Luciano Becchio scored from the penalty spot as Leeds edged past Bolton in a poor Championship game at Elland Road.

Chris Eagles clipped the outside of the post early on for Bolton and the winger then forced Leeds goalkeeper Paddy Kenny into a good save from distance.

Ross McCormack was brought down in the box in the second half by Tyrone Mears to hand Leeds a penalty.

Consistency problem

Bolton have failed to win back-to-back league games so far this campaign

Becchio stepped up to send Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan the wrong way from the spot.

The victory means Neil Warnock's side earn a fifth-straight home win for the first time since 2009 as they contended without Jerome Thomas and Luke Varney because of a virus while Paul Green, McCormack and Paddy Kenny all defied the illness to play.

For Bolton it was another blow to their hopes of a top-six finish and they will rue the early miss from Eagles as the ex-Manchester United winger struck the post in the 20th minute despite being clean through.

Eagles then fired in from 35 yards to stretch Kenny who tipped the ball wide before Marcos Alonso hit an effort well over.

Hot shot Becchio

Becchio's goal put him into Leeds' all-time top-10 leading goalscorers on 76

Then in the 65th minute Mears needlessly bundled McCormack over in the area after he had picked up David Norris's mis-hit pass.

Becchio, who was rested for Leeds' 2-0 defeat at Hull on Saturday, then put away his 18th of the season from the spot.

David Ngog's claims for a late penalty for Bolton were waved away and the Trotters stay eight points off the play-off positions.

Leeds manager Neil Warnock: "In the circumstances I can't be any prouder of the lads or praise them enough for the effort they put in.

"It wasn't a classic but it was all about desire. We were a bit nervous in the first half. When you get the drubbing we did at Hull it knocks the stuffing out of you but we grafted in there today and the best move of the match led to the penalty.

"On paper Bolton have a far better team than us but you don't win matches on paper."

Bolton manager Dougie Freedman: "The referees and their assistants are part-time, so it is not their fault [for not giving Ngog a penalty]. They don't train all week and they don't get help. They don't get coached or mentored.

"There should be a more professional approach because there is so much at stake.

"It was a game we should have won because we created most of the chances. Our game plan is working but our defence is letting us down and that is what happened."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (4)

Leeds United

  • 01 Kenny
  • 02 Peltier
  • 05 Pearce
  • 15 Tate
  • 07 Green
  • 08 Austin
  • 19 Norris
  • 25 Byram Booked
  • 10 Becchio
  • 21 Diouf (Gray - 90' )
  • 44 McCormack

Substitutes

  • 12 Ashdown
  • 03 Drury
  • 04 Lees
  • 17 Brown
  • 30 Hall
  • 20 Gray
  • 28 Somma

Bolton Wanderers

  • 01 Bogdan
  • 02 Mears
  • 03 Alonso
  • 05 Ream
  • 12 Knight
  • 07 Eagles
  • 08 Andrews Booked
  • 20 Spearing (Butterfield - 79' )
  • 21 Pratley (Ngog - 68' )
  • 27 Lee (Afobe - 68' Booked )
  • 14 K Davies

Substitutes

  • 24 Lonergan
  • 18 Ricketts
  • 10 Petrov
  • 29 Butterfield
  • 09 Ngog
  • 17 Afobe
  • 19 Sordell
Ref: Phil Gibbs
Att: 22,386

Match Stats

Shots

12 9

On target

3 3

Corners

7 3

Fouls

10 21

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:09 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +3:09

Jacob Butterfield takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Alan Tate makes a clearance.

90:00 +1:21

Adam Bogdan takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +1:21 Substitution

Substitution Andy Gray on for El-Hadji Diouf.

90:00 +1:21

Free kick awarded for a foul by Luciano Becchio on Marcos Alonso.

89:51

Unfair challenge on El-Hadji Diouf by Marcos Alonso results in a free kick. Patrick Kenny takes the free kick.

88:05

Ross McCormack gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marcos Alonso. Free kick taken by Marcos Alonso.

86:55

Patrick Kenny takes the free kick.

86:55 Booking

Booking Caution for Keith Andrews.

86:40

Zat Knight gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Luciano Becchio.

86:29

Chris Eagles crosses the ball, Jason Pearce makes a clearance.

84:33

Marcos Alonso challenges Luciano Becchio unfairly and gives away a free kick. El-Hadji Diouf delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, clearance by Zat Knight.

83:46

El-Hadji Diouf fouled by Marcos Alonso, the ref awards a free kick. El-Hadji Diouf takes the direct free kick, Paul Green takes a shot. Save made by Adam Bogdan.

81:48

A cross is delivered by Keith Andrews.

80:49

Marcos Alonso produces a cross, Alan Tate makes a clearance.

79:01

David Ngog produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the bar.

78:03

Lee Peltier takes the free kick.

78:03 Substitution

Substitution Jacob Butterfield comes on in place of Jay Spearing.

78:03 Booking

Booking Benik Afobe receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

77:29

Unfair challenge on David Norris by Benik Afobe results in a free kick.

76:45

Rodolph Austin produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses left.

74:22

Centre by Marcos Alonso.

72:42

Corner taken right-footed by El-Hadji Diouf, Header from deep inside the area by Luciano Becchio goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

70:53

The ball is crossed by Marcos Alonso, clearance made by Jason Pearce.

69:24

Effort from outside the penalty area by Rodolph Austin goes wide left of the target.

64:00

Foul by Tyrