New Stoke City boss Mark Robins took charge of his first game following the sacking of Narcis Pelach
New Stoke City manager Mark Robins had to settle for a point from his first game in charge as the Potters were held to a goalless draw by Championship bottom side Plymouth Argyle.
Stoke are now unbeaten in three games since the sacking of Spaniard Narcis Pelach on 27 December.
Managerless Argyle have now drawn two games under caretaker bosses Kevin Nancekivell and Joe Edwards since Wayne Rooney left the club on New Year's Eve.
But, while the Devon side remain winless on their travels, this was still only their third away point of the campaign and only their second clean sheet.
And they have already made their first big signing of the January window in Ghana midfielder Michael Baidoo for a club-record undisclosed fee from Swedish side Elfsborg.
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Robins got a very warm pre-match reception from the home fans, who seemed to be in fuller voice than they have been of late.
But there was very little of note to report in the first half other than one dangerous Lewis Koumas cross which passed across the face of the Plymouth goal untouched.
It took until three minutes after the break for either keeper to be properly tested. Following Tatsuki Seko's right-wing cross, Conor Hazard was forced to pull off a smart save from Stoke defender Junior Tchamadeu.
It was Tchamadeu's defence-splitting pass which then nearly put in Tom Cannon, only for Hazard to dash from his line and save bravely.
Stoke substitute Wouter Burger then needed too much time as he had a left-foot effort deflected just wide, before Koumas screwed wide of the left post from Tchamadeu's low right-wing cross.
But, although they had 18 shots to Plymouth's two, only three Potters efforts were on target and, in the end, Stoke ran out of ideas against a resolute Argyle defence.
Who's next?
Both sides now have a break from league action as it is the FA Cup third round next Saturday.
Stoke go to Sunderland, before returning to Championship duty at West Bromwich Albion on 18 January.
Argyle visit Premier League club Brentford in the cup before two home league games in five days - Oxford United on 14 January, then Queens Park Rangers on the Saturday.
Stoke City boss Mark Robins told BBC Radio Stoke:
"If you can't win, the key thing is always just making sure you don't lose.
"The players have had a lot of games in a short space of time and that can take its toll. We'll give him them a couple of games off ahead of the FA Cup tie.
"We just didn't have the urgency and quality we needed.
"Sam Gallagher felt his hamstring. It could be just fatigue. And Eric Bocat may be out for a few weeks too."
Argyle caretaker boss Kevin Nancekivell told BBC Radio Devon:
"A point away from home is not to be sneezed at in the Championship. Especially at a tough place like this, with such loud fans.
"There's a reason why we're bottom of the division and that's the amount of goals we've been conceding.
"So to come here and get a clean sheet was very satisfying – and we had plenty of possession too.
"It was just a case of the team doing their job a bit better than we have been doing in away matches."
