Wolverhampton Wanderers have regained their six-point lead at the top fo the Championship table courtesy of a 3-0 win over Leeds United in Wednesday night's clash at Elland Road.
Nuno Espirito Santo's team dominated from start to finish, with Romain Saiss and Willy Boly giving the West Midlands outfit a two-goal lead at half time.
Benik Afobe added a third after the break - his first goal since returning to Molineux in January - and it ensured that Wolves ended their previous three-match winless streak.
Find out how all of the action unfolded in Yorkshire courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Championship between Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Nuno Espirito Santo's side still sit at the top of the standings but for the first time this season, their position is coming under threat. Let's see who Nuno and Paul Heckingbottom have selected in their respective starting lineups...
LEEDS UNITED XI: Peacock-Farrell; Anita, Jansson, Cooper, Berardi; Phillips, Forshaw; Sacko, Saiz, Dallas; Lasogga
LEEDS UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Wiedwald, Pennington, O'Kane, Vieira, Hernandez, Alioski, Ekuban
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS XI: Ruddy; Batth, Coady, Boly; Doherty, N'Diaye, Saiss, Douglas; Cavaliero, Jota, Bonatini
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS SUBSTITUTES: Norris, Bennett, Miranda, Hause, Gibbs-White, Costa, Afobe
Let's start with Leeds, with Heckingbottom opting to bring Adam Forshaw back into the team. The midfielder was only named as a substitute against former club Middlesbrough on Friday night, but returns to the starting lineup having played the second half at the Riverside Stadium.
There is also a change between the sticks, with Bailey Peacock-Farrell getting the nod over Felix Wiedwald. The 21-year-old has only ever made one appearance for the Yorkshire giants, with that coming in a 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers in April 2016.
Hadi Sacko has also been brought into the team, with Ezgjan Alioski and Eunan O'Kane - along with Wiedwald - all finding themselves among the replacements.
As for Wolves, Nuno has opted to make just the two alterations to the team which suffered a 2-0 defeat at Fulham. Danny Batth has replaced Ryan Bennett on the right-hand side of a back three, while Leo Bonatini has come in for Helder Costa in attack.
Wolves had hoped to have Ruben Neves available for this fixture but due to the postponement of the Reading game on Saturday afternoon, the Portuguese international must serve the second of his two-match suspension this evening.
Tonight's game is the remaining fixture of a full set of games to be played this midweek. It's fair to say that the results did not go over Wolves last night, with Cardiff City, Aston Villa and Fulham all registering three points. It means that Wolves only hold a three-point lead at the top of the standings, with the West Midlands derby with Aston Villa to come on Saturday.
Wolves have picked up just two points from their last three games, with Nuno's men being outplayed during the 2-0 defeat at Fulham. However, Conor Coady has claimed that Wolves still know what they need to do in order to get promoted to the Premier League. Click here to read his thoughts.
PREDICTION! Difficult one to call, this. Based on their form throughout the season, Wolves should be favourites for this game but without a win in three and without Neves in midfield, this should be a close match. We are going to predict a 2-1 win for Leeds.
HEAD TO HEAD! Tonight's game represents the 97th meeting between the two sides, with Leeds recording 42 wins in comparison to 32 victories for Wolves.
Is this an omen for Wolves? Twenty years ago to this day, Wolves ran out 1-0 winners during an FA Cup tie between the sides at Elland Road. Don Goodman was the goalscorer on that occasion.
It's time for the two teams to start making their way out in Yorkshire. It's not a capacity crowd but there's no doubting that the atmosphere for this game will be electric.
A reminder of the two teams...
LEEDS UNITED XI: Peacock-Farrell; Anita, Jansson, Cooper, Berardi; Phillips, Forshaw; Sacko, Saiz, Dallas; Lasogga
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS XI: Ruddy; Batth, Coady, Boly; Doherty, N'Diaye, Saiss, Douglas; Cavaliero, Jota, Bonatini
KICKOFF! Leeds get us underway.
It's been a slow start from both sides, with possession the name of the game. However, Sacko has just won a free kick for Leeds around 35 yards from goal.
The ball is floated into the box with Cooper forcing a solid save out of Ruddy, who palms the ball away. However, the offside flag had already been raised.
