Gnonto’s beautiful first touch and precise finish rewarded early dominance, and Leeds could have gone 2-0 up by halftime, but Georginio Rutter’s deflected volley rebounded off the post.
Argyle improved substantially after a one-sided opening 30 minutes, playing with a much higher tempo and aggression, but they rarely came near to equalizing.
Unrelenting second-half pressure resulted in numerous promising moments, including Ben Waine’s narrow miss on Mikel Miller’s tempting cross.
Despite the harsh conditions, Leeds defended admirably, keeping the hosts at arm’s length.
Rutter’s powerful low strike made it 2-0 with just under 20 minutes remaining, and the Whites easily kept their seventh clean sheet in an eight-game winning streak.
Leeds’ 21st league win in 32 games, and a quick return to second place ahead of Southampton, seemed inevitable from the start, with the visitors radiating confidence in possession and creating space with ease.
Argyle couldn’t handle with the pressure and pace, and Leeds, who hadn’t changed since their 4-0 thrashing of Swansea City in midweek, quickly went ahead.
Rutter sent a hopeful long pass into space behind the defence, and Italy international Gnonto’s first touch blasted the ball past Lewis Gibson, allowing him to tee himself up and fire low into the bottom corner off the post.
Following a half-time address by Plymouth manager Ian Foster, who was selected as Steven Schumacher’s successor last month, the home side delivered a second-half display full of energy and determination, but few chances
In their best moment, the brilliant Miller almost set up Waine for an equaliser, the left wing-back’s tempting cross slipping just past the striker at the back post.
But as Argyle, who were defeated by Leeds in the FA Cup at Home Park after a replay last month, ran out of steam and ideas, the Whites began to regain control..
Top scorer Crysencio Summerville missed a clear opportunity before Rutter capitalised on Joel Piroe’s threaded ball to seal the three points with a furiously driven left-foot effort that beat goalie Conor Hazard for pace.
Late on, Whites goalkeeper Illan Meslier had to save a Morgan Whittaker free-kick, while replacement Dan James nearly added a third with a dipping effort.
Leeds, on the other hand, did not require further goals to maintain their brilliant form and make it three wins from four over Argyle this season, inflicting their hosts’ first home league defeat since October.
“I am proud of the guys and how they followed the game plan. We have limited an outstanding club in our division to only two shots on goal.
“I thought we were overly passive in the first 20 minutes, which is unlike us. Perhaps it took their goal to calm us down.
“We were frustrated with the first goal and should have done better with the second, but overall, as I mentioned, we were happy because Leeds are such a wonderful team.
“I believed we dominated possession in the second half, but we needed to do more with the ball. Leeds are deadly in attack and brutal with their finishing, as they demonstrated today.
“First and foremost, I am ecstatic since no other team has left here with three points since October.
“We got off to a great start with the goal early on since Plymouth are a terrific team and difficult to beat, especially at home, so it was a really good first 10 to 15 minutes for us.
“We stayed concentrated throughout and scored a really beautiful second goal, and I believe in the final minute it should have been a penalty rather than a free kick, so it might have been three.
“Overall I am really pleased with the maturity we showed to win this game.”
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