Players let Leeds' caretaker boss down

Leeds 0 Bolton 2

Leeds are in need of a miracle as well as a new manager after Bolton inflicted their sixth successive defeat today at Elland Road.

If caretaker-boss Eddie Gray had hoped to convince the Leeds board he was the man to take the job on a full-time basis, then he was just as badly let down by the same players who helped get Peter Reid the sack.

Leeds legend Gray has stated he would like the job but after Kevin Davies and Stelios Giannakopoulos goals gave Bolton a deserved win, he may be grateful he does not possess the coaching qualifications required to take charge of a Premiership team.

Gordon Strachan has been linked with the job but whether the current Southampton boss can extract such qualities from a team lacking in bravery and desire must be a doubt.

In his 12 days at the helm, Gray found he was unable to solve the defensive frailties which had undermined Reid, much to Bolton’s delight as Wanderers moved a step closer towards mid-table respectability with a second consecutive away win.

Without influential captain Dominic Matteo, Gray recalled Lucas Radebe for his first start since August 23 after hamstring and knee injuries.

Ian Harte was also restored to the line-up, with Zoumana Camara in an unaccustomed role at right-back in place of Gary Kelly who has a back injury.

As has often been the case this season there was little cohesion among the rearguard and Bolton scored their goals within a minute just after the quarter-hour mark, against the run of play.

The 16th-minute opener came from an elementary mistake. Michael Duberry headed a Ricardo Gardner cross into the path of Davies who hammered a 16-yard drive beyond Paul Robinson for his fourth goal of the season.

Leeds barely had time to draw breath before they were two down, with Davies the supplier, feeding in a low cross for Giannakopoulos to tap home his first league goal of the season from inside the six-yard box with the home defence at sea.

Five minutes later and it could have been 3-0 as Leeds were again caught napping at the back, with Giannakopoulos finding Per Frandsen on the overlap for a first-time 12-yard drive, only for Robinson to spare Leeds’ blushes.

Bolton were comfortable after that point, and barely stretched, with goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen only called upon to make one meaningful save.

A couple of half-chances had been squandered in the first half before Mark Viduka, back in the side after missing the last two matches following a bust-up with Reid, had Leeds’ best opportunity in the 51st minute.

A Harte through ball was flicked on by Lamine Sakho, playing up front with Viduka due to Alan Smith’s one-match suspension, into the path of the Australia international.

But Jaaskelainen was quickly off his line to beat away the striker’s shot at point-blank range, and with it went Leeds’ hopes of salvaging a point.

Gray did give Nick Barmby his first taste of action this season, arriving late on for Jody Morris.

Barmby had one chance, stretching to get his head on an 86th-minute Harte free-kick from deep, but again Jaaskelainen was firmly behind the ball.

While Bolton’s stock continues to rise, Leeds cannot sink any lower in the table. Miracle-workers only need apply.