ARGYLE'S spluttering attack exploded into life at Oakwell as head coach Paul Mariner saw his relegation-threatened side turn on the style.

The Pilgrims scored three goals in a 19-minute period as they overturned a half-time deficit.

It also gave them renewed hope they can escape the clutches of relegation to League One.

Without doubt, the second half performance against a shell-shocked Barnsley was the best Argyle have played under Mariner's leadership.

It was better even than the 4-1 home rout of Reading at Home Park three days after Christmas.

The Pilgrims tore Barnsley apart after the break, with substitute Yannick Bolasie, on his debut, playing a key part on the left-side of midfield.

They could easily have scored five goals in the second half, such was their attacking menace.

Striker Rory Fallon saw one powerful header superbly saved by Barnsley's Luke Steele, while midfielder Damien Johnson shot against the crossbar.

All this from a team that went into the contest as the Championship's lowest scorers, with only 24 goals in their previous 28 games this season.

It was the first time in more than two years that Argyle had come from behind to claim victory.

The last occasion was when they defeated Queens Park Rangers 2-1 at Home Park in December 2007.

The Pilgrims had not scored three goals in an away game since August 2007.

That was when they triumphed 3-2 over Hull City at the KC Stadium on the opening day of the season.

The win against Barnsley was also only the fifth time this term Argyle had scored more than once in a match.

All that puts into perspective the victory at Oakwell, and the Pilgrims will now hope to use it as a springboard to more success.

Make no mistake, it took a collective team effort to turn around this match.

But there were some excellent individual displays, with strikers Jamie Mackie and Fallon posing all sorts of problems for Barnsley.

Even during the first half which was dominated by the home side, Mackie was a constant threat.

It was his best performance for some time as he chased the ball all over the pitch, putting defenders under pressure constantly.

His goal in the 74th minute, which put Argyle 2-1 up, was fitting reward for his endeavour.

Maybe the uncertainty over his future at Home Park during the January transfer window was a distraction for him.

Whatever the reason, his recent displays had not been up to his usual standard.

But Mackie was back to his best at Oakwell, and that bodes well for Argyle between now and the end of the season.

Carl Fletcher and Damien Johnson again provided leadership and poise in central midfield.

Although similar in style to each other, they have already formed a very effective partnership since Johnson was signed from Birmingham City on transfer deadline-day.

And, as for Bolasie, he made more of an impact than any substitute has for Argyle in recent times. He replaced Craig Noone in the 55th minute, with the visitors still trailing 1-0.

Bolasie, 20, showed no signs of nerves on his debut as he added pace and power to the team, and Barnsley simply could not stop him.

He provided the spark that led to Argyle staging their stirring victory.

What a contrast to the mood at half-time, after the Pilgrims conceded the first goal of the game in the 45th minute.

They have repeatedly been punished for defensive lapses, and that was the case again on Saturday.

First of all, centre-back Kari Arnason needlessly conceded a throw-in deep inside Argyle territory after his poor control of the ball.

Barnsley left-back Carl Dickinson took the throw-in quickly and the Pilgrims were caught cold.

Midfielder Emil Hallfredsson passed the ball back to Dickinson, who had no-one close to him when he crossed into the penalty area.

The ball skimmed off the head of Arnason and reached unmarked Barnsley midfielder Hugo Colace.

The Argentine's shot from 15 yards out bounced into the ground and into the far corner of the net.

It was not the cleanest of strikes, by any means, but Barnsley deserved the lead they took into half-time.

The Tykes must have been confident of extending that in the second half, but the Pilgrims had other ideas.

Fallon almost equalised in the 50th minute when his powerful header from a pinpoint cross from midfielder Chris Clark produced a stunning save from Steele.

Mackie shot narrowly wide, and Bolasie had a header safely gathered by Steele, as Argyle pressed for an equaliser.

Their pressure finally paid off in the 64th minute as Fletcher scored for the second successive match.

Right-back Karl Duguid lobbed the ball into the penalty area and Barnsley defender Darren Moore, under pressure from his Argyle counterpart Reda Johnson, could not get any distance on his clearance.

Instead, it fell for Fletcher, who neatly controlled the ball and then fired a left-foot rocket past Steele.

Argyle went close to adding a second goal three minutes later, when Arnason's long throw-in was played back to Damien Johnson by Fallon.

Johnson's dipping shot from 20 yards out beat Steele but hit the top of the bar.

No matter. Argyle were 2-1 up in the 74th minute as Mackie came up with his sixth goal of the season.

Bolasie's outswinging corner was met by a firm header from Fallon.

Mackie was lurking inside the six-yard area and the ball hit him and went into the net.

Incredibly, it was 3-1 in the 83rd minute after possibly Argyle's best goal of the season.

Goalkeeper David Stockdale launched a clearance into Barnsley territory and the ball came back to Fallon off Mackie, who was being challenged by defender Stephen Foster.

Fallon immediately spotted Steele was off his line and, from 35 yards out, he coolly lobbed the ball over the stranded 'keeper and into the net.

Argyle went on to secure an important victory, although they had a couple of anxious moments in the closing stages.

First, in the third minute of stoppage time, Damien Johnson blatantly handled the ball inside the penalty area, but referee Karl Evans did not see it.

Then, soon afterwards, Reda Johnson was fortunate to only be shown a yellow card, and not a red, after pulling back Barnsley substitute Daniel Bogdanovic as he raced towards goal.