenetting soon after following Town's best move of the half, Counago and Jack Colback combining to release the frontman.

Brian Murphy forced Wright-Phillips' low drive past the post, Counago and then Colback blasting well over at the other end before Town's best effort of the half on 30 minutes, Walters' heading inches wide of the far post from David Norris' cross

Four minutes later Plymouth got the breakthrough, Delaney failing to clear the danger and Wright-Phillips burying his effort past Murphy from Yannick Bolasie's cross.

McAuley did have the ball in the net for Town just before the break but not before the offside flag was raised after Counago's flick header had fallen into his path.

Walters almost got a touch to Carlos Edwards' cross as Blues started the second-half on the front foot.

At the other end Jamie Mackie showed good pace to get on to the end of long ball over the top, McAuley making the block.

Stockdale saved low down from Counago's shot, Edwards unable to force the ball in from the tight angle.

Trickery from Edwards created him the space to cross from the right, McAuley's header saved by Stockdale, Walters' deflected effort then held by the 'keeper.

Town made a double change on the hour, Owen Garvan and Grant Leadbitter on for Edwards and Norris.
Counago's astute pass released Murphy in on goal but the Irishman was denied by Stockdale, while at the other end Golasie's header was beaten out by Murphy to keep Blues in the game.

Alan Judge replaced the injured Chris Barker in Plymouth's first change midway through the half, Mason on for Wright-Phillips and David Healy for Counago soon after.

Stockdale tipped Leadbitter's free-kick around the post as Town searched for an equaliser but it was the Pilgrims who struck again, Garvan's header falling well short of intended target Murphy, Mackie's effort was blocked but Mason followed up to toe poke the ball in from eight yards and seal the win for the visitors.

Plymouth's goals were the first Murphy had conceded at Portman Road since joining the Club in January and the result illustrated the frustrating inconsistencies that have blighted Town's season.

Town: B.Murphy, D.Wright, McAuley, Delaney, O'Connor, Edwards (Garvan 60), Norris (Leadbitter 60), Colback, Walters, D.Murphy, Counago (Healy 70). Subs not used: Lee-Barrett, Peters, Smith, Wickham.

Plymouth: Stockdale, Duguid, N'Gala, Johnson, Barker (Judge 67), Clark, Johnson, Fletcher, Bolasie, Mackie, Wright-Phillips (Mason 70). Subs not used: Larrieu, Fallon, Summerfield, Cooper, Leonard.
Att: 19,316