The points were shared at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, as Argyle came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Reading in Sky Bet League One.
Randell Williams' opener was quickly cancelled out by an Alex Mitchell header just minutes in.
Reading converted from a corner of their own, Paudie O’Connor on target, before a Caleb Watts strike levelled the game midway through the second half.
Tom Cleverley named an unchanged side from the team that won convincingly at Wigan Athletic on Tuesday evening, to no major surprise.
This meant that it was Luca Ashby-Hammond in goal, with a back four ahead of him containing Joe Edwards at right back, Jack MacKenzie at left back, and Mathias Ross partnering Mitchell centrally.
Malachi Boateng retained his place in the middle of the park and was accompanied by ball-playing midfielder Herbie Kane.
Ronan Curtis and Owen Dale held the width on the flanks, the former on the right and the latter on the left. Then, fresh from scoring a midweek brace, Bim Pepple led the line and was supported by Caleb Watts, who played just behind the Canadian.
It was not the start the Greens will have wanted. Pepple’s early yellow card set the tone for what was about to come.
The hosts broke quickly and used the wide threat of Williams to try to get in behind Argyle.
Dale was the covering defender, but could not do enough to take the ball away from the winger, who continued to advance down the right.
With teammates now in the box, Williams looked up and curled a cross into the penalty area, which beat everybody and floated straight into the back of the net, making it 1-0.
Despite falling behind in the opening minutes, the Greens did not let this define how the afternoon would go for them.
Just minutes later, Cleverley’s side had the ball in the back of the net themselves.
Ronan Curtis whipped a wicked cross into the Reading box from a corner, destined to be met by an Argyle player. Ross had done a good job blocking off some of the Royals’ defenders, making a clear path for Mitchell to progress through and guide the ball powerfully beyond Joel Pereira.
The end-to-end nature of the game continued, Reading offered plenty of warning signs before retaking the lead on 18 minutes.
They scored a goal similar to the one that Argyle had just mustered, directly from a corner. Lewis Wing’s delivery was on the money, allowing O’Connor to nod home as he beat Ashby-Hammond in the air; 2-1.
This game already felt like a big one, from the chaotic action on the pitch to the celebrations from either side’s scorers, and the anxious energy radiating from all four stands.
A big chance fell to Ross when Kane looped a free-kick towards the far post, probably one he should have done better from. The defender’s finish showed his position; he caught the volley all wrong and blasted it well over the crossbar from just yards out.
The hosts looked good in wide areas; the directness of both Lane and Williams forced green shirts back, especially when either Doyle or Wing drifted wide to make a numerical advantage.
There was an inevitable lull in affairs as the first half was coming towards its conclusion. It made sense that both teams wanted the game to settle slightly, as it was held finely on a knife’s edge prior, with both teams at full throttle.
Loud exclamations for an Argyle penalty came just minutes before the interval when Ryan Nyambe seemed to drag Pepple down as he attempted to beat Pereira to a bouncing ball in the penalty area. The referee Seb Stockbridge deemed the challenge a fair one, and play continued.
Therefore, when half-time was signalled, the Pilgrims were trailing, but still very much in the game.
Cleverley’s side started the second half with intent. Within minutes, they had the ball bouncing around the Reading penalty area, forcing a decisive intervention from a blue and white shirt.
Curtis was becoming more and more prevalent in the game, someone who had already proved earlier in the afternoon that he was capable of creating a goal.
Eventually, the Pilgrims found the elusive leveller, Watts the scorer to make it 2-2.
Quick thinking from Boateng, who threw the ball to Curtis from the touchline, began the move. The winger crossed the ball without hesitation, forcing a rushed clearance from O’Connor that crashed against Watts just metres away.
Watts got the ball under his control well and took aim immediately. Despite the shot being somewhat towards the goalkeeper, the power with which it was hit prevented Pereria from beating it away; instead, it dropped into the back of the net.
There was a showcase of defensive excellence from MacKenzie and Derrick Williams, both making critical challenges to deny the opposing team a clear chance on goal.
The hosts nearly caught Argyle out again with another counter-attack. Williams darted beyond Kane and used the outside of his foot to pick out Doyle in the box.
Reading’s attacking midfielder stuck the bouncing ball towards the bottom-left corner, forcing a really impressive save from Ashby-Hammond, who did well to keep the scoreline level.
Neither team were clearly content with a draw; both sides went in search of a winner, offering space for each attack.
With the game being so open for such vast periods, it was not a shock that there were plenty of tired legs coming into the final minutes. The quality of the clash took a hit, not through a lack of effort from both sides.
There was a last gasp chance for the Pilgrims when a composed pass from Jamie Paterson put Argyle three against two, on the break. Curtis opted to go alone and flashed an effort just wide of the post, a big opportunity missed.
After six minutes of second-half stoppage time, referee Seb Stockbridge blew his whistle to indicate full time; the points were shared in Berkshire.
Cleverley’s side will be hoping to build on this next week, when they host both Stevenage and Huddersfield Town in important games at Home Park.
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Reading: 1 Joel Pereira, 3 Jeriel Dorsett, 8 Charlie Savage, 9 Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan (27 Will Keane, 76), 10 Lewis Wing (capt), 15 Paudie O’Connor, 21 Randell Williams (19 Kadan Young, 84), 24 Ryan Nyambe (17 Andy Yiadom, 76), 29 Kamari Doyle, 32 Paddy Lane (30 Matt Ritchie, 76), 33 Derrick Williams. Substitutes: 41 Harrison Rhone (gk), 6 Liam Fraser, 16 Benn Ward.
Goals: Williams 3, O’Connor 18
Booked: Nyambe 45+1
Argyle: 21 Luca Ashby-Hammond, 2 Mathias Ross, 3 Jack MacKenzie (10 Xavier Amaechi, 77), 8 Joe Edwards (capt), 15 Alex Mitchell, 17 Caleb Watts(7 Jamie Paterson, 77), 19 Malachi Boateng, 20 Herbie Kane (4 Brendan Wiredu, 85), 27 Bim Pepple, 28 Ronan Curtis, 35 Owen Dale. Substitutes: 13 Zak Baker (gk), 18 Owen Oseni, 40 Joe Mwaro, 41 Seb Campbell.
Goals: Mitchell 7, Watts 67
Booked: Pepple 1, Mitchell 31, Curtis 55
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
Attendance: 16,277 (2,897 away)
