Tony Pulis made a satisfactory return to Home Park as Stoke came from behind to earn a point against his former club Plymouth in the Coca-Cola Championship clash at Home Park.

Pulis, Argyle boss between September 2005 and June 2006 before returning to manage Stoke for a second time last summer, saw the Potters fall behind to Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's penalty five minutes before the break.

The former Manchester United youngster struck the ball high into the roof of the net from 12 yards for his fifth goal of the season after Carl Hoefkens had fouled Peter Halmosi.

Stoke levelled through Darel Russell in the 55th minute following a long clearance from goalkeeper Steve Simonsen. The ball broke to John Eustace and he played in his midfield partner who slammed the ball home from 10 yards.

Ebanks-Blake's goal was the highlight of an opening half bereft of clear chances but Argyle will feel they deserved the lead after twice going close.

Lee Hodges flashed an angled shot across the face of goal in the 17th minute before Ebanks-Blake saw a goalbound effort blocked by Salif Diao soon after.

Stoke created a couple of openings for Mamady Sidibe either side of the half-hour mark but the big striker scuffed his shot from six yards out before heading wide from a similar position.

Plymouth were without the suspended Lilian Nalis following his red card against QPR last week while on-loan Rangers striker Kevin Gallen returned after being left out at Loftus Road as part of his temporary deal.

Argyle boss Ian Holloway also opted to recall Luke Summerfield, Lee Hodges and Halmosi.

Pulis made two changes to the side which lost at home to Barnsley on Monday.

On-loan defender Jonathan Fortune was recalled by Charlton this week so Gabriel Zakuani started against his former club. Eustace came into midfield for Dominic Matteo, who suffered a groin strain against the Tykes.

Stoke flew out of the traps after the break and created several openings before Russell eventually restored parity.

Lee Hendrie warmed Luke McCormick's palms with an 18-yard shot before Liam Lawrence went close from the edge of the area and saw a second effort blocked by Scott Sinclair.

Gallen provided Stoke with a timely reminder not to be too gung-ho too early in their search for an equaliser when he forced Simonsen into a fine one-handed save following a flowing Stoke break. But it was from Simonsen's goal-kick that Russell levelled.

Stoke might have even taken the lead when Plymouth lost possession from the restart but Lee Martin's 20-yard shot whistled narrowly wide.

After that flurry of action there was a lull to the remainder of the game that was only briefly interrupted when Marcel Seip forced Simonsen into action with a header from Summerfield's corner.

Pulis introduced Martin Paterson for Lawrence with three minutes remaining and the substitution looked like it would prove to be a masterstroke before the on-loan Grimsby man somehow fired over the crossbar from six yards out with his first touch.

Teams

Plymouth McCormick, Connolly, Seip, Timar, Sawyer, Sinclair,Summerfield (Gosling 81), Hodges, Halmosi, Gallen,Ebanks-Blake (Fallon 81).

Subs Not Used: Doumbe, Capaldi, Djordjic.

Booked: Ebanks-Blake, Connolly.

Goals: Ebanks-Blake 40 pen.

Stoke Simonsen, Hoefkens (Dickinson 46), Zakuani,Higginbotham, Griffin, Eustace, Russell, Diao,Lawrence (Paterson 87), Hendrie (Martin 50), Sidibe.

Subs Not Used: Hoult, Rooney.

Booked: Martin, Griffin.

Goals: Russell 55.

Att: 12,539

Ref: M Russell (St Albans).