QPR's Paulo Sousa's relief
Striker Heidar Helguson finally ended QPR's 793- minute goal drought on the road - but it still wasn't enough to halt their woes away from home.
Iceland star Helguson's 16th-minute strike looked like ending Rangers' wretched run of three months without a victory away from Loftus Road.
But the visitors' away form is threatening to scupper their hopes of forcing their way into the promotion shake-up this season.
And it was the same old story at Home Park as substitute Steve MacLean's late goal prevented Rangers from clinching only their second win in 12 matches on the road.
Qpr manager Paulo Sousa said: "It's disappointing that we didn't get two more points but I am happy with my team and my players.
"We are becoming more consistent and the away mentality is getting more like it is at home."
MacLean combined with Rory Fallon to earn the Pilgrims a deserved point to end their three-game losing streak.
Plymouth manager Paul Sturrock said: "I'm delighted that the bench played its part. It shows that the squad is blossoming.
"Steve took his goal really well and he has responded well since coming back in to the side.
"The disappointment is only taking one point from the last two games when we could have had all six.
We have to start taking our chances."
Krisztian Timar and ex-QPR midfielder Simon Walton both wasted good chances for Plymouth in the opening exchanges.
And Helguson made them pay when he fired home after reacting first to a rebound from his own shot for his first goal in a Rangers shirt since joining on loan from Bolton.
Qpr keeper Radek Cerny produced a brilliant pointblank save to deny Jamie Mackie on the verge of half-time.
Striker Patrick Agyemang should have extended the visitors' advantage 12 minutes into the second half but shot wide of the near post.
Plymouth pressed for an equaliser but they continued to spurn chances and it was only the introduction of Craig Noone and MacLean that brought about a chance in fortune.
Paul Gallagher somehow blazed wide from just four yards after being teed up by Noone on 75 minutes.
The home side were not tobe denied and MacLean fired his second goal of the season into the roof of the net from Fallon's flick-on.
