Leeds fired out an emphatic promotion warning by racking up an eighth straight victory to move back into the automatic promotion spots.
Wilfried Gnonto plundered a fourth league goal in as many league games before Georginio Rutter sealed it as Leeds stretched their unbeaten run against Plymouth to 10 games.
More importantly, a ninth away win of the season saw them replace Southampton in second place after they inflicted a first home league defeat on the plucky Pilgrims since October.
While wallowing in the surge of momentum which has catapulted Leeds up the table, boss Daniel Farke was quick to praise his young squad, labelling the performance ‘mature’ and emphasising the importance of a fifth straight clean sheet.
Farke said: ‘We have one of the youngest starting line-ups in the division and definitely the youngest in the top positions. ‘This was a really mature performance and I am really pleased with the clean sheet and the defensive steel we showed. ‘The Championship is relentless and it’s all about consistency, which is what we’re showing.’
Wilfried Gnonto put Leeds ahead in their 2-0 Championship victory away to Plymouth
Georginio Rutter made it 2-0 to Leeds as he scored in the 72nd minute of the game
With Leicester sentenced to a shock home defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough, Farke refused to rule out a late surge to displace the runaway leaders.
He added: ‘It will depend on the next couple of weeks whether another team can finish in the number one position. It is not a topic I have given much thought to. If they start to lose games, it is possible.’
Gnonto handed Leeds a dream start in the 10th minute, latching on to Rutter’s aerial hoof and planting the ball in off the inside of the post after cutting inside Lewis Gibson. Plymouth made a fight of it after the break, but a sustained spell of pressure came to nothing as Leeds swept up the other end to seal it in the 72nd minute.
Joel Piroe dispossessed Mickel Miller and slipped in Rutter, whose shot fizzed through the legs of Ashley Phillips and flashed past keeper Conor Hazard.
The quality of Leeds was not lost on Plymouth manager Ian Foster, who said: ‘I’m proud of the players because we have limited an unbelievable team in this league to two shots on target. ‘Now we will dust ourselves down, recover and be ready to go again.’
The Leeds players celebrate after Rutter’s goal increased their advantage against Plymouth
Leeds boss Daniel Farke was delighted as his side moved up to second place in the table