Argyle won for the second time in four days on the road – and racked up an eighth win in ten away games – with a comfortable 3-1 success at Leyton Orient.
Bim Pepple extended his superb scoring run when he netted in first-half stoppage time, but the Greens were only ahead momentarily, with Ollie O’Neill pegging them back.
However, goals in the second period from Ronan Curtis and Mathias Ross ensured Argyle secured all three points in East London, after an impressive display.
It was no shock to see Tom Cleverley name an unchanged side from the one that won convincingly, 4-0, at Blackpool on Saturday.
This meant that it was Conor Hazard in goal, with a back four ahead of him containing Joe Edwards on the right, Wes Harding on the left, and Ross partnering Alex Mitchell in the centre.
Herbie Kane retained his place in central midfield after an impressive performance last time out; he was alongside Malachi Boateng, who extended his lengthy run of starts for Argyle.
Owen Dale held down his place on the right flank, as did Caleb Watts on the left, with Curtis preferred once again in a more central role.
The Greens’ form striker, Pepple, kept his place leading the line; the Canadian had scored five goals in his last seven games coming into this fixture – he was soon to make it six in eight.
It did not take long for the game to get going. Orient showcased their technical capabilities as they attempted to pass their way through the thirds, with Argyle looking to catch the hosts on the break with quick transitions.
The O’s had an early sighter when Sean Clare ventured down the right and picked out Orient leading scorer Dom Ballard inside the box, but his header was not a threat for Hazard in goal.
Alex Mitchell had a pair of headed chances, one from a free kick, the other from a long throw, the latter forcing Orient goalkeeper Toby Oluwayemi to tip the ball over the crossbar.
The game ground to a halt when Kane pulled up with what seemed like a hamstring injury; he was unable to continue and had to be replaced by Brendan Wiredu in the 12th minute.
Orient had chances of their own - O’Neill shot over and Favour Fawunmi felt he may have been fouled in the box – but Argyle were largely in the ascendency, and had more chances as the half wore on.
Next to take aim was Curtis, who snatched at a bouncing ball and lashed it just wide of the near post when presented with a half-chance toward the end of the first period.
Play began to open back up as it headed closer to the interval; Fawunmi brought an intervention out of Hazard before Pepple forced Will Forrester into a last-ditch challenge as he raced through on goal.
The goal the game deserved finally came in first-half stoppage time, Argyle finding the back of the net at a crucial moment once again.
Curtis jinked away from James Morris on the right and curled a cross into the box, which Boateng glanced on toward the back post. Pepple was on hand to tap in, notching his ninth of the season with a true poacher’s finish.
However, Orient were not to let Argyle head into half-time ahead; they struck back within two minutes. Ballard flicked the ball away from Ross and wide to Morris, who was advanced. The full-back looked up and found O’Neill on the edge of the area, who finished well, meeting the ball with a sliding effort from range that nestled into the bottom-right corner.
This meant that it was 1-1 at the break, with the game very much open and all still to play for.
The goals did not dry up in the second period; Argyle managed to retake the lead just six minutes into the half, Curtis on target.
It was one to forget for O’s keeper Oluwayemi after he spilt Dale’s speculative effort directly into the path of Curtis. The Irishman made no mistake from close range, firing the ball into the back of the net to score his first for the Pilgrims.
With Orient wounded after the early goal, Cleverley opted to make substitutions to try to further Argyle’s advantage and take the result beyond doubt.
There was a return for Lorent Tolaj, after injury, and Matty Sorinola, following suspension, as they took the places of Dale and Watts.
The Greens found a third, and the eventual clincher, just past the hour mark. Curtis swung in a wicked corner, which Ross met, having evaded Forrester inside the penalty area.
The defender produced a striker’s header, which bounced into the ground before finding the corner of the net, evading the outstretched glove of Oluwayemi, who was left with no chance.
Orient did rally slightly after falling further behind, but still failed to create any real, meaningful chances that troubled Hazard.
In fact, it was Argyle who looked increasingly likely to further add to their tally. The Greens thought they had a fourth when Pepple poked the ball over the line after it was presented to him on the edge of the six-yard box, following a spectacular effort from Harding, which crashed against the post.
However, the linesman had raised his flag, with the Canadian adjudged to have been offside.
Xavier Amaechi was brought on for the last few minutes in place of Pepple, who came off the pitch to a great ovation from the travelling Green Army.
Late efforts from both Tolaj and Boateng almost extended Argyle’s advantage, but when referee Alex Chilowicz blew for full-time, the game ended 3-1, with Argyle in total control.
It is not long before Cleverley’s side are back in action, they host league leaders Cardiff City in a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday.
Leyton Orient: 21 Toby Oluwayemi (12 Will Dennis (gk), 75), 3 James Morris, 5 Dan Happe, 6 Will Forrester (capt), 7 Ollie O’Neill, 15 Tyreeq Bakinson, 19 Favour Fawunmi (17 Josh Koroma, 82), 24 Dylan Levitt (25 Charlie Wellens, 68), 28 Sean Clare, 32 Dominic Ballard, 44 Theo Archibald (22 Azeem Abdulai, 68). Substitutes: 14 Michael Craig, 16 Kaelan Casey, 20 Sonny Perkins.
Goals: O’Neill 45+3
Booked: Archibald 17, Forrester 78, Koroma 85, Wellens 90+4
Argyle: 1 Conor Hazard, 2 Mathias Ross, 8 Joe Edwards (capt), 15 Alex Mitchell, 17 Caleb Watts (29 Matty Sorinola, 59), 19 Malachi Boateng, 20 Herbie Kane (4 Brendan Wiredu, 12), 27 Bim Pepple (10 Xavier Amaechi, 85), 28 Ronan Curtis, 35 Owen Dale (9 Lorent Tolaj, 59), 45 Wes Harding. Substitutes: 21 Luca Ashby-Hammond (gk), 3 Jack MacKenzie, 7 Jamie Paterson.
Goals: Pepple 45+1, Curtis 51, Ross 70
Booked: Dale 20, Pepple 47
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
