Town had enough chances to have won three games but in the end needed a penalty save from Neil Alexander to earn a point.

Pablo Counago hit the post and was denied by Luke McCormick's fingertips, Jon Walters had a point blank header kept out by the Plymouth 'keeper and Alan Lee had a header cleared off the line in the last seconds.

Alex Bruce and Jason De Vos were also denied by goalline clearances but the best chance fell to the visitors after Dan Harding handled in the second-half but Alexander came to Blues' rescue with his third spot-kick save for the Club to deny Steven MacLean.

New signing Alan Quinn was included in the starting line-up for Town, Harding returning to the side in place of the suspended Sito. Sylvain Legwinski dropping to the bench.

The first action of note saw referee's assistant Mr Evetts taking a tumble after colliding with Danny Haynes, the official receiving lengthy treatment after landing in the photographer's pit on the side of the pitch.

Tommy Miller had a shot blocked as the game took a while to get going, Bruce going close with a header after great skill by Owen Garvan down the right flank.

Haynes was denied by a brilliant block from Gary Sawyer, then Counago almost got on the end of a Garvan pass before the first change of the game saw the unfortunate Mr Evetts having to be replaced by the fourth official.

Quinn went down under a challenge from Paul Connolly but referee Tony Bates waved away Town's penalty appeals, the Republic of Ireland international then shooting at Luke McCormick after good work by Counago.

More good work by Counago opened the way for Garvan but the Irishman's shot lacked power, Haynes then wasting a gilt edged chance after taking Counago's pass in his stride and cutting inside Sawyer but his shot flew well over the bar.

Walters sent a header over the bar from David Wright's cross, Garvan then firing inches wide after Counago had set him up.

Town continued to create the better openings and should have taken the lead on three occasions in the closing 10 minutes of the half, Counago the guilty party on each occasion.

The former Spain U21 striker fired over from close range after Garvan's header had fallen to him inside the box, then failed to make a connection from Haynes' cross after the England U19 striker had shown great pace and awareness down the flank.

Counago then latched on to Walters' header, drifted away from Krisztian Timar to create an angle for his shot but his left foot drive was just wide.

Alexander had little to deal with in the first-half, a low save from Peter Halmosi's free-kick the only real time he was called into action.

Plymouth made a change at the break, Luke Summerfield replacing Yoann Folly in the middle of the park.

Harding sent a 30 yarder just wide in the early exchanges of the second-half, Quinn then missing with a header after Walters' flick on.

Town were then denied twice in the space of a matter of seconds, Bruce's header cleared off the line with Jason De Vos' follow up hacked off the line again by Halmosi as Blues turned up the pressure of the visitors' goal.

McCormick kept out Counago with a finger tip save as the striker tried to lift the ball over the 'keeper, Walters' volley blocked as Town camped around the box but on the hour Plymouth had the best chance of the lot to open the scoring, Harding judged to have handled the ball while he was on the floor and referee Bates pointed to the spot after a call from his assistant.

Alexander then produced more penalty saving heroics, throwing himself to the left to beat out MacLean's penalty.

Plymouth made a second change midway through the half, Halmosi replaced by Jermaine Easter.

A point blank save from McCormick to deny Walters' header kept the scores level, Alexander then doing exactly at the same at the other end to deny Rory Fallon.

Walters then stabbed his shot wide as chances came and went at either end.

Town boss Jim Magilton made his first change on 71 minutes, Alan Lee replacing Haynes, Walters dropping into midfield.

Miller pulled his shot wide as the game entered the closing stages, Bruce blocking Fallon's shot as Plymouth broke. Timar picking up the first yellow card of the game for a foul on Lee.

The Pilgrims made a final change with Lee Hodges on for Fallon on 80 minutes. Easter going close straight after with a diving header.

Quinn made way for Gary Roberts on 84 minutes, Blues continuing to go close, Counago's header hitting the post from Wright's cross.

Lee had a header cleared off the line in added on time with Blues having to settle for a second successive home draw.

Town: Alexander, Wright, Bruce, De Vos, Harding, Haynes (Lee 71), Miller, Garvan, Quinn (Roberts 82), Walters, Counago. Subs not used: Supple, Naylor, Legwinski.

Plymouth: McCormick, Connolly, Doumbe, Timar, Sawyer, Clark, Folly (Summerfield 46), Nalis, Halmosi (Easter 67), Fallon (Hodges 84), MacLean. Subs not used: Abdou, Jutkiewicz.

Att: 20,095