Leeds’ win keeps Wolves at the door

LEEDS finally handed themselves a Premiership lifeline with a vital victory over relegation rivals Wolves who were duly dumped back to the foot of the table.

Leeds 4 Wolves 1

n a must-win encounter for both sides, it was Leeds who emerged from their six-match losing streak with pride restored and revenge gained for a 3-1 loss at Molineux in December.

With Leeds on the brink of an ignominious double relegation and administration another off-field saga had overshadowed the build-up to such a crucial encounter.

Eddie Gray announced out of the blue that David Batty would not be playing for the Whites again this season for "footballing reasons".

Wolves needed to prove they have what it takes to stay in the top flight with a win at Elland Road, but were behind in the 14th minute.

For Smith, it was sweet retribution after his own-goal horror at Molineux, with the 23-year-old stealing in front of 'keeper Paul Jones to tap home his first goal since November 1 after Stephen Caldwell had knocked down a Jermaine Pennant cross.

But nothing is ever straightforward with Leeds and after controlling the game for the opening 20 minutes they then conceded a goal out of nothing.

Carl Cort chested down an Alex Rae ball into the path of Vio Ganea who drove a shot through the legs of skipper Dominic Matteo and beyond Paul Robinson from 22 yards.

Wolves were gaining in confidence but Leeds did not wilt as they have so often done in the past and they eventually regained their composure and the lead shortly before the break. A Didier Domi free-kick was knocked down by Smith for Matteo to rifle home, with Kennedy helping the ball on its way.

Their third came just after the hour as the Wolves defence went missing as a Smith cross was turned in at the far post by James Milner.

Mark Viduka missed two headed chances but completed the rout in injury time with a rasping drive under Jones just reward for his persistence throughout the match.

LEEDS: Robinson, Kelly, Caldwell, Matteo, Domi (Harte 45), Pennant, Bakke, Seth Johnson, Milner, Smith, Viduka.

WOLVES: Jones, Irwin, Butler, Craddock, Naylor, Miller (Silas 62), Rae, Cameron, Kennedy, Cort (Iversen 77), Ganea.

Referee: M Dean (Wirral).