Ten-man Town battled to a 3-2 victory after going two goals down within 13 minutes against newly-promoted Plymouth. Sub Shefki Kuqi netted twice late on after Fabian Wilnis had been shown a straight red card in the first half, after Jason De Vos had pulled a goal back for the Blues.

Town lined-up as in last week's league game at West Ham but with loanee Tony Dinning replacing Ian Westlake who dropped to the bench.

The visitors started the brighter, Town failing to get to grips with their five-man midfield, and were close to a goal when Steve Crawford got away on the right, although the Town defence felt he was offside. Kelvin Davis saved his shot but the same player put the ball back into the area, Richard Naylor clearing for a goalkick off a Plymouth player.

Town's first chance of the game came from a diagonal ball from Tony Dinning which was headed down by Pablo Couñago on the left of the area. Jim Magilton seized on the loose ball and found Darren Bent, but keeper Romain Larrieu was out quickly to block.

In the 12th minute the Pilgrims went in front when Capaldi was allowed to run on to a ball down the right and cross to the far post, where Steve Adams had a simple task of heading home.

Worse was to come only a minute later. A mix-up on halfway between Kevin Horlock and Jason De Vos saw the midfielder head into the path of Crawford as the Canadian defender went for the same ball. Crawford took the ball on to the edge of the area before hitting a low drive to Davis' left and into the net.

Town's habit of making mistakes at the back had once again cost them dear and gifted Argyle a two-goal lead.

Capaldi had injured himself in the build-up to the first goal and was replaced by Lee Hodges - not the player of the same name who spent time on loan with the Blues a few years back.

Peter Gilbert also limped off, perhaps still feeling the effects of the horror challenge which saw Kevin Cooper red-carded for Wolves a week ago. Mathias Doumbe took over at left-back.

On 13 Fabian Wilnis got his name in the referee's book for dissent after he berated a linesman for missing what seemed an obvious freekick down the Town left.

The Blues gradually began to take control of the game and in the 20th minute Tommy Miller won the ball on the left and crossed towards Pablo Couñago. The Spaniard laid the ball back to Jim Magilton but the skipper's shot was blocked.

Three minutes later, Couñago's shot from inside the box was deflected over and from the corner the Blues pulled a goal back. Jim Magilton's corner from the right was firmly headed into the top corner of the net by Jason De Vos, his second goal of the season.

Town had been pressing for a goal and had started to get their passing going, however, on 26 they were dealt a big blow. Fabian Wilnis went in late on Keith Lasley, a challenge referee Graham Salisbury deemed worthy of a straight red card.

The decision seemed harsh as the tackle was largely the result of the sodden conditions and many referees would have shown far greater leniency. It was Wilnis's first red card of his Town career and left the Blues with a mountain to climb. Kevin Horlock took over at left-back as Town moved to a 4-3-2 formation.

On 33 Pablo Couñago picked up a yellow card for a tackle on Paul Connolly, a challenge the Plymouth man had made a lot of.

The visitors were passing the ball around well and were making the most of Town's lack of a player. However, they weren't worrying Kelvin Davis unduly, a Lee Makel shot from 25 yards flying wide of goal the nearest the got to a goal.

Town were rarely threatening and weren't seeing very much of the ball, but as the game entered injury time Darren Bent put the ball in the net, however, the flag had gone up. The Pilgrims' last chance of the half saw Davis save Makel's shot with little trouble.

Referee Graham Salisbury was booed as he left the field, Town fans unhappy at the two decisions involving Wilnis and a number of challenges by Plymouth players which had gone unpunished.

Town boss Joe Royle decided that changes were in order, Tony Dinning and Pablo Couñago making way for Matt Richards and Shefki Kuqi.

Plymouth ought to have had a third goal three minutes into the new half when David Friio headed a Connolly cross over the bar from yards out when it seemed easier to score.

On 50 sub Doumbe received a yellow card for a foul on Darren Bent to the right of the Plymouth penalty area, Kevin Horlock forcing Larrieu to punch his freekick away from under his crossbar.

Doumbe could count himself lucky not to have received a second yellow card when he pulled Darren Bent back right in front of the linesman a few minutes later. Fortunately for the Pilgrims the official failed to see the infringement.

Town were seeking to use the pace of Bent and the power of Kuqi with balls over the top. The Finnish international appeared to be looking to shoot on sight and in the 55th minute Larrieu saved his effort from the left of the penalty area.

Plymouth weren't playing the football they had in the first half and seemed content to let the Blues take the game to them and catch Town on the break.

On the hour Crawford put a 20-yarder wide and soon after Jason De Vos did well to block Steve Adams's shot when the Plymouth player was allowed time and space on the edge of the Town box.

On 65 Jim Magilton made way for the fitter legs of Ian Westlake who took up the left side of the Town midfield three.

Kuqi was causing a few problems for the visiting defence, taking the ball down on his chest and creating himself opportunities to shoot on goal. On 69 he cut in from the left and had his strike blocked, an attempt at a rebound met the same fate.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, Kuqi crossed towards Bent on the edge of the six-yard box, Paul Wotton getting in ahead of the Town striker and pushing the ball out for a corner.

From the set-piece Drissa Diallo and Kevin Horlock got in one another's way and the ball went wide of the post.

A goal looked to be beyond Town who had put in a solid defensive performance with 10-men without playing too much pretty football or creating many openings.

Then, with seven minutes remaining, Kevin Horlock took the ball forward and found Darren Bent on the right. The striker used his pace, cut in and crossed low for Shefki Kuqi, who beat Larrieu from close range. The goal lifted both the Town crowd and the confidence of the players on the pitch.

Home fans felt referee Salisbury showed inconsistency a couple of minutes later when he showed only a yellow card to Connolly for a late tackle on Westlake which was not dissimilar to the challenge which had seen Wilnis given his marching orders.

The Blues went looking for the win despite their lack of numbers, and on 85 they were rewarded with a third goal. Drissa Diallo crossed from the right and Shefki Kuqi stooped to head out of Larrieu's reach.

Memories of the Sheffield United home game two seasons ago - when the Blues also came from two goals down and had a man sent off - came rushing back.

Kuqi came close to his hat-trick with a header from a deep Westlake cross which went just beyond Larrieu's post.

Town survived the four minutes of injury time - largely caused by earlier Plymouth time wasting - with no real scares and Portman Road erupted on the final whistle, the 100% home record retained.

Not the prettiest of performances but a battling display up with the best of them against an opposition side certainly not amongst the worst teams in the division. Plymouth will wonder how they aren't returning to the south-west with three points, having got to the 83rd minute 2-1 up.

Defensively, the Blues again gave away daft goals but paradoxically did little wrong once down to 10 men. Town were just starting to find their feet when Wilnis was sent off and understandably looked to an uncharacteristic direct approach after the break.

Another three points won and up to third in the table and with a chance to go top on Tuesday when Reading visit Portman Road.

Town: Davis, Diallo, Wilnis, De Vos, Naylor, Dinning (Richards 46), Magilton (Westlake 65), Miller, Horlock, Bent, Couñago (Kuqi 46). Att 23,270.

Photo: Action Images

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