Leeds United 0 Wolverhampton 1: Wolves pile pressure on Blackwell
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Your support makes all the difference.Only 16,268 bothered to turn up at Elland Road and most Leeds supporters had already streamed out in frustration when Jay Bothroyd lashed in the 90th-minute winner. Those that stayed vented their feelings. "Blackwell, time to go", was heard loud and clear.
That was harsh, but Leeds is a demanding club to manage. It does not matter to those fans that Leeds played the better football here, and would have won comfortably with a touch more incisiveness in front of goal. All that matters is the fact that their once proud club is mired in the bottom half of the Championship.
Kevin Blackwell pointed out that Leeds' debt, which was £12m when they were relegated, could be reduced to as little as £4m this time next year. That reflects well on Blackwell, who has moulded together a competitive outfit despite severe restraints, but the supporters' only barometer of success is on field results.
Leeds' new-found bad habit of conceding late goals haunted them again, Bothroyd's fierce 30-yard winner was the fifth time that they have conceded in the last 10 minutes this season. Luck is not with Blackwell's team and the Leeds manager thinks the fans should realise that. "They haven't got a lot to moan about. When you look at that team, you wouldn't say that's a team who's in trouble.''
Leeds could have won by half-time against a haphazard Wolves. Ian Moore was denied by Matt Murray from a tight angle, and Matthew Kilgallon then came close with a flicked header from a Gary Kelly corner. Murray produced two more sharp saves before half-time, first from Moore, and then a close-range Seb Carole strike.
Wolves were more alert after the break, and gave Leeds a few uncomfortable moments with crosses. But they were given a warning when Murray spilled a Stephen Crainey free-kick and Gary Breen had to block a goal-bound follow-up from Paul Butler.
Leeds were galvanised and Breen came to the rescue again in the 86th minute when he cleared a Steve Stone header off the line. Wolves manager Mick McCarthy admitted there was little in the game. "We've scored and they haven't. That's the difference.''
Goal: Bothroyd (90) 0-1.
Leeds United (4-4-2): Warner; Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey; Carole, Douglas, Westlake, Lewis (Stone, 84); Healy, Moore (Beckford 78). Substitutes not used: Sullivan (gk), Gregan, Blake.
Wolves (4-4-2): Murray; Edwards, Breen, Craddock, Mulgrew (Little, 43); Henry, Potter, Olofinjana, Jones; Johnson (Clarke, 76), Cort (Bothroyd, 45) Substitutes not used: Ricketts, Ikeme (gk).
Referee: L Mason (Lancashire).
Booked: Wolves Breen, Mulgrew.
Man of the match: Breen.
Attendance: 16,268.
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