Barnsley 1 Plymouth Argyle 1 '“ Alex Mowatt on target as Reds are held by rock-bottom Pilgrims at Oakwell

The 1-1 draw with rock-bottom Plymouth was their latest frustrating outing at Oakwell, adding to previous stalemates against AFC Wimbledon and Walsall.

They looked set for a big win after a superb Alex Mowatt goal put them ahead early in the match, but Ruben Lamieras drew Argyle level shortly before the break as the visitors earned a deserved point.

Lamieras also hit the woodwork with a cross-shot as the Reds struggled to find the verve and vigour that has lit up the early part of the season.

It did not look like that was going to be the case, though, as they made the perfect start, needing only eight minutes to go in front.

Some early Reds pressure forced a corner, which was played short to Mowatt on the edge of the box and the former Leeds man sent a brilliant curling effort in off the underside of the crossbar.

It was his first goal of the season and something the Oakwell fans have been waiting to see since his move from Elland Road, where he often produced moments like that.

If Barnsley sniffed a rout, they got it wrong as Plymouth's response belied their lowly position and they created a number of chances.

Freddie Ladapo had two of them and they were both one-on-one opportunities as first he was denied by a good block by Adam Davies on his 150th start for the Reds and then he embarrassingly missed the target after another Lamieras assist.

Lamieras decided to take matters into his own hands six minutes before the break when deservedly drew Plymouth level by cutting in from the left and sending a low shot into the corner.

Even the win over Gillingham last month saw them hanging on at the death and they were on the back foot at the start of the second half, with Graham Carey firing just wide of Davies' post.

The Reds, who remain in the top six, began to stir and Mamadou Thiam, Mowatt and Ryan Hedges all had efforts.

They could not even rely on hotshot Kieffer Moore to get them out of trouble as he saw an effort tipped wide by Matt Macey and then fired over late in the game as Daniel Stendel's men were frustrated.

Barnsley: Davies, Dougall, Pinnock, Hedges, Cavare, Jackson, Moore, Pinillos (Potts 42), Thiam (Moncur 84), Mowatt, Adeboyejo (Bahre 59).

Unused subs: Walton, Lindsay, McGeehan, Brown.

Plymouth: Macey, Moore, Edwards, P Grant, Smith-Brown, Songo'o, Fox, O'Keefe, Lameiras (Wylde 85), Ladapo, Carey.

Unused subs: Letheren, Ainsworth, J Grant, Dyson, Fletcher, Rooney.

Referee: Carl Boyeson

Attendance: 10,770 (250 from Argyle)