Those elusive three words – Premiership Away Win – never seemed further away as Wolves became unstuck against a Leeds team who had lost their last six games. As has been the case so many times this season, we were sent home with our tails between our legs. Oh, and we’re bottom of the league again – the good work of recent games well and truly undone.

Wolves never really had a sniff in this game, everything about the performance was poor and the home team started the most brightly. Bakke headed over and a Pennant free-kick had Paul Jones worried. In the 14th minute, Leeds got their break-through – Alan Smith scrambling in from close range after Wolves were unable to deal with a Caldwell cross. Smith was a constant thorn in our side all night, repeatedly throwing himself into tackles and generally being competitive – something sadly lacking in the Wolves performance all evening. Leeds 1 Wolves 0

Hope did raise its head on 21 minutes. Cort chested the ball down for Ganea to shoot past keeper Paul Robinson from 22 years. A well-taken goal but about the only tangible example all night of the Cort-Ganea partnership being anywhere near full steam. Leeds 1 Wolves 1

Shortly afterwards, a weak punch out by Robinson was returned, scissor-kick style, by Cameron but it went just over the bar. If that had gone in then who knows? But it was our keeper who was feeling the most charitable and handed Leeds control of the game again. Four minutes before the interval, Jones lamely punched out a Smith header only for the ball to fall at the feet of Dominic Matteo who punished Jones for his blunder. Leeds 2 Wolves 1

Half time Leeds 2 Wolves 1

We’ll never know what was said in the Wolves dressing room at half time but it certainly didn’t have the desired effect. Dave Jones made no changes to a shape that obviously wasn’t working and we were punished. The midfield looked out of sorts and a special word for Mark Kennedy who was especially wasteful with his final deliveries and now seems so low in confidence that the possibility of taking his man on is a definite no-no.

In contrast, the Leeds wingers, Milner and Pennant were beginning to run rampant and our defence were always on the back-foot. Craddock was having a particularly bad time and Irwin was, rather predictably, jeered by the home support all night for previous connections.

When Leeds got their third it was no surprise. The home side hit Wolves on the break in the 62nd minute, a Smith cross-shot evaded everyone apart from Milner arriving late and unmarked at the far post to smash the ball into the top of the net.Leeds 3 Wolves 1

An increasingly ineffective Miller was replaced by Silas who was equally ineffective apart from winning a free kick in a good position. This, and another free-kick shortly afterwards, were Wolves’ only attacks of note in the second half. The first was hit straight into the wall and the second one from Naylor wasn’t much better either. Soon afterwards, Smith again shot wide, Viduka headed against the crossbar and another effort went over the bar. The misery was completed when Viduka fired home from close range in the dying seconds. Leeds 4 Wolves 1

Wolves lost this game because Leeds wanted it more. And that’s the worrying thing because the one advantage I thought we had over our relegation rivals was effort and guts. Based on this display, that’s not a justifiable claim anymore. It’s not quite a lost cause yet but the fat-lady was certainly warming up at Elland Road.

Full time Leeds 4 Wolves 1