Leeds United pulled nine points clear of the Premier League relegation zone following their 3-0 win at home to Wolves on Saturday. Quickfire first-half goals from James Justin and Noah Okafor put the Whites in control before Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s second-half added-time penalty secured another huge victory.
Daniel Farke’s side dominated early proceedings and as was the case at Old Trafford, missed multiple chances before Justin’s acrobatic finish made it 1-0 on 18 minutes. Elland Road had barely finished celebrating that opener when Brenden Aaronson fed Okafor to double that lead less than 90 seconds later.
Wolves had more of a foothold in the game after half-time and Karl Darlow was forced into a wonderful save on the hour-mark, reacting quickly to palm clear Ladislav Krejci’s glancing header. Leeds’ intensity dipped a little in the second-half but Calvert-Lewin had the chance to make it 3-0 in added-time, burying a penalty he won after being fouled latching onto a cross.
YEP chief football writer Graham Smyth was at Elland Road to watch the action. Here are his Leeds United player ratings...
8 - Made an incredible save to stop Wolves from making it a one-goal game in the second half. Did almost everything well. Gave the ball away needlessly in time added on but got away with it.
1. GK: Karl Darlow
8 - Made an incredible save to stop Wolves from making it a one-goal game in the second half. Did almost everything well. Gave the ball away needlessly in time added on but got away with it. | Getty Images
8 - Helped cause problems in the first half, scored a truly beautiful bicycle kick and cleared up dangerous moments. Beaten once on the right for a Wolves half-chance.
2. CB: James Justin
8 - Helped cause problems in the first half, scored a truly beautiful bicycle kick and cleared up dangerous moments. Beaten once on the right for a Wolves half-chance. | Getty Images
8 - Dealt well with Armstrong's threat for the most part, won his usual headers.
3. CB: Jaka Bijol
8 - Dealt well with Armstrong's threat for the most part, won his usual headers. | Getty Images
8 - Played his part in the clean sheet and passed the ball well, as ever. Cleared up a couple of untidy moments with physicality.
4. CB: Pascal Struijk
8 - Played his part in the clean sheet and passed the ball well, as ever. Cleared up a couple of untidy moments with physicality. | Wolves via Getty Images
7 - Some danger going forward without being hugely influential. The odd difficult moment in the second half.
5. RWB: Jayden Bogle
7 - Some danger going forward without being hugely influential. The odd difficult moment in the second half. | Getty Images
7 - Got sucked into the scrappy nature of the second half at times but was always there with big tackles. Should have scored before Justin did.
6. CM: Ethan Ampadu
7 - Got sucked into the scrappy nature of the second half at times but was always there with big tackles. Should have scored before Justin did. | AFP via Getty Images