IT was a long trek home for the Pilgrims last night after the Tractor Boys' supersub Shefki Kuqi mugged them with two late goals.
That glorious double preserved Ipswich's 100 per cent home record - against all odds.
The Finnish international struck twice in three minutes to complete an amazing turnaround for Joe Royle's promotion-chasers.
Royle will record a major milestone this week when he takes charge of his 1,000th game as a manager.
And, really, has he overseen such an amazing 90 minutes before?
Ipswich first found themselves trailing to two early goals and were then reeling from the shock of being reduced to ten men.
Steve Adams netted his first goal of the season for pumped-up Plymouth before Scotland international Steve Crawford piled on the misery.
And when defender Fabian Wilnis was ordered off in the 26th minute, a home win looked most unlikely.
But half-time replacement Kuqi had other ideas, first tapping home in the 82nd minute from a Darren Bent centre - and then diving to head the winner from a Drissa Diallo cross.
Royle's normal routine is to watch the first-half action from the directors' box, leaving dug-out duty to assistant Willie Donachie.
But with his side trailing to Argyle's quick-fire double, he wasted little time in moving down to the touchline.
He saw his men reduce the leeway only for their task to become that much greater when Wilnis was dismissed just two minutes later.
Booked for earlier for dissent, the Dutch fullback was asking for trouble when he lunged in on Keith Lasley. Not only was he late, his studs were showing, and Wilnis was heading for the dressing room before ref Graham Salisbury reached for the red card.
There was a swift warning for Ipswich of what was to follow when Crawford raced clear to test keeper Kelvin Davis in the third minute.
But Ipswich almost scored on three separate occasions before the visitors drew first blood.
Diallo tried an audacious flick from a Kevin Horlock corner and Romain Larrieu was relieved when the ball flew straight into his arms.
Then Diallo looked poised to score from Darren Bent's low centre but Graham Coughlan produced a magnificent, last-gasp block.
Coughlan came to the rescue again, seconds later, with tremendous tackle as Bent prepared to pull the trigger just four yards out.
Yet Plymouth were in front in the 12th minute when the inspirational Makel sent Tony Capaldi clear down the right.
Capaldi left Richard Naylor reeling before crossing to the far post for Adams to leap and power home a close-range header.
Within seconds Argyle extended their lead following an error by experienced midfielder Horlock.
His back-header fell well short of its intended target and Crawford took full advantage with a stunning turn of pace to go clear before beating Davis with a crisp, low drive from 15 yards.
Ipswich levelled in the 24th minute when Jim Magilton floated in a corner from the right and Jason De Vos climbed to find the net from 10 yards with a firm header.
Royle shuffled his pack at the start of the second half.
But it was Plymouth who threatened again - mainly through Crawford and Makel - before being made to pay a heavy price for wasted chances.
IPSWICH: Davis 6 - Diallo 6, De Vos 7, Naylor 6, Wilnis 4 - Dinning 5 (Richards, 46mins, 6), Magilton 6 (Westlake, 65mins, 5), Horlock 6, Miller 7 - Bent 7, Counago 5 (*KUQI, 46mins, 8).
PLYMOUTH: Larrieu 6 - Connolly 6, Wotton 6, Coughlan 7, Gilbert 5 (Doumbe, 17mins, 5) - Lasley 6, Friio 6, Adams 7, *MAKEL 8, Capaldi 6 (Hodges, 14mins, 6) - Crawford 7. Ref: G Salisbury 7.