Tom Cleverley has moved quickly to dampen any title talk at Plymouth Argyle, insisting the club will not be discussing their position at the summit of League One despite climbing there for the first time in three years.

The Pilgrims made the short trip — in football terms, at least — to Leyton Orient on Saturday and returned to Devon with a composed 2-0 victory, one that lifted them above Bradford City on goal difference at the top of the third tier. Plymouth have, however, played one game more than Bradford.

Two goals, four minutes, a statement win

The decisive moment came early in the second half, when strikers Bim Pepple and Will Evans struck within four minutes of each other to settle any nerves and secure all three points. It was Evans' third goal since joining the club over the summer, and a timely contribution given the pressure that had built after last weekend's flat 1-0 home defeat to Burton Albion had temporarily stalled Argyle's momentum.

The win means Plymouth have now won three successive away matches and five of their last six in all competitions — a run of form that marks them out as genuine contenders for a swift return to the Championship, from which they were relegated.

"The players knew what we didn't do last weekend, we've had a week to work on it and I thought they executed it outstandingly well," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon. "I'm really proud of the players, they deserve a lot of credit. That's how you respond to a defeat at home."

Cleverley sets his March marker

Despite the eye-catching headline of going top, Cleverley was emphatic that the league table is not a topic he wants raised in the dressing room or the training ground. His reasoning is rooted in process rather than posturing.

"We've become very focused on what we do, preparing for the next game and then performing in the next game," he said. "I think March is the time where it becomes a little less about that and real result-based. But, for now, we focus on what gives us long-term success and performances and there'll be no talk about where we are in the league."

It is a common enough philosophy among promotion-chasing managers, but the timing matters. With roughly 36 games still to play, Cleverley's framing of March as the inflection point suggests he expects the top of the table to remain congested well into the new year. Keeping a squad focused on execution rather than standing is, in that context, sound management.

The last time Plymouth topped a league table was when they claimed the League One title in 2023 with a then club-record 101 points. That benchmark now sits in the memory of every supporter at Home Park, and the temptation to draw comparisons will only grow if this run continues.

What comes next

Cleverley was already looking ahead before the Leyton Orient celebrations had settled. He reminded supporters and players alike that Tuesday's match must be treated with the same preparation and intensity, before a home fixture against Wimbledon follows on Saturday.

"We're not getting carried away, it's one good performance out of 46 and we have to work towards putting in another one Tuesday and then importantly one next Saturday at home against Wimbledon," he added.

That is the real test of a promotion challenge: not one eye-catching result, but the capacity to produce the same standards week after week across a gruelling 46-game campaign. On the basis of a fifth win in six, Plymouth are showing early signs that this squad has the depth and the mentality to sustain a challenge. Whether they are still looking up at the table in March, Cleverley's chosen month of reckoning, remains to be seen.

Frequently asked

Are Plymouth Argyle top of League One?
Yes. As of 3 October 2026, Plymouth Argyle sit top of the League One table on goal difference above Bradford City, having played one game more than the clubs immediately around them.
Who scored for Plymouth against Leyton Orient?
Bim Pepple and Will Evans both scored in a four-minute spell early in the second half to give Plymouth a 2-0 win at Leyton Orient.
What has Tom Cleverley said about Plymouth's title chances?
Cleverley has insisted there will be 'no talk' of the league table at Plymouth right now, urging his players to focus on the next game rather than their position at the top of League One.