Leeds United completed a four-match festive Championship maximum with a storming 3-0 win at Plymouth Argyle last night.

The emphatic win keeps the pressure on second-placed Sheffield United, who will be seeking to increase their eight-point advantage over their Yorkshire rivals at Hull tonight.

After an ordinary first half at Home Park, the game came to life in the second period, with Leeds recording their biggest away win of manager Kevin Blackwell's reign.

Eddie Lewis sparkled down the left for Leeds, who will be hoping to gain automatic promotion to avoid any play-off conflict with the American's World Cup warm-up commitments

Second-half goals from former York City man Richard Cresswell, Robbie Blake and a Rob Hulse penalty secured the points for Leeds, but it was Lewis who stole the show.

Big striker Micky Evans and Hungarian midfielder Akos Buzsaky provided the only real threat to Leeds in a low-key first half but as the game wore on Leeds got stronger and stronger.

Cresswell was unlucky not to score with a delightful near-post flick following Lewis' run but the same combination broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute.

Lewis collected a wayward corner on the left-hand edge of the Plymouth penalty area, and Cresswell met the midfielder's drive with a glancing header to put the visitors 1-0 up.

The goal deflated Plymouth and Leeds moved up a gear with Lewis leading the charge.

He showed great pace and determination down the flank before whipping in a superb cross that Blake blasted home from close range to double United's advantage.

With Liam Miller, Jonathan Douglas and the tireless Shaun Derry controlling midfield, wave after wave of white-shirted attacks flowed toward the Plymouth goal.

Hulse came on for Blake late on and scored his first goal since October by smashing in a penalty after Mathias Doumbe had upended the tricky Miller in the box.

The hard-working Cresswell looked set to take the spot-kick, but Hulse stole his thunder by taking charge and ramming the ball high into the top right-hand corner to seal an emphatic victory.

It was Hulse's ninth goal of the season, making him top scorer.

United have now taken 24 from the last 30 available points and this win keeps the pressure up on Neil Warnock's Blades, who have faltered in the second half of the season in recent years.

Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell was delighted with the win and full of praise for Lewis.

He said: "I think Eddie's second half display was the best we've seen him play since he came here. The quality of his crosses was first class."

There were also stand-out performances by midfielders Jonathan Douglas and Liam Miller and, while he would not be drawn on Miller's future - his loan is now up - Blackwell did admit Leeds are negotiating in a bid to hang on to the Manchester United player.

Leeds match facts

Coca-Cola Championship

Plymouth Argyle 0, Leeds United 3

(at Home Park)

Plymouth: Larrieu, Connolly (Djordjic 65), Doumbe, Ward, Barness, Buzsaky (Lasley 71), Jarrett, Wotton, Capaldi, Evans, Taylor (Derbyshire 79). Subs (not used): Aljofree, McCormick.

Leeds United: Sullivan, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey, Douglas, Miller, Derry, Lewis, Cresswell. Blake (Hulse 82). Subs (not used): Bennett, Richardson, Healy, Pugh. Goals: Cresswell 52, Blake 60, Hulse pen 85.

Referee: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire)

Attendance: 17,726

Updated: 10:47 Tuesday, January 03, 2006