PLYMOUTH 1 (Djordic 40), UNITED 2 (Blake 3, Lewis 61)
PLYMOUTH: McCormick, Nalis (Summerfield 90), Aljofree, Norris, Ebanks-Blake, Hayles, Capaldi (Buzsaky 90), Wotton, Seip, Connolly, Djordic (Chadwick 74). Subs: Larrieu, Sawyer..
UNITED: Stack, Foxe, Heath, Kilgallon, Crainey, Douglas, Derry, Westlake, Lewis, Moore (Carole 80), Blake (Kandol 68). Subs: Healy, Horsfield, Warner.
Referee: D Whitestone (Northants)
Conditions: Heavy showers and wind
United boss Dennis Wise made two changes to his starting line-up from the side which lost to Southampton last weekend.
Ian Westlake came in to the midfield while Ian Moore was recalled to the front-line to partner Robbie Blake. David Healy and Geoff Horsfield dropped to the bench, along with new loan recruit Tresor Kandol.
And United got off to the perfect start with Blake putting the Whites ahead after just two minutes.
Eddie Lewis capitalised on some sloppy defending to escape on the left-hand side and Blake, who netted in the corresponding fixture last season, converted the low cross from close range.
The goal clearly rocked the Home Park crowd, but Sylvan Ebanks-Blake did try his luck from a tight angle with a shot that skidded across the face of goal and out to safety as The Pilgrims looked for an immediate response.
Stevie Crainey also did well to force a corner when Paul Connolly shaped to shoot after finding some space on the Plymouth right.
But it was United who almost got their noses further in front in the 12th minute. Ian Moore latched onto a free-kick and after wriggling free of his marker he shot on the turn and clipped the top of the bar from a tight angle.
Bouyed by his early goal Blake also opted to try his luck from distance with a free-kick from the edge of the area, but Plymouth keeper Luke McCormick gathered his shot comfortably.
Hayden Foxe also had a pop from distance as United continued to look a threat. In contrast, Plymouth failed to find any fluency and conceded a series of free-kicks as they struggled to get into the game.
The hosts' frustrations told in the 24th minute when Hasney Aljofree became the first player to see yellow after a foul on the lively Blake.
Blake's movement was causing Plymouth major problems and with Lewis looking a threat on the left, the duo twice combined to create potential openings for Jonathan Douglas. The Irishman was crowded out with one while he couldn't quite get on the end of another pin-point Lewis cross.
Ian Westlake also appeared to have good claims for a penalty shortly before the half-hour when he was clipped by Connolly just inside the penalty area.
Westlake was also involved some rough and tumble with David Norris and found himself in the referee's notebook. Moments later, Plymouth's Marcel Seip was added to the book after a cynical challenge on Moore.
United keeper Graham Stack was finally called into action on 35 minutes when he punched away a looping effort and, as Plymouth enjoyed a brief spell of pressure, Matt Heath did well to clear United lines.
But the home side were rewarded for their pressure and were back on level terms six minutes before half-time when Bojan Djordic bundled home a Tony Capaldi free-kick to make it 1-1.
And Djordic almost turned the scoreline around before half-time when he tried his luck with a chip from distance. United keeper Stack appeared to be beaten, but the ball drifted over the top.
Plymouth started the second half in positive fashion, but United got men behind the ball and dealt with the flurry from the hosts.
United's response came courtesy of a Westlake effort from distance and a deflected shot from Shaun Derry which forced a corner.
And on the hour-mark, United were back in front when a delightful ball was threaded through to Lewis who delivered a cool finish.
It was a great move from Leeds while Lewis timed his run to perfection to skip the offside trap before an inch-perfect finish past McCormick.
At the other end, Moore made a decisive header when he reacted quickly to block a Lilian Nalis header as Plymouth looked to force a way back.
With 22 minutes remaining, Wise made his first substitution of the game and handed a debut to loan striker Tresor Kandol in place of Blake.
Plymouth also re-shuffled with the introduction of Nick Chadwick and they forced a useful opening with 15 minutes remaining when a low cross evaded not only the Leeds defence but also the onrushing Ebanks-Blake, who couldn't apply the finishing touch.
As the clock started to tick down, United continued to scrap for everything and when Plymouth did force another opening, Stack pulled off a terrific save low to his right to palm away a skidding effort from Chadwick.
Hayden Foxe, Matthew Kilgallon, Shaun Derry and Matt Heath also made decisive challenges and clerarances during the second half as workaholic United looked to finish the contest in mean mood.
Pilgrims boss Ian Holloway made two substitutions in the second minute of stoppage time in one last act, but defiant United held firm to record a first away win since August.
