Rami Al Hajj's header was the first goal scored by Plymouth Argyle under their new head coach Miron Muslic
Newly appointed Plymouth Argyle head coach Miron Muslic saw his side get a 1-1 with Oxford United - as their new boss Gary Rowett kept his unbeaten run in the league.
Rami Al Hajj twice went close for Argyle in the first 15 minutes as the hosts enjoyed the better of the first half.
But Will Vaulks spectacularly blasted Oxford into the lead from outside the box just before the interval.
Al Hajj equalised when he headed in debutant Tymoteusz Puchacz's cross just as the game appeared to be getting away from the hosts.
Oxford substitute Siriki Dembele had two efforts in stoppage time well saved by Argyle keeper Dan Grimshaw as the hosts held on.
The point means Argyle stay bottom of the Championship and are now two points from safety, while Oxford remain in 17th place.
Miron Muslic was greeted with loud cheers as he was introduced to the Plymouth Argyle faithful for the first time
With all the pre-match build-up, following Austrian coach Muslic's appointment as Wayne Rooney's successor, it was perhaps not surprising that Argyle started nervously.
In an error-strewn first minute, recalled goalkeeper Grimshaw was forced into a desperate punch to get the ball away from Oxford's strikers.
But having made four changes from the side that beat Brentford in the FA Cup on Saturday, including a debut for Poland left-back Puchacz, Argyle began to take control.
The hosts almost went ahead in the ninth minute when Jamie Cumming acrobatically tipped away Al Hajj's effort from Puchacz's cross and the Swedish playmaker curled an effort just wide of the post six minutes later after a good run from midfield.
Argyle continued to dominate the possession and territory, but could not create a clear-cut chance, and they were made to pay just as half-time was approaching.
Victor Palsson misjudged a clearing header to allow Oxford striker Mark Harris freedom outside the area and, as the Pilgrims scrambled to cover, the ball fell to Vaulks who unleashed an unstoppable first-time strike from 25 yards that left Grimshaw with no chance.
Dan Grimshaw had no chance trying to save Will Vaulks' strike
Oxford – who lost at Argyle's Devon rivals Exeter in the FA Cup at the weekend – looked comfortable defending their lead as they caused chaos in the box through Vaulks' long throws.
But just as Plymouth looked to be running out of ideas Puchacz's perfect cross from the left was met by the glancing head of Al Hajj and the ball nestled in the far corner.
With five minutes left Muslic brought on winger Ibrahim Cissoko for Victor Palsson, in just his second appearance since mid-October after injury, in an effort to win the game.
It meant a change to a back four and it almost backfired when Dembele pounced on an error in the second minute of stoppage time and had a powerful effort saved by Grimshaw.
The forward forced a second diving save from the home keeper a couple of minutes later as they struggled to clear another Vaulks long throw.
Plymouth Argyle head coach Miron Muslic told BBC Sport:
"It was very emotional. If you see the reception - that's something you cannot imagine, maybe you imagine it in some beautiful dream.
"But when you go out and you feel that, I was very impressed. I was hoping for this, but you never know so now I know what it feels like to play a home game and what Home Park and the Green Army can deliver.
"Today I saw a team trying, especially the first half, the first 25 to 30 minutes - and don't forget we only had one training session.
"It was a controlled game with not too many highlights on both sides, I think defensively we did it very well.
"It was a beautiful finish from 25 metres into the top corner, that's tough, and the message at half-time was we are OK in the game, we are structured, we are organised.
"It's a goal like we're going to score a lot of goal in the upcoming weeks and months, high up the pitch, a lot of players in and around the box and the occupy them."
Oxford United head coach Gary Rowett told BBC Sport:
"I thought we started really brightly and then probably had a 10 or 15-minute spell where they just kept getting into those little pockets and they had a lot of pace in the team in forward areas and just kept getting into reasonable positions.
"We scored a very good goal, I think their manager spoke a lot about how aggressive they want to press and how high they want to press, so it was up to us to play with a little bit of composure over the top of that press every now and then.
"We didn't do it well enough, but we did it well for the goal and it was a lovely finish.
"Then it was almost 'could we keep our concentration?' and we switched off for the goal, which was very disappointing because I thought we dealt with that moment probably 50 times in the game and the one time we don't we give them a foothold back in the game."
