Paul Wotton celebrated his new contract with an equaliser from the penalty spot to earn struggling Plymouth a point against rock-bottom Rotherham.

Andy Monkhouse had given the Millers a lead midway through the opening period with a fabulous 25-yard strike.

But Wotton, who has put pen to paper on a contract that keeps him at Home Park until 2008, levelled after Chris Swailes had fouled Dexter Blackstock just after half-time.

However, there was little other joy for the home side, who are now without a win in eight matches and will see goalscoring midfielder David Friio join Nottingham Forest in a £100,000 deal early next week.

Monkhouse's first goal since March gave Rotherham hope of a fourth league win of the season but caretaker boss Andy Knill faces an enormous task as he attempts to close the 13-point gap to Coventry, who occupy the place above the relegation zone.

Plymouth boss Bobby Williamson may have been able to name an exciting young strike partnership of on-loan Southampton forward Blackstock and Nicky Chadwick, who joined for £250,000 from Everton this week, but it was Rotherham who applied the early pressure.

Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick had to be alert to deal with long-range efforts from Monkhouse, who has been struggling with a knee injury, and Jamal Campbell-Ryce.

Wotton made an early contribution by picking out Bjarni Gudjonsson with a corner, only for the Iceland midfielder to screw his effort wide.

After the Millers' fine start, the hosts gradually asserted themselves with Keith Lasley firing wide from the left side of the area but another opportunity passed when Hungarian Akos Buzsaky, on-loan from Porto, was thwarted by a fine save from outstanding Rotherham goalkeeper Mike Pollitt.

However, the hosts took an unlikely lead in the 26th minute. Monkhouse had obviously found his range with his earlier effort and when he picked the ball up 25 yards out, he hammered a powerful left-footed strike into the top corner of McCormick's net.

The Plymouth chances continued, with Lasley and Buzsaky both missing and Graham Coughlan finding no way past Pollitt, who also tipped a Blackstock shot around the post before the break.

However, Blackstock eventually forced the equaliser just after the interval, forcing a foul from Swailes after he had burst into the area.

Wotton clinically despatched his ninth goal - and fifth spot-kick - of the season to get Williamson's men back on level terms.

If Plymouth had expected that breakthrough to open the floodgates, they were wrong, with the dogged Millers nullifying the home side and only surrendering one chance - to Blackstock - in 20 minutes after the goal, with the Southampton man missing from close-range after connecting with a Wotton cross.

Chadwick's first chance to shine came with 20 minutes remaining but, again, Pollitt pulled off another magnificent stop to keep his team in the game but after that there was no more goalmouth action as the visitors held on for a point.

Plymouth: McCormick, Worrell, Doumbe, Coughlan, Gilbert (Evans 62), Lasley (Capaldi 81), Gudjonsson, Wotton, Akos Buzsaky, Akos Buzsaky, Chadwick, Blackstock.

Subs Not Used: Norris, Aljofree, Taylor.

Booked: Gudjonsson, Wotton.

Goals: Wotton 51 pen.

Rotherham: Pollitt, Barker, Swailes, Gilchrist, Hurst, Monkhouse, McLaren, Garner, Campbell-Ryce (Hoskins 86), Butler, Mullin.

Subs Not Used: Montgomery, Proctor, Minto, Vernazza.

Booked: Monkhouse, McLaren, Hurst.

Goals: Monkhouse 26.

Att: 14,798

Ref: M Fletcher (Worcestershire).