Argyle put four past Blackpool as they secured all three points at Bloomfield Road on Saturday afternoon in Sky Bet League One.
It was a sensational first-half display from the Greens, scoring three in the first period courtesy of Alex Mitchell, Bim Pepple, and Malachi Boateng.
Caleb Watts sealed the result on the hour mark when he made it four, with a late red card for James Husband compounding the hosts’ misery.
Tom Cleverley opted to make two changes to the side that suffered defeat against Lincoln City at Home Park last weekend.
The first change saw previously injured goalkeeper Conor Hazard return between the sticks, replacing Luca Ashby-Hammond. Elsewhere, Herbie Kane made his first start for the Greens, taking the place of Brendan Wiredu, who dropped to the bench.
Cleverley’s side were also bolstered by the return of both Lorent Tolaj and Bradley Ibrahim, both of whom were named among the substitutes.
This meant that the starting XI on the day was Hazard in goal, with a back four ahead of him containing Joe Edwards, Mathias Ross, Mitchell, and Wes Harding, from right to left. Kane partnered Boateng in the heart of midfield; they were flanked by Ronan Curtis on the left and Owen Dale on the right.
Pepple retained his place leading the line and was supported by Watts, who played just off the Canadian.
It was a lightning start to the game for Argyle. Caleb Watts nearly glanced a header beyond Bailey Peacock-Farrell into the top-left corner during the first couple of exchanges, but the hosts responded with a chance of their own.
CJ Hamilton’s dangerous cross bounced in the penalty area just beyond Ashley Fletcher, the Tangerines’ top scorer, and out the other side without a touch.
Blackpool’s Fletcher turned creator and conjured up a chance he certainly would have fancied himself to finish. Unfortunately for the Tangerines, there was nobody in orange on hand to convert the cross.
Watts was causing the hosts’ defence all sorts of problems; he jinked away from Hamilton on the left and cut the ball back to Ross, who was advanced. The defender was unable to get his shot away as Oliver Casey had thrown himself infront of the danger, snubbing Argyle’s attacking threat.
However, the next time the Pilgrims attacked, Blackpool had no answer. Kane’s free-kick was curled well beyond the hosts’ defence, inviting a green shirt to attack it.
Both the scorer and the finish were unorthodox - Mitchell evaded Casey and karate-kicked the ball beyond Peacock-Farrell to give Argyle a one-nil lead.
The Greens doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time. Another acrobatic finish from Mitchell forced a reactive save from Peacock-Farrell, but Pepple was on hand to convert the rebound.
It was no shock that Watts made the move, it was his initial cross that caused the chaos which Pepple profited from.
Things just kept on getting better for the Pilgrims; they found a third through Boateng, once again in first-half stoppage time.
Curtis’ corner fell nicely to Kane on the edge of the area, and he drilled an effort through a crowd of bodies, prompting a great save from Peacock-Farrell. It was not the goalkeeper’s day, as despite once again making a brilliant intervention, he was left helpless as Boateng fired in an empty net from close range.
This meant that Cleverley’s side found themselves three-nil up at the interval, the first time this campaign they had achieved that feat.
They looked good value for their lead, attacking well down the flanks, and creating a threat that Blackpool had no answer to.
The fast-paced nature of the game continued, with Blackpool attacking in search of a route back into the game, the Greens were able to exploit space in and around the hosts.
This was for the formula for Argyle’s fourth of the afternoon, which came on the hour mark.
Edwards, who had ventured forward, combined well with Curtis on the right and poked a ball across goal to Watts. It was no surprise, in the form he was in, that Watts seized the opportunity which Edwards had created for him, lashing the bouncing ball past Peacock-Farrell, who could only watch.
This very much felt like the goal which killed the game as a contest. Blackpool responded by sitting deeper and trying to contain the Pilgrims’ attacking threat, a side that knew they were defeated.
Harding had an attempt at adding his name to the scoresheet, heading a corner on target and forcing a save from Peacock-Farrell.
Substitutions followed, with Paterson and Wiredu coming on to replace Watts and Kane, who had been brilliant on the day.
Shortly after, Cleverley opted to bring on MacKenzie and Amaechi, with Edwards and Pepple making way. The Greens’ final change of the game saw a return for Ibrahim in the place of Curtis, the defensive-midfielder had not featured for Argyle since mid-November.
There was late drama, but not in the way of goals. Amaechi’s late challenge on Husband evoked a strong reaction from Blackpool’s skipper. The defender kicked out twice at the Argyle substitute and left the referee no choice but to send off the 32-year-old.
As the final whistle went, it was clear Argyle had cruised to victory infront of another sold-out away end, a performance the travelling green army will have loved on Valentine’s Day.
Cleverley’s side are next in action on Tuesday night when they travel to the capital to take on Leyton Orient in Sky Bet League One.
Argyle: 1 Conor Hazard, 2 Mathias Ross, 8 Joe Edwards (capt) (3 Jack MacKenzie, 71), 15 Alex Mitchell, 17 Caleb Watts (7 Jamie Paterson, 62), 19 Malachi Boateng, 20 Herbie Kane (4 Brendan Wiredu, 62), 27 Bim Pepple (10 Xavier Amaechi, 71), 28 Ronan Curtis (23 Bradley Ibrahim, 79), 35 Owen Dale, 45 Wes Harding. Substitutes: 21 Luca Ashby-Hammond (gk), 9 Lorent Tolaj, 10 Xavier Amaechi.
Goals: Mitchell 30, Pepple 45+1, Boateng 45+4, Watts 60
Booked: Dale 21, Wiredu 67, Amaechi 87
Blackpool: 1 Bailey Peacock-Farrell, 3 James Husband (capt), 4 Oliver Casey, 6 Jordan Brown (19 Josh Bowler, 46), 7 Leighton Clarkson, 11 Ashley Fletcher (9 Niall Ennis, 79), 20 Michael Ihiekwe, 21 Michael Obafemi (14 Tom Bloxham, 42), 22 CJ Hamilton (15 Hayden Coulson, 46), 23 Karoy Anderson, 24 Reuell Walters. Substitutes: 25 Franco Ravizzoli (gk), 5 Fraser Horsfall, 26 Zac Ashworth.
Booked: Fletcher 11
Sent-off: Husband 87
Referee: Paul Howard
