Sylvain Legwinski's first minute header - his third goal in three games - was enough to earn Town a point but Fabian Wilnis was dismissed in the second-half in an entertaining game at Home Park.

French midfielder Legwinski ghosted in at the near post to plant a Matt Richards corner into the Plymouth net but another flag kick led to the Pilgrims' equaliser on 22 minutes, Paul Wotton heading in.

Wilnis was shown a red card by referee Kevin Friend 12 minutes from time after picking up a second booking for tugging back Barry Hayles.

Jim Magilton kept with the starting line-up that swept aside Luton on Sunday, Simon Walton retaining his place in midfield with Mark Noble on the bench after being suspended at the weekend.

Town got off to the perfect start, Richards sweeping in a corner for Legwinski to time his run and head in at the near post in identical fashion to his opener against the Hatters at the weekend.

Plymouth responded in a fashion befitting a team that were unbeaten in six games and lying fifth in the table, Wotton and Akos Buzsaky both having chances to restore level terms before the 15 minute mark.

The Pilgrims stormed forward at every opportunity, Shane Supple saving brilliantly from Buzsaky's free-kick before another set-piece led to their equaliser, Tony Capaldi's corner headed in by Wotton at the far post.

It was Plymouth's seventh corner in a blistering opening as Blues were forced back, although Alan Lee had a half chance inside the home box but the ball was steered away from danger by Mathias Doumbe.

David Norris then evaded Dan Harding's challenge and skimmed a cross behind the Town defence towards Sylvan Ebanks-Blake but Blues scrambled the ball away.

Billy Clarke and then Lee both went down under challenges inside the penalty area with Lee in particular angered that no spot-kick was given by referee Friend. Seconds later the Republic of Ireland international was yellow carded after catching Doumbe.

Fab is dismissed

Lilian Nalis then fed Ebanks-Blake but a brilliant interception from Harding robbed the striker as he prepared to test Supple, Plymouth winning a ninth corner kick as a result but to no avail.

The Pilgrims finished an entertaining first-half with another corner, Jaime Peters struggling to clear his lines with Wotton's shot eventually going wide.

Town made a change at the break, new loan signing Gary Roberts coming on for Peters and taking up a position on the right flank.

Roberts immediately showed his willingness to run at defenders but his cross went safely into Luke McCormick's grateful hands.

Wilnis followed Lee into referee Friend's notebook for a foul on Capaldi, Buzsaky's free-kick straight at Supple. At the other end Lee showed all the confidence that comes with eight goals in seven games, shaving the post from an acute angle.

Capaldi became the first Pilgrim to be booked on the night after a challenge on Wilnis, with Hayles then replacing Nick Chadwick on the hour as Ian Holloway juggled his front players.

McCormack saved well from Lee but the Town striker had been penalised for a foul on Doumbe, then the Blues' leading scorer just failed to take a pass from Legwinski in his stride.

Holloway then made a second change, Cherno Samba replacing Ebanks-Blake halfway through the second period.

Harding became the third Town player to be booked for a clumsy challenge, Alex Bruce, who is beginning to settle in alongside Jason De Vos in the middle of the defence, heading away as Hayles challenged.

The home fans screamed for a penalty when Samba went down inside the box, then the former Liverpool player got on the end of Paul Connolly's cross, the ball deflecting inches wide for a corner.

A trip by Legwinski brought the Frenchman a booking, Town's fourth on the night, Capaldi's free-kick causing problems in the Blues' box, Legwinski eventually forcing the ball away.

Wotton joined the bookings with a lunging challenge to bring down Clarke 25 yards out after Roberts had found the teenage Irishman with an excellent pass. Roberts was mysteriously booked for moving the ball a few inches before eventually sending the free-kick well wide.

Mark Noble replaced Harding with 15 minutes left and Danny Haynes was set to come on until Blues were reduced to 10 men, Wilnis shown a second yellow and then dismissed for tugging back Hayles.

A brilliant save from Supple kept Town level then seconds later Roberts produced an even better block to keep out Hayles' close range shot with a spectacular clearance off the line.

Richard Naylor came on for Clarke with seven minutes remaining as Blues looked to tighten up at the back, Lee operating up front with Roberts in support.

Six minutes of added on time were shown, much to the anger of the Town boss but Roberts had the Blues' dug-out on their feet with a snap shot that went just over, then at the other end Richards did well to clear from Samba as Plymouth pressed.

Simon Walton in action at Home Park

Town held firm as the Pilgrims threw bodies into the box, De Vos hacking the ball away from Hayles, then Naylor deflected Hayles' shot into the air with Supple keeping his cool to claim the ball.

The game finished with another yellow card after a melee in the middle of the park, Walton the victim, picking up his fifth booking of the season and Town's seventh of what was never anything more than a competitive 90 minutes.

Town: Supple, Wilnis, De Vos, Bruce, Harding (Noble 73), Peters, Walton, Legwinski, Richards, Lee, Clarke(Naylor 83). Subs not used: Haynes, Drobny. Sent-off: Wilnis. Booked: Lee, Harding, Legwinski, Roberts, Walton.