OLD GOLD, NEW LEEDS BUT something of a familiar story still emerged in the Black Country at the weekend. A tale of fallen idols, overflowing treatment rooms and two sides incapable of returning to their former glories. The lack of craft on display at Molineux was often disguised by an abundance of worthy endeavour but, as both managers conceded, additions are essential if either team is to sustain an instant promotion back to the Premiership.

For Leeds United the matter of new recruits intensified with the news that Lucas Radebe, in his testimonial year with the club, has played his last game in the white shirts. He ruptured an Achilles tendon in the first half and the South Africa defender will miss the remainder of the season, his final one in West Yorkshire.

At least Dave Jones, the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, hopes that a friendly with Port Vale today will develop the fitness of Carl Cort, Matt Murray and Joleon Lescott. In all, Jones has eight senior players laid low with injuries. “I am dreading my players going away on international duty this week,” he said.

Kenny Miller spurned an 85th-minute penalty after he was fouled by Michael Duberry, who was then dismissed. Despite failing to secure what would have been a deserved first victory of the season, Jones was encouraged by the performance of Leon Clarke, a teenage forward, and Seyi Olofinjana, the Nigeria midfield player. “He is going to be some player when he adapts to this league,” Jones said of the latter, who signed from Brann Bergen, the Norwegian club, in a £1.7 million deal this summer.

Clarke, who scored in the midweek draw with Preston North End on his first league start, also appears to possess impressive potential. The rashness of youth saw him snatch at a couple of chances, while Leeds seldom troubled Paul Jones at the other end thanks largely to Jody Craddock, who was in outstanding form coping with Brian Deane’s robust leading of the line.

Miller, having skied a decent opening minutes earlier, should have won the day with his spot kick. Neil Sullivan, though, had been studying his videos and saved a fairly tame effort diving to his left. “We already owe Sully a lot,” Paul Butler, the Leeds captain who departed Wolves in the summer, said. “The crowd got on my back but they are entitled. I have gone on record saying Wolves will go up and from what I have seen here, we have a fighting chance, too.”

If it all goes pear-shaped around March of next year, you can imagine the hue and cry from Elland Road to Molineux. Yes, and “the Butler did it” will be the catchphrase as well.