A late wonder-strike from second-half substitute David Noble salvaged a draw for Bristol City.

Plymouth led when City keeper Adrian Basso could only push Jamie Mackie's effort on to the post and into the net.

A Rory Fallon volley from close range doubled their lead before debutant John Akinde tapped in for City.

With two minutes of normal time remaining, Noble picked up Brian Wilson's pass and fired in a superb strike from 20 yards.

Bristol City manager Gary Johnson:
"The first half was the poorest we have been for some time and probably since I've been here.

"If we had produced another half like that there would have been no light at the end of the tunnel.

"But all of our subs made an impact and credit the lads for giving it a go."

Plymouth Argyle manager Paul Sturrock:
"It was another good away result and we would have settled for that before the game. I've told the lads that.

"They threw on another big forward for the second half so we knew a lot of diagonal balls would be thrown at us.

"We panicked a bit at times and it was certainly a game of two halves."

Bristol City: Basso, Orr, Webster, Fontaine, McAllister, Sproule (Noble 81), Skuse (Trundle 58), Johnson, Wilson, Adebola, Maynard (Akinde 46).
Subs Not Used: Weale, Williams.

Booked: Johnson, Sproule.

Goals: Akinde 63, Noble 88.

Plymouth: Larrieu, Doumbe, Cathcart, Seip, Barker, Mackie (Folly 69), Summerfield (Mpenza 77), Duguid, Clark, Fallon (Timar 77), Gallagher.
Subs Not Used: Paterson, Marin.

Booked: Fallon.

Goals: Mackie 6, Fallon 18.

Att: 17,489.

Ref: Iain Williamson (Berkshire).