TEN-MEN Newport County upset the odds to keep their FA Cup dream alive with a determined display at Plymouth Argyle.

Graham Westley’s side were a man down for nearly 70 minutes of the match after Sean Rigg’s straight red in the first half.

But they refused to roll over at Home Park and battled hard to earn a deserved replay and a fourth meeting with Argyle already this season.

The team sheet had provided good news for County fans with captain Scot Bennett and Jazzi Barnum-Bobb fit to start and Joss Labadie returning to the bench.

There were three changes to the starting XI from the defeat at Blackpool last week with Bennett replacing the suspended Darren Jones and Abdoulaye Meite and Jordan Green coming in for Mark Randall and Jack Jebb.

It was a full debut for Meite alongside Bennett in central defence and that allowed Ben Tozer to return to midfield.

Green returned on the right side of midfield ahead of Barnum-Bobb.

Barnum-Bobb was perhaps fortunate to survive the first 10 minutes after picking up an early booking for a foul on Graham Carey before he then upended Oscar Threlkeld shortly afterwards.

It wasn’t long before the Exiles were reduced to 10 men, however, as Rigg saw red on 22 minutes.

The midfielder took a poor touch on the halfway line and in his eagerness to regain possession he jumped into a tackle on Jake Jervis with his studs up.

Rigg did win the ball but the referee deemed it to be a reckless challenge and the visitors were up against it.

Before the red card Plymouth had three half chances but Yann Songo’o, Connor Smith and Graham Carey all shot wildly over the bar.

After Rigg’s dismissal Westley sent on Jennison Myrie-Williams for Josh O’Hanlon, no doubt hoping to exploit the winger’s pace on the break.

And County coped reasonably well for the remainder of the first half with Bennett, Tozer and an improved Meite working hard to keep out Argyle.

At the other end Myrie-Williams and Green offered pace on the flanks and there were opportunities for Rhys Healey.

The striker saw a header blocked by Songo’o early on and he raced on to a Joe Day punt in first half stoppage time but failed to connect properly with an attempted lob.

County were thankful to a brilliant save by Day, which allowed them to end the half on level terms.

A cross from the right by David Fox found Threlkeld at the far post and he squared for Smith but the ball simply hit the midfielder and Day was able to claw it away to safety before it crossed the line.

The second half saw Barnum-Bobb continue to ride his luck and Dan Butler and Bennett both survived calls for them to join Rigg in an early bath.

But County’s dogged resistance frustrated the hosts and the home crowd, and anything that did get through the defence was snuffed out by Day.

There were even chances at the other end but Healey over-hit a pass when the breakaway was on and then saw a far post effort just about stopped by Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormack.

But Westley and the Exiles will be delighted to have earned another crack at the Pilgrims and a place in Monday’s third round draw.

County: Day, Barnum-Bobb, Meite, Bennett, Butler, Tozer, Green (Jebb, 46), Rigg, Sheehan, O’Hanlon (Myrie-Williams, 32), Healey (Jackson, 82)

Subs not used: Bittner, Labadie, Compton, Randall

Booked: Barnum-Bobb, Butler, Bennett

Sent off: Rigg

Referee: John Brooks

Attendance: 5,071 (266 County)

Argus star man: Day