Argyle moved to the top of the Sky Bet League One table with a comfortable 2-0 away victory against Leyton Orient in East London.
After an even first half that saw the game goalless at the break, a four-minute surge from the Greens early in the second half saw goals from Bim Pepple and Will Evans clinch three points.
The first came from a set piece with Harvey White’s corner missed by Ronan Curtis at the front post but eventually fell to Bim Pepple at the back post who tapped home for his fifth league goal of the season.
Curtis was then involved again, crossing from the right and finding the head of Evans who beat Nathan Baxter to the ball and looped a header into the top corner. Argyle comfortably saw out the second half half and clinched a clean sheet on the road.
Orient dominated the ball in the opening exchanges and the first chance of the game came for the hosts as Tony Springett found space on the left and crossed for the far post. Wes Harding cleared initially but only as far as Fin Stevens who controlled and struck at goal, but it went just wide of Murphy Cooper’s post.
Argyle then had a chance of their own and the hosts had Cooper’s counterpart, Nathan Baxter, to thank for keeping them level. The ball was worked to the left to Oli Irow who shifted it onto his left foot and struck at goal, but the Orient stopper got down well to tip it away.
Irow was lively throughout the first half and his dinked ball to the back post found Evans, but his header was blocked behind for a corner. White curled the corner in, and it caused carnage in the area with the ball dropping for Alex Mitchell, but his volley was blocked and Orient eventually scrambled clear.
Yusuf Akhamrich, on loan from Spurs like Irow, looked bright on the right for the hosts and his cross found the head of Jaze Kabia, but his header was comfortably saved to his right by Cooper.
Curtis then found space on the left but saw his cross blocked behind. White curled in the corner and found the head of Mathias Ross and his header looked destined for the bottom corner but Orient managed to head away.
Irow was the brightest spark for the Greens and produced another opportunity after being found by Bradley Ibrahim. He drilled cross across the area that just beat the onrushing runs of both Evans and Pepple.
Just before the half time whistle, Irow was in the thick of it again bringing down a Joe Edwards cross on his chest and lashing a volley at goal, but Baxter got down well again to push wide. The referee blew for the break before Argyle had a chance to take the corner and it was goalless at the interval.
Argyle started the stronger of the two sides after the break and the Greens pressure told in the 52nd minute. White curled in a corner; it was missed by Curtis but worked to the back post where Pepple was there to tap into an empty net.
Ibrahim almost doubled the lead moments later finding space on the edge of the box and curling for the far post, but it went just wide.
Tom Cleverley’s side then did get their second. Curtis was again involved, crossing in from the right and Baxter was in no man’s land with Evans getting there ahead of him to head into the top corner.
Orient introduced Aaron Connolly and Isaac Hayden, and the former was immediately involved, driving into the box on the left-hand side. He chipped for the back post where Mitchell headed clear, but it found Stevens who volleyed at goal and Cooper was equal to it to push it away.
Connolly looked increasingly lively off the bench, and he surged down the left again and was fouled by Evans. He stepped up over the free kick but hit it straight at the wall.
Orient continued to look for a response, and it looked most likely from set pieces. Gilbert curled in twice and twice found the head of Phil Chinedu, but he headed straight at Cooper on both occasions.
They couldn’t find one though and Tom Cleverley’s side clinched a comfortable three points to reach the summit.
Leyton Orient: 1 Nathan Baxter, 2 Fin Stevens, 5 Joseph Olowu, 6 Will Forrester, 8 Idris El Mizouni (capt), 9 Jaze Kabia (17 Armandro Dobra, 70), 20 Alex Gilbert, 22 Yusuf Akhamrich (18 Dane Scarlett, 70), 25 Charlie Wellens (14 Isaac Hayden, 59), 27 Tony Springett (10 Aaron Connolly, 59), 34 Philip Chinedu (44 Theo Archibald, 84). Substitutes: 33 Killian Cahill (GK), 12 Alfie Gilchrist
Yellow cards: Gilbert, 45’, Springett 49’
Argyle: 1 Murphy Cooper, 2 Mathias Ross, 7 Harvey White, 8 Joe Edwards (capt) (29 Matty Sorinola, 72), 9 Will Evans, 11 Ronan Curtis (10 Xavier Amaechi, 88), 14 Oliver Irow (17 Caleb Watts, 81), 15 Alex Mitchell, 23 Bradley Ibrahim, 27 Bim Pepple (3 Jack MacKenzie, 88), 45 Wes Harding. Substitutes: 21 James Storer (GK), 38 Seb Campbell, 42 Jared Rendle.
Goals: Pepple 52, Evans 56
Yellow card: Ross 76’, Ibrahim 84”
