Derek Adams kept quiet about nearest rivals Carlisle's defeat before sending his Plymouth players out to claim a 2-1 comeback win at Crewe.
Plymouth stretched their unbeaten run to 14 games as they made the most of Carlisle's defeat at bottom club Newport to extend their lead to seven points at the top, while claiming a club record seventh consecutive away success.
But Adams' men rode their luck at Gresty Road when Crewe edged ahead through Alex Kiwomya's impressive strike. George Cooper then botched the chance to double the lead when he hit a penalty at Luke McCormick. Within minutes Argyle were level through a Craig Tanner effort and a tactical switch after the break helped leading scorer Graham Carey tuck away a 74th-minute winner. "I am delighted we are seven points clear. We knew the Carlisle score before the game but we didn't tell the players which was important as I wanted them to put their feet on the pedals," revealed the Scot.
"This was a tough place to come and for us to go a goal down and win 2-1 shows the character of the players. The penalty save did change the game, but I still felt we could get back into the game. "We got Graham into a wider left area in the second half and it worked. We got closer to Jimmy Spencer who held the ball up well. "Graham got opportunities down that side and Jordan (Slew) put in a terrific ball (for the winner). Tanner went over it and it was a good finish from Graham at the back post."
Crewe boss Steve Davis heaped praise on his players despite the defeat. "I thought they were excellent. Their football was terrific at times, but marginal things go against you," said Davis. "The penalty was very decisive in the end - at 2-0 I'm 99 per cent sure we would have gone on to win the game. "It buoyed them a little bit and they scored straight after with a good bit of play. It was a bit of a hard luck story. I was disappointed with the goals but not the efforts and performance of the players. We had to patch it (the side) up against the best team in the league at the moment."
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