WOLVES: DICKO STRIKE DEFEATS LEEDS

Wolves end Elland Road run.

EFL Sky Bet Championship 

Leeds United 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 (Dicko 38)

Nouha Dicko handed Wolves a 1-0 victory to dent Leeds United’s Play-Off hopes at Elland Road.

Leeds had a good opportunity inside ten minutes, Alfonso Pedraza and Kalvin Phillips linked up well in the Wolves area, before the latter tried to play a dangerous ball across goal, but Andy Lonergan was on hand to make a vital interception with Chris Wood lurking.

The visitors had a fine chance to take lead when a mix up between Pontus Jansson and Gaetano Berardi lead to Andreas Weimann going through one-on-one with Rob Green, but he couldn’t get the better of the United stopper, who made a brilliant save.

Wolves had another chance soon after from a free-kick on the right wing.  The ball was crossed in and fell kindly for Dave Edwards to strike and he forced another good save from Green.

Leeds went close on the counter attack, Kemar Roofe put a fizzing ball across the face of goal, but no United player could get a head on it.

Wanderers striker Dicko then threatened, he cut inside before unleashing a long range effort, which went just wide.

Leeds then showed some good pressure, going close from a number of set-pieces.  Kyle Bartley had a penalty shout turned down, before Gaetano Berardi went close with a thunderous volley, the ball felt o him 30 yards out and his effort went just over the crossbar.

The visitors took the lead in the 38th minute, Jansson charged down the field, however Wolves countered and threaded the ball through to Dicko who slotted away the chance into the bottom left corner.

Chris Wood had a good chance to hit back four minutes later, he superbly controlled a long ball into the Wolves box, but his effort deflected away out of play for a goal-kick.

On the stroke of half time the Kiwi striker had another opportunity, Pedraza played him through on goal, but he couldn’t control and Lonergan collected.

Half Time: Leeds United 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

After the break Wood’s determination almost lead to a goal, he charged down a Lonergan kick, but it deflected off target, before Luke Ayling fired wide from the edge of the box.

There were then big shouts for a penalty, Wood crossed and his delivery appeared to hit the arm of Richard Stearman, but the referee waved away the protests.

Jansson had an opportunity from a corner, Hernandez crossed in, but Jansson at the back post could only head over the bar.

Hernandez then delivered another dangerous cross, but this time Bartley was unable to find the target.

In the 70th minute Lee Evans shot on goal from range for the visitors, but it was straight at Green who made an easy save.

The Whites again went close from a corner two minutes later, Roofe headed across goal to substitute Souleymane Doukara, who was only denied by a super save from Lonergan.

Throwing everyone forward Leeds then had a late chance from a Hernanadez corner, Roofe’s looping  header was cleared off the line as Wolves held on for the victory.

The loss ended the United’s unbeaten run at Elland Road and other results in the division means Leeds slip out of the Play-Off places to seventh spot.

Full Time: Leeds United 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Leeds: Green, Ayling, Bartley, Jansson, Berardi (Taylor 63), Phillips, Bridcutt (Sacko 56), Hernandez, Roofe, Pedraza (Doukara 72), Wood.  Subs not used: Peacock-Farrell, O’Kane, Dallas, Coyle.

Wolves: Lonergan, Doherty, Edwards, Stearman, Saville (Evans 68), Dicko (Bodvarsson 68), Coady, Saiss, Williamson, Weimann, Marshall (Hause 85).  Subs not used: Burgoyne, Evans, Iorfa, Price, Bodvarsson, Hause, Gibbs-White.

Booked:  Bridcutt, Bartley (Leeds)

Referee: J. Simpson

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 32,351