Three-goal tonic lifts the gloom at Leeds

Bolton 0 Leeds 3

Goals from Danny Mills, Robbie Fowler and Jason Wilcox secured a comfortable victory at struggling Barclaycard Premiership rivals Bolton, whose night of misery was capped when Youri Djorkaeff‘s penalty was saved by Paul Robinson.

Fowler, on the mend after a hip operation, partnered Harry Kewell up front. The Australian had also been sidelined with a virus. It was new look front line in this crucial game with Alan Smith out through suspension and Mark Viduka as well as Michael Bridges absent through injury

Midfielder Lee Bowyer had to settle for a place on the bench as Leeds tried to improve a recent dreadful run.

They have won only one league game in 11 since defeating Manchester United in September leaving them perilously close to the bottom of the table.

Bolton were aiming to climb away from the basement and get back to winning ways at home after five successive 1-1 draws on their own patch.

Defender Bruno N’Gotty and midfielder Stig Tofting were included in the side with Paul Warhurst and Ricardo Gardner injured.

Leeds made the breakthrough in the ninth minute in their first attack with a wonderful strike from Danny Mills.

He played a neat one-two with Kewell before rattling in an unstoppable shot beyond goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen from 20 yards.

Leeds added a second goal in the 14th minute after some dreadful defending from Bolton after a cross from Ian Harte. Kewell touched the ball across the face of the area after it had hit the post and Fowler had the easiest of task in turning it in.

Bolton squandered a chance of getting back in the game after 25 minutes when they missed a penalty.

Referee Graham Poll awarded the spot-kick after Harte appeared to brush the ball with his arm on the edge of his area.

Leeds protested vigorously and Harte was booked but Robinson came to their rescue, diving to his right to turn Djorkaeff’s kick on to the post.

Then Fowler failed to find the target with a close range header after a good delivery from Bakke.

Despite being two goals behind Bolton manager Sam Allardyce decided to keep the same side going into the second half.

He was looking for his team to get an early goal that would get them back in the match, but the collective body language from Bolton gave all the indications of a side in trouble.

Kelly almost added a third for Leeds in the 48th minute, whipping in a shot that went narrowly wide of the post.

Simon Charlton got clear down the left for Bolton and delivered a good cross, but there were no takers.

Leeds kept up the pressure and Harte rattled in a 20-yard free-kick that Bolton keeper Jaaskelainen only cleared at the second attempt.

Campo then hauled back Kewell as he homed in on goal and picked up a yellow card for his challenge.

Bolton were playing with a bit of spirit but they were rapidly running out of time.

Tofting almost pulled a goal back in the 64th minute when his 25-yard volley went just inches over the top.

Then Charlton floated in a free-kick from distance but Gudni Bergsson failed to get a vital touch.

Former Blackburn winger Jason Wilcox added a third for Leeds in the 74th minute after Anthony Barness had carelessly lost possession.

Wilcox raced on and delivered a thunderous drive beyond Jaaskelainen, prompting dozens of Bolton supporters to head for the exits.

While Leeds got the victory they craved, Bolton remain rooted in the relegation zone and face a bleak Christmas.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, N’Gotty, Bergsson, Barness, Campo, Charlton, Frandsen, Okocha, Tofting, Pedersen, Djorkaeff.

LEEDS: Robinson, Kelly, Woodgate, Lucic, Harte, Mills, Bakke, Okon, Wilcox, Kewell, Fowler.