Leeds United outclassed struggling Plymouth Argyle as they consolidated second place in the Championship with a comfortable win at Elland Road.
Having dominated the opening half hour, Leeds scored three goals in seven minutes to end the game as a contest well before half-time.
First Dan James fired into the top corner from the edge of the box, Joel Piroe slipped in a second just two minutes later before Brenden Aaronson calmly slotted in the third.
Argyle changed their shape at the break as they went to a back four, and while they kept Leeds out they failed to register a shot in the entire game.
The win saw Leeds return to the top two after briefly dropping to third place following Sheffield United’s 2-0 win at Blackburn in their early kick-off.
They also cut the gap to leaders Sunderland to three points after the Black Cats were held to a 0-0 draw at Queens Park Rangers.
Argyle’s fourth league game without a win means they drop into the bottom three on goal difference after Luton’s 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion on Friday.
Wayne Rooney made six changes from the Argyle side that drew 3-3 with Preston as he changed all four of his forward players with 19-year-old Caleb Roberts making a first start and Ryan Hardie coming in up front.
Leeds welcomed back Junior Firpo from suspension in their only change from the 0-0 draw at Bristol City and he almost put them ahead inside three minutes, flicking a close-range near-post effort over the bar.
Leeds were camped in front of the Argyle goal for much of the first half. Piroe had an effort that hit the post flagged for offside while Joe Rothwell forced a save from Dan Grimshaw.
Having had 80% possession, Leeds finally broke through thanks to James’ excellent strike after a corner was only half cleared, and moments later Piroe was there to poke home after Ao Tanaka’s cross clipped Victor Palsson’s heel as Argyle failed to clear.
The third had a hint of fortune about it – James played a ball into Piroe on the six-yard line and his backheel was blocked by Kornel Szucs and deflected into the path of the onrushing Aaronson, and the American side-footed home from close range.
Argyle – who posed no attacking threat before the break – brought on former Burnley and Watford striker Andre Gray at half-time for full-back Matthew Sorinola in an attempt to have some sort of attacking impetus.
They got the ball into the Leeds box early in the second half, but Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier had possibly his easiest game in a white shirt as the Pilgrims never threatened.
Wilfried Gnonto dragged a right-footed shot wide of the far post after being put through by Aaronson with 25 minutes to go while Piroe curled high over the bar 12 minutes later after a neat one-two on the edge of the box.
Teenage debutant Charlie Crew forced a good save from Grimshaw in stoppage time with a curling effort from the edge of the box as Argyle’s winless streak at Elland Road – stretching back to 1962 – continued.
