By Lilian Mutua
Leeds took a huge step towards safety with a victory that puts bottom-side Wolves on the brink of relegation from the Premier League.
While Daniel Farke’s side move nine points clear of the drop zone, at least temporarily, after a second straight league win, Wolves’ relegation will be confirmed if Tottenham beat Brighton on Saturday evening (17:30 BST).
Even if Spurs fail to win, a point for West Ham at Crystal Palace on Monday (20:00 BST) would be enough to end the Molineux club’s eight-year stint in the top flight.
Leeds defender James Justin opened the scoring with a superb overhead kick after Wolves failed to clear a corner at a lively Elland Road.
Just 85 seconds later, the hosts were celebrating again as they broke quickly and Noah Okafor finished smartly at the back post from Brendan Aaronson’s fine low cross.
From that point onwards, the Whites lacked the intensity and drive that had earned them the lead, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin made absolutely sure of the points with a penalty in second-half stoppage time.
Leeds endured a couple of nervy moments prior to that in the second half, with goalkeeper Karl Darlow forced to make a brilliant save to keep out Wolves centre-back Ladislav Krejci’s glancing header, before Rodrigo Gomes scuffed wide with just Darlow to beat.
But, ultimately, Wolves didn’t have the firepower to get themselves back into the game, and Calvert-Lewin’s spot kick started the celebrations for another significant win.
Things could hardly have gone better for Leeds since the international break – a place in the FA Cup semi-finals secured, a first league victory at rivals Manchester United since 1981 and now a win that makes top-flight football next season far more likely than not.
Three points take the Yorkshire club to 39 points, and no club in the Premier League era has gone down having taken as many points at this stage of the season.
Another fast start proves enough for Leeds
Just as they did at Old Trafford on Monday, Leeds came flying out of the blocks and could have been ahead inside the first minute as Okafor burst through and played in Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was denied by Wolves keeper Dan Bentley.
The hosts were more than worthy of their lead by the time the goal did arrive, with Bentley making a fine save to deny Ethan Ampadu from point-blank range moments before he was beaten by Justin’s bicycle kick.
Okafor’s seventh league goal of the campaign – and third in two matches – made the scoreline more reflective of the game to that point.
But the enjoyable afternoon watching their side torment their lowly visitors that Leeds fans might have envisaged at that point did not transpire.
Should they go on to complete the job and secure their Premier League status for next season, it is not the sloppiness that exemplified their second-half showing that will be remembered.
Instead, it will be the manner in which they pressed with such ferocity at Manchester United and the way they replicated that, if only for 20 minutes, against Wolves to take themselves within touching distance of safety.
The manner in which manager Farke celebrated with the crowd at full-time suggests he has an inkling they may already have done enough – another positive result at Bournemouth in midweek would make absolutely sure.
That is what comes next, but if chants of “Wembley, Wembley” from the Leeds faithful in the closing stages are anything to go by, the fans are already looking ahead to next Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea and the prospect of a glorious end to the campaign.
Wolves’ issues are apparent once more as relegation looms
It has been inevitable for months, but the Wolves are finally at the point where they are waiting to be put out of their misery.
There was an upturn in form and some encouraging displays prior to the international break, but there were no realistic thoughts that they might escape.
And their two games since then have shown why, with heavy defeats away to relegation-threatened sides.
Rob Edwards’ team struggled to cope as Leeds hassled and harried them in the early stages, while every set-piece seemed to result in chaos in the Wolves box.
It was little wonder they found themselves 2-0 down so quickly, but almost more symptomatic of their season was what followed.
Leeds’ intensity dropped, Wolves were almost invited into the game, but failed to lay a glove on the home side.
What little they did create came from corners. When Gomes went through for their best chance of the game, it was a fortunate ricochet rather than an incisive pass that sent him clear.
The nervousness at Elland Road when Wolves did have a short spell of pressure showed how different things might have been had the visitors got a goal back.
But this is currently a team devoid of cutting edge – just 24 goals from 33 games tells its own story – and addressing that is sure to be a priority for Edwards as the club tries to plot a way back to the big time next term.
What’s next for these sides?
Leeds are back in action on Wednesday (20:00 BST) as they travel to Bournemouth, bidding to put any doubts over their safety to bed, before their focus turns to the FA Cup and Sunday’s semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley (15:00 BST).
Meanwhile, Wolves host Tottenham next Saturday (15:00 BST) in a game they will have to win to stave off relegation for another week, if their fate has not already been sealed by then.
