CHELTENHAM TOWN 0
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 0
Ten man Cheltenham Town survived the sending off of Mark Yates nine minutes into the second half to secure a point from their second 0-0 draw in four days.
The result extended Plymouth's unbeaten League run to 15 matches, although their goalkeeper Romain Larrieu was easily the busiest of the two goalkeepers, making quality saves from man of the match Julian Alsop, Tony Naylor and Lee Howells.
Robins manager Steve Cotterill made his first change to the starting line-up for nine games with Hugh McAuley replacing Lee Williams on the right-hand side of midfield.
Antony Griffin, who scored a spectacular goal against Plymouth last season, was also preferred to John Brough on the substitutes bench.
Top of the table Plymouth made the brighter start with their five-man midfield coming up with some imaginative movement behind lone front man Micky Evans.
Martin Phillips, who once cost Manchester City half a million pounds from Exeter, almost got his toe to a through ball from Lee Hodges with only goalkeeper Steve Book before him, then Canadian international Jason Bent had a shot from the area blocked by a defensive leg.
Cheltenham had to absorb a fair bit of pressure in the opening stages but they created the game's first really good chance after 23 minutes when Alsop won the ball in a crunching tackle on Paul Wotton.
Jamie Victory played the ball forward to Naylor who laid it off to Alsop. His first shot was blocked but the ball ran into space and his second, more firmly struck, effort was beaten away by French goalkeeper Larrieu.
Alsop won a lot of balls in the air but his dominance was rarely put to good use in the first half.
Too often the midfield was unable to get up and support quick enough, but on the one occasion they did Lee Howells forced Larrieu to fall upon his shot from the edge of the box.
Plymouth's hard-working midfielders were making life difficult for the Robins, but they were less sure of themselves at the back.
Four minutes before half-time they took an age trying to get the ball clear and presented McAuley with a chance he placed just wide.
Wotton cracked a 30-yard free-kick inches wide and Howells helped a Lee Hodges cross-cum-shot into his own net but the flag had already gone up for offside.
McAuley limped off injured following a heavy midfield tackle and was replaced by Williams, and Naylor forced Larrieu into another excellent save in the 45th minute after he was put clear by Howells.
Events then took a bizarre turn as referee Brian Curson added an incredible 10 minutes of added time.
There had been hardly any stoppages and it seemed apparent that he had completely misjudged the time. Referee Curson finally blew his whistle and as the players were leaving the field an ugly scuffle broke out in the entrance to the tunnel that had to be broken up by stewards.
There was an explosive start to the second half when Yates, who was booked in the first half for a foul on David Friio, put in a high challenge on Larrieu following a poor defensive header by David Worrell.
The goalkeeper received lengthy treatment before referee Curson brandished the second yellow then red cards.
Steve Cotterill immediately threw on Martin Devaney for Naylor and Cheltenham almost took an unlikly lead just after the hour mark.
Michael Duff rose high above the defence to meet a Milton corner, the header beat Larrieu but was cleared off the line by Brian McGlinchey.
Plymouth had created little despite their confident passing and superior numbers, but they created a good chance 20 minutes from time when Friio exchanged passes with Evans to leave himself with only Book to beat.
However, he seemed to lean back as he attempted a shot and the ball drifted wide.
The miss may have affected the Frenchman as he gave the ball away to Alsop almost immediately. Cheltenham's leading scorer tried a lob shot with Larrieu well off his line but again the ball landed wide of the target.
Cheltenham were playing some inspired football despite their man disadvantage with Devaney giving the Argyle back four no chance to settle.
Substitute Ian Stonebridge headed wide from a Hodges cross but the Robins never looked in much danger of being denied a notable draw.
CHELTENHAM TOWN: Book; Howarth, M. Duff, Banks, Victory; McAuley (Williams 45), Yates, Howells, Milton; Alsop, Naylor (Devaney 56). Subs: Grayson, Griffin, Muggleton.
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE: Larrieu; Worrell, Wotton, Coughlan, McGlinchey; Phillips (Banger 85), Bent (Wills 85), Adams (Stonebridge 63), Friio, Hodges; Evans. Subs: Beswetherick, McCormick.
REFEREE: B. Curson (Leicestershire)
ATTENDANCE: 5,035