DAVID Noble and John Akinde announced themselves in style as City completed a storming second-half fightback to rescue a point in a dramatic West Country derby at Ashton Gate.

Trailing 2-0 to goals from Jamie Mackie and Rory Fallon, the Robins appeared dead and buried at half time.

But manager Gary Johnson threw on teenage substitute John Akinde for his League debut and the striker pulled a goal back on 63 minutes to set up a rousing finale.

And Noble, given his first taste of Championship football this season as a substitute nine minutes from time, completed a thrilling turnaround lashing in an equaliser from 20 yards with just two minutes remaining on the clock.

Reminiscent of his superb 30-yard goal against Crystal Palace in the play-off semi-final last season, Noble's first strike of the new campaign earned his side a deserved share of the spoils.

Poor in the first half, City responded to a half-time rollicking from their manager to force Plymouth onto the back foot after the break.

Akinde's goal altered the entire complexion of the game and Argyle were already a spent force by the time Noble took centre stage.

Plymouth have made a habit of winning at Ashton Gate this year and the 2-1 defeat they meted out in March cost City dear in the race for automatic promotion.

If City had designs on exacting a swift revenge, they were made to think again when Argyle caught them with two sucker-punches inside the opening 20 minutes.

City boss Johnson made four changes following defeat at Wolves and saw his revamped team fall behind after just six minutes.

Cutting in from the right flank, Mackie dispossessed Cole Skuse in the centre of midfield and advanced several paces before unleashing a drive from the edge of the penalty area. Recalled keeper Adriano Basso appeared to have the shot covered, only to somehow allow the ball to squirm through his hands and into the net.

Argyle could easily have doubled their lead nine minutes later, Luke Summerfield shooting wide with just Basso to beat.

His blushes were spared when the visitors did finally double their lead on 19 minutes. This time Mackie turned provider, taking advantage of Jamie McAllister's slip to swing over a cross from the right which Chris Clark headed back across goal for the predatory Fallon to volley past Basso from close range to register his third goal at Ashton Gate this year.

City's players were visibly shocked, while their supporters were stunned into near-silence.

The home side urgently required a swift response, but found themselves confronted by a wall of yellow shirts as the Pilgrims packed men behind the ball to protect their lead.

Lee Johnson had a shot blocked, Brian Wilson directed a cross behind the in-rushing Nicky Maynard, Dele Adebola's first touch let him down when he burst between Craig Cathcart and Marcel Seip and Bradley Orr fired high and wide from distance.

Adebola represented City's most likely source of a goal and the big striker saw one effort hacked off the line by left-back Chris Barker, while a powerful header flashed inches over with Argyle keeper Romain Larrieu struggling to gain his ground.

Forced to take decisive action, manager Johnson withdrew £2.25m record signing Maynard at half time and sent on new recruit Akinde.

The £150,000 signing from Ebbsfleet made his presence felt when just off target after meeting fellow substitute Lee Trundle's cross .

With his next touch he registered his first League goal 18 minutes into his debut. McAllister fed Trundle whose cross from the by-line was tapped in by Akinde.

City fans rediscovered their collective voice and, with two minutes to go, up popped Noble.