City picked up a well earned point after an entertaining 2-2 draw at Home Park.

Richard Cresswell fired the Potters in to an early lead, before Sylvain Ebanks-Blake levelled from the spot.

Ryan Shawcross headed City back in to the driving seat early in the second half, but Krisztian Timar nodded home to secure a point for the Pilgrims.

Russell Hoult, who was making his league debut for the Potters, was shown a red card late on after tripping Ebanks-Blake outside the box after he had burst through on goal.

The match kicked off and Hoult was immediately tested and did well to punch away Ebanks-Blake's dangerous cross away from danger.

After just eight minutes City were ahead. A trademark Rory Delap throw-in just evaded Ricardo Fuller in the six yard box, but former Preston man Cresswell was on hand to rifle the ball in to the back of the net.

The Pilgrims immediately set about getting back on level terms, but couldn't find a way past Hoult, who produced two good saves to thwart Ebanks-Blake and Jermaine Easter.

Jamaican international Fuller, brilliantly picked out Liam Lawrence in the 18-yard box after 25 minutes, but despite controlling well, his shot failed to match and Romain Larrieu gathered the ball comfortably.

City's lead should have been doubled just after the half hour, but after bursting through and rounding the keeper, Fuller agonisingly fired his shot at the right hand post.

Lee Martin, who spent six months on loan at the Britannia Stadium last season, should have done better after capitalising on Danny Pugh's slip, after whipping the ball straight in to Hoult's hands.

The hosts were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half time after Ryan Shawcross was adjudged to have blocked Martin's effort with his hand.

Ebanks-Blake stepped up for the spot kick, and despite Hoult saving well down to his right, the former Manchester United youngster fired the rebound in to the back of the net.

Plymouth looked rejuvenated following the half time interval, and Leon Cort had to be alert to block Easter's strike from close range, while Hoult saved well down at the legs of Peter Halmosi.

The visitors should have been ahead in the 56^th minute through Liam Lawrence. The midfielder collected well from Delap's long ball but his drilled effort was parried around the post.

From the resulting corner however, it was 2-1 for the Potters. Defender Shawcross rose highest to power home Lawrence's corner in off the post.

City's lead lasted just nine minutes as Timar headed home a Plymouth corner to level the scoreline in the 67^th minute.

With 18 minutes remaining Fuller was denied what appeared to be a clear penalty. The powerful striker flicked the ball up inside the penalty area and defender Marcel Seip looked to have knocked the ball clear with his hand. However the referee waved away the protests.

On loan Crystal Palace defender Cort almost put City ahead for the third time late on, but he diverted Danny Pugh's drive inches wide of Larrieu's goal.

Substitute Jon Parkin attempted a 30-yard strike which flew just over the bar, following Fuller's clever back heel.

Hoult's debut turned in to a nightmare in the 81^st minute, as he was shown the red card after clattering in to Ebanks-Blake outside his area.

Simonsen was brought on at Parkin's expense and was forced to produce a good save immediately following David Norris powerful free-kick.

Ebanks-Blake almost won the game with an individual moment of brilliance in the dying stages, but Simonsen palmed away his 35-yard overhead kick.