Martin Devaney's stunning double gave Barnsley a vital win at Plymouth to aid their battle for Coca-Cola Championship survival.

Plymouth took the lead through Lilian Nalis after dominating the early stages, but Lewin Nyatanga levelled matters before Devaney's superb 25-yard volley put the visitors in front.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake levelled the scores just before half-time, but Devaney was at it again just after the hour-mark with another fine long-range effort to restore the Tykes' advantage.

And the win - Barnsley's second in a row away from home - was sealed in stoppage-time when Hungarian Istvan Ferenczi slammed home his sixth goal since his January move to Oakwell.

The win moves Simon Davey's men four points clear of the drop zone, while Argyle stay comfortably in mid-table.

Argyle made a strong start and Nalis fired an early effort over before Ebanks-Blake forced Nick Colgan into a fine save after latching on to a ball over the top.

Scott Sinclair then went close, heading wide from a Kevin Gallen cross before Nalis put the Pilgrims in front after a good move - which involved both Sinclair and Ebanks-Blake - ended with David Norris laying off to Nalis who lashed home from 25 yards.

But the home side's joy was short-lived as the Tykes levelled with almost their first attack, when Brian Howard's corner was headed home by on-loan Derby defender Nyatanga.

The goal seemed to take the wind out of Argyle's sails, and the impetus was now with the Tykes - and they took advantage just after the half-hour mark when they broke after an Argyle corner and Peter Rajczi's right-wing cross was met on the volley by Devaney, who gave Luke McCormick no chance.

Ebanks-Blake was denied at the other end, before Howard came within inches of stretching the lead when his well-struck 25-yard effort rattled the crossbar, but Ebanks-Blake had the final say of the opening period with his goal.

Gallen had a chance to put Argyle back in front early in the second half, but his header from a Peter Halmosi cross was weak and comfortable for Colgan, before Ferenczi fired wide from 12 yards at the other end.

And Gallen went close with another header which went narrowly wide after an excellent run and cross from Sinclair.

But, just as they did in the first half, the Tykes weathered the early storm and hit the home side with a goal against the run of play, when Devaney smashed home his second long-range strike of the evening.

Ian Holloway immediately made a double change in attack, replacing Gallen and Ebanks-Blake with Barry Hayles and Rory Fallon.

But they had to wait until eight minutes from time to fashion a chance when Nalis headed over from a Paul Connolly free-kick, and they went even closer when their third substitute - Bojan Djordic - saw his shot hacked off the line by Sam Togwell.

Tempers frayed as the clock ran down and Plymouth assistant boss Tim Breacker was sent to the stands after wrestling the ball from the Barnsley bench to try and get play moving, but it was all to no avail as Ferenczi put the gloss on the win in stoppage-time.

Teams

Plymouth McCormick, Connolly, Seip, Timar,Capaldi (Djordjic 74), Sinclair, Norris, Nalis, Halmosi,Ebanks-Blake (Hayles 64), Gallen (Fallon 64).

Subs Not Used: Sawyer, Gosling.

Booked: Capaldi, Norris.

Goals: Nalis 15, Ebanks-Blake 41.

Barnsley Colgan, Austin, Paul Reid, Nyatanga, Heckingbottom,Devaney, Togwell, McCann, Howard, Rajczi, Ferenczi.

Subs Not Used: Lucas, Hassell, Eckersley, Kyel Reid, Nardiello.

Booked: Devaney, Colgan, Rajczi, McCann.

Goals: Nyatanga 20, Devaney 31, 61, Ferenczi 90.

Att: 10,265

Ref: L Probert (Gloucestershire).