Wolves put together an excellent move down the right flank with Cavaleiro eventually getting the ball into the middle from the byline, but the cross is intercepted and Leeds survive.
The visitors have just spent over a minute in possession but despite the intent to move forward, Douglas's cross to the back post is over-hit and again, nothing comes from their time on the ball.
SHOT! Wolves eventually get some sort of a shot away through Bonatini but it's deflected wide. The striker made the wrong choice with Doherty available in the penalty area.
Leeds are preferring to be more watchful at the moment. They are spending a lot of time without the ball but they don't look particularly alarmed when Wolves are in possession.
Nearly a chance for Wolves. Jota opted to try to play in Bonatini rather than shoot from 25 yards but the striker fails to control the ball and the chance is lost.
As we progress towards the quarter-hour mark, it's not been the most entertaining of starts but Wolves are showing their undoubted quality on the ball. As it stands though, they are lacking a clinical touch in the final third.
Just like that, though, Leeds chase a few passes, make a few tackles, and the crowd are now engaged in this game.
Leeds have certainly become more competitive in the last few minutes. The defence has also pushed up in an attempt to close the space that Wolves were having to pass the ball.
SHOT! Better from Wolves. Jota and Bonatini combine to set up Cavaleiro on the right-hand side of the penalty area. The winger has options but sees a shot across goal diverted behind for a corner by Peacock-Farrell.
CHANCE! Jota has previous for missing sitters this season and he's just done the same again. Doherty's low cross gives his teammate the chance to convert from inside the six-yard box but he misses his kick and Leeds clear.
BOOKING! Forshaw is the first player into the book for a lunge on Bonatini.
CHANCE! Wolves are beginning to create clear-cut opportunities but they are all being squandered. Douglas's free kick to the front post finds Bonatini but the forward knees the ball off target from 10 yards.
The visitors are playing with plenty of confidence but they do seem short of belief in the final third. It's becoming an issue. They need to score while they are on top.
CHANCE! Peacock-Farrell comes to the rescue on this occasion. The ball was there to be hit for Jota after it had deflected into his path, but the goalkeeper came out well to make the block.
GOAL! Leeds United 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Romain Saiss)
Wolves finally get their goal. Douglas's inswinging corner finds Saiss all on his own around eight yards from goal and the midfielder is able to head into the far bottom corner.
Leeds need to find a way to get back onto the ball. Wolves are threatening to run riot and if they can score a second, they could coast to victory.
This is excellent from Dallas, who battles his way past two Wolves players before earning a corner. Can that be the catalyst which the home side need?
Wolves are furious but there's little that the referee can do here. Cooper is down in the penalty area having run into his own player, and the defender requires treatment. Wolves had already launched a counter-attack and had men over before the referee stopped play.
SUBSTITUTION! Leeds are being forced into a change. Pennington - on loan from Everton - is coming on to replace Cooper. We will have a few minutes added on at the end of this first half.
If anything, that break of play has only benefitted Leeds. They needed a bit of time to settle down and get organised. Wolves need to find a way to rediscover their rhythm.
Cavaleiro is working extremely hard off the ball for Wolves. Usually, he only gets credit for his play on the ball but the winger's work-rate is the highest on the pitch right now.
CHANCE! How many opportunities are Wolves going to waste?! N'Diaye plays in Bonatini who is one-on-one with Peacock-Farrell but the striker dinks the ball too close to the goalkeeper, who makes the block.
If Leeds reach half time facing no more than a one-goal deficit, they will be delighted. Wolves have comfortably been the better side but they have wasted chance after chance and Nuno will be fuming.
GOAL! Leeds United 0-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Willy Boly)
Nuno will be much happier now. Douglas's corner is headed onto the bar by Batth but Boly rises highest to power a header into an empty net.
There will be three minutes of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
The half-time whistle goes at Elland Road and Wolves deservedly hold a 2-0 lead over Leeds. The Championship leaders have been excellent but both of their goals have come from set pieces, with Saiss and Boly heading home from corner kicks.
After numerous missed opportunities, Wolves finally went ahead just before the half-hour mark. Douglas's corner found Saiss all on his own around eight yards from goal and the Moroccan was able to head into the far corner for his fourth goal of the season.
The second goal came in the 45th minute after Nuno had watched his team squander more chances from open play. Danny Batth was unfortunate with a header at the back post but Boly was able to convert the rebound after jumping above a couple of Leeds defenders.
Leeds have had a few moments inside the final third but Heckingbottom will be disappointed with the way that his players have seemed overawed by the visit of the league leaders. This game isn't over, though. Leeds know they have nothing to lose.
Heckingbottom has made another change at the break. Pablo Hernandez has been introduced for Sacko.
KICKOFF! Wolves get us back underway.
Wolves have started this second half really sharply. They know a third goal may end this match as a contest. However, we've already seen that they are struggling to beat Peacock-Farrell from open play.
Leeds almost halve the deficit with their first attack of the half. Hernandez looked set to volley home from close range but Saiss got back to make the interception.
All in all, it's been an even game since the restart. Leeds are already showing more ambition going forward.
Another opening for Wolves which they don't make the most of. They take too much time to try to produce an end product and Douglas's cross into the book is diverted behind for a corner.
SHOT! My word, Berardi has nearly just scored a screamer. The right-back tries his luck from 30 yards with the ball finding the top of the net as it went over the bar.
Ever so slightly, Wolves are starting to lose their way a touch and Leeds are beginning to up the tempo. The introduction of Hernandez has certainly helped.
Leeds cannot afford to sit off Wolves but that's exactly what they are doing again. They get lucky when Bonatini miscontrols the ball inside of the penalty area.
Wolves nearly work an opening on the right with Cavaleiro giving Doherty the chance to get to the byline but Anita does well to see the ball out for a goal kick.
Back up the other end, Wolves get lucky. The ball finds Dallas at the back post but the winger fails to anticipate the cross and Ruddy gratefully grabs hold of the ball.
WOODWORK! You feel that Jota needs a goal to boost his confidence and he almost gets it here. He cuts inside onto his right foot before drilling a strike off the underside of the crossbar, with the ball rebounding clear.
As we head into the final half-hour, it's a case of waiting for the Leeds onslaught to come. They will inevitably throw more men forward during the remainder of the game.
BOOKING! Hernandez becomes the second Leeds player to be booked after a late challenge on Jota.
Wolves put together another fine move but it ends with N'Diaye lashing a volley over the crossbar from 35 yards. Fortunately for the midfielder, it took a deflection.
The visitors certainly aren't rushing things when they have the ball. They want to wear Leeds out by making them chase the ball. The home side have already used two of their three substitutions.
SUBSTITUTION! Wolves' first change sees Afobe replace Bonatini.
The game has gone a little flat, but that's something which Wolves need to be careful of. They cannot afford to lose focus after putting together a fine performance for three quarters of this match.
SUBSTITUTION! A third alteration for Leeds sees Ekuban take the place of Lasogga.
GOAL! Leeds United 0-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Benik Afobe)
That's the moment that Wolves and Afobe have been waiting for! Jota sends the ball over the top of the Leeds defence and Afobe - seeing Peacock-Farrell running out of goal - volleys a shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
SUBSTITUTION! Just after the goal, Nuno made a second switch, with Costa replacing Jota.
Naturally, the Leeds fans think that this game is over but their team continue to plug away. They are yet to test Ruddy in the Wolves goal, who has only made a couple of routine saves.
As we head into the final 10 minutes, Leeds get the ball into the penalty area with Coady and Boly combining to put it behind for a corner.
To Leeds' credit, they have started to put Wolves under some pressure but it all feels too little too late.
Wolves finally get back up the other end with Cavaleiro looking to contribute having witnessed Wolves net three already this evening. However, he is quickly forced off the ball by a Leeds defence determined not to concede a fourth.
SUBSTITUTION! Wolves' final change sees Gibbs-White introduced in place of Cavaleiro. More minutes for the Under-17 World Cup winner.
It's simply a case of Wolves seeing out the remaining minutes now. They face Aston Villa in three days' time and will want to save as much energy as possible.
There will be two minutes of added-on time. Wolves do still want a fourth but Leeds are just about keeping them out.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 0-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers
The full-time whistle goes at Elland Road and Wolves have eased to a dominant win over Leeds, who were outclassed from the opening whistle. Saiss, Boly and Afobe got the goals but this was a team effort from the league leaders, who now sit six points clear of Cardiff City.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.
If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
