FOR Wolverhampton Wanderers, a victory more straightforward than would be apparent from the scoreline. This was primarily because Leeds United created only one opening all afternoon and then had Simon Walton sent off late in the second half. Viorel Ganea, injury-prone for so long, scored his fifth goal of the season in front of a crowd of 26,821 that was the biggest at Molineux this season.

Ganea, who missed last season because of a cruciate ligament injury, is out of contract in the summer. Nobody doubts his ability — not least England at Euro 2000 — but his age, 32, is against him. Do not bank on him being around next season, whether or not Wolves have reached the Premiership. For the time being, though, he has plenty to commend him.

A series of draws before this match and an initial shortage of transfers would suggest that Wolves have been falling back on defence to too great a degree. Not so, even if there was understandable circumspection against the club who brought an end to their record unbeaten run between January and August. Wolves’ football has remained fluent, intricate and something to be relished.

They had but two chances before their opening goal. First, Lee Naylor, overlapping down the left wing, had a left-footed drive parried at full stretch by Neil Sullivan, who was the butt of considerable chanting from the Wolves supporters.

Next, Tom Huddlestone and Ganea struck the bar in succession, the former from 20 yards and the forward following up and watching his deflected strike come back off the woodwork.

This was the precursor to Ganea’s goal seven minutes before the interval. Naylor crossed from the left towards Seol Ki Hyeon, who misplaced his attempted pass straight to the Romanian a few yards from goal. The finish was a simple affair and Wolves’ lead was eminently deserved.

“With 22 games still to go, who is to say somebody isn’t going to go on a run like the ones Sheffield United and Reading have enjoyed in the first half of the campaign?” asked Wolves manager Glenn Hoddle.

“When we hit the woodwork twice, I wondered whether it would be another of those days. But we have gone up the table and have a good foundation for the Christmas period.”

As for Leeds, there was just the one opening before half-time: a cross from Eddie Lewis found Matthew Kilgallon, who was foiled by Stefan Postma. So, too, from the rebound, was David Healy, who struck the goalkeeper’s legs.

This pattern did not change after the interval, when once again Wolves were in the ascendancy. Seol chested the ball down on the far side of the penalty area and attempted to hook a volley past Sullivan when he might have done better to have taken his chance instantaneously. Ganea then opted to shoot when he should have pushed the ball square to Kenny Miller.

Later, a header by Ganea from Seol’s right-wing cross went on to the roof of the net. By now, late in the second half, Leeds had made scant impression and were unlikely to do so after the 84th minute, when Walton was sent off for a second bookable offence — a blatant barge against Miller, who was outstripping him by the touchline.

“I was disappointed with this decision and a lot of people were surprised,” said Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell. “Walton, who was playing in an unfamiliar position at right- back, was absolutely distraught at being sent off. He takes things to heart.”

The dismissal made certain there would be no comeback of the kind Leeds managed in that extraordinary fixture against Southampton.

Indeed, they finished the afternoon doing well to retain possession, let alone trouble Postma. It had been apparent for some time that this was not to be their afternoon.

STAR MAN: Viorel Ganea (Wolves)

Player ratings: Wolverhampton Wanderers: Postma 6, Edwards 6, Lescott 6, Gyepes 6, Naylor 7, Anderton 6 (Cameron 79min, 5), Huddlestone 6, Ricketts 6, Seol Ki Hyeon 7, K Miller 6, Ganea 8

Leeds United: Sullivan 7, Walton 5, Butler 6, Kilgallon 6, Harding 6 (Douglas 86min, 5), L Miller 6, Derry 6, Lewis 6, Cresswell 6 (Moore 68min, 5), Healy 6, Blake 6

Scorer: Wolves: Ganea 38

Referee: C Foy

Attendance: 26,821

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