Leeds secured a somewhat fortuitous victory against Plymouth to elevate themselves above the Pilgrims in the Coca-Cola Championship table and end a difficult year in upwardly mobile fashion.

After the morale-boosting victory at Sunderland on Boxing Day, this win secured consecutive Championship victories for Kevin Blackwell's side for only the second time this season.

An own goal from Pilgrims defender Peter Gilbert seconds after the restart gave Leeds the impetus to go on and secure victory, while David Healy's late clincher sealed the points.

Plymouth, however, had looked more than capable of claiming at least a point during the opening 45 minutes and Bobby Williamson's decision to pack his midfield with five men and leave striker Marino Keith to plough a lone furrow in attack had looked a wise one.

Blackwell recalled midfielder Sean Gregan after suspension, thus relegating teenager Matthew Spring to the bench.

The visitors made three changes from the side which beat QPR 2-1 on Boxing Day with Lee Hodges, David Norris and Steve Adams replacing suspended defender Graham Coughlan and dropped duo Stevie Crawford and Micky Evans.

Buoyed by his first goal for the club during the victory at Sunderland, the homegrown 17-year-old Aaron Lennon showed several promising touches as Leeds, in boldly attacking 4-3-3 guise, looked to the impish Lennon and hard-working Healy to supply veteran striker Brian Deane.

But Plymouth wasted no time in gaining a foothold on the game and Hodges should have done far better than fire over from Paul Connolly's excellent low right-wing delivery.

That chance was the best of a turgid opening period but the tempo was raised considerably as soon as the

second-half whistle was blown.

Leeds replaced Deane, who suffered a heavy knock minutes before the interval, with Julian Joachim and began the second period at breakneck speed.

They were rewarded for their increased urgency with the opening goal within seconds.

Frazer Richardson found Danny Pugh in the middle of the park and he switched the ball to the left flank, where Healy was lurking near the touchline.

The Northern Ireland international whipped in a vicious low cross and Gilbert's attempted clearance on the edge of the six-yard box flew past his keeper Romain Larrieu into the back of his own net.

While Plymouth did not deserve such a stroke of misfortune, the goal raised the stakes for the match as a contest.

Richardson was forced into an excellent last-ditch tackle on substitute David Friio while Leeds took their turn to soak up the pressure and hit their opponents on the break.

They did so to great effect through Healy's superbly judged lob over Larrieu a minute from time, while substitute Crawford's last-ditch effort for Plymouth was little more than consolation.

Teams:

Leeds Sullivan, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Richardson (Carlisle 80), Lennon, Wright, Gregan, Pugh, Healy, Deane (Joachim 45).

Subs Not Used: Carson, Ricketts, Spring.

Booked: Gregan, Joachim.

Goals: Gilbert 46 og, Healy 90.

Plymouth Larrieu, Connolly, Doumbe, Wotton, Gilbert, Norris, Hodges, Gudjonsson, Adams (Evans 66), Capaldi (Friio 52), Keith (Crawford 78).

Subs Not Used: Lasley, Aljofree.

Booked: Connolly.

Goals: Crawford 90.

Att: 34,496

Ref: G Sailsbury (Lancashire).