Cardiff midfielder Richard Langley scored his second goal of the season to give his side a priceless half-time lead at Plymouth, but they were unable to hang on.

With the game evenly poised it was Langley who settled the nerves in a tense Coca-Cola Championship encounter with a clinical strike that gave Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick no chance.

But Hasney Aljofree volleyed home the equaliser on the hour to give his side a share of the spoils.

Plymouth included loan signing Jason Dodd for his debut while Tony Capaldi also started following World Cup duty with Northern Ireland.

Neal Ardley made his debut for Cardiff having joined from Watford with Peter Thorne also included in the Bluebirds' starting XI.

With both sides precariously placed just above the relegation zone prior to kick-off victory was imperative, especially with it being so tight at the wrong end of the table.

Capaldi put in an early cross for Plymouth but it was easily gathered by visiting goalkeeper Neil Alexander.

Cardiff's Cameron Jerome then had a cross blocked at the other end and Paul Connolly was on hand to clear Joe Ledley's inswinging corner.

The visitors continued to push in the early stages with Thorne having a fourth-minute shot blocked by Akos Buzsaky and Micky Evans clearing another Ledley corner.

David Norris saw his long-range effort sail wide of the Cardiff goal after seven minutes as the play continued to switch from end to end.

Plymouth had the first effort on target after 13 minutes when Buzsaky's well-struck volley was parried by Alexander. Paul Wotton's subsequent near-post corner came to nothing as Aljofree was penalised for a foul on the goalkeeper.

However, Cardiff suffered a major blow after 16 minutes when defender Rhys Weston was injured and had to be carried off on a stretcher. He was replaced by Tony Vidmar.

Just six minutes later, though, they were ahead. Ardley's corner was parried by Plymouth goalkeeper McCormick but the ball fell to Langley and he hammered it home from just outside the penalty area.

Cardiff had a chance to double their advantage just seconds after the restart when the impressive Ardley's cross found Jerome but his close-range header was gathered by McCormick.

Aljofree then fired wide for Plymouth from a good position as the home side tried to get back on terms.

The home side continued to push with Alexander again called into action after 54 minutes to save from Graham Coughlan.

But the home side's perseverance finally paid off on the hour.

Wotton's corner to the near post was only half-cleared and Aljofree fired home his first goal of the season to put Argyle deservedly on level terms following a sustained period of second-half pressure.

Teams

Plymouth McCormick, Connolly, Coughlan, Aljofree, Dodd, Norris, Wotton, Buzsaky (Blackstock 73), Capaldi, Evans, Chadwick (Taylor 86).

Subs Not Used: Lasley, Doumbe, Gilbert.

Booked: Aljofree, Connolly, Coughlan.

Goals: Aljofree 60.

Cardiff Alexander, Weston (Vidmar 18), Gabbidon, Collins, Barker, Ardley, Ledley, Langley, McAnuff, Thorne (Lee 82), Jerome (Boulding 72).

Subs Not Used: Margetson, Koskela.

Booked: Collins, Jerome.

Goals: Langley 22.

Att: 18,045

Ref: R Beeby (Northamptonshire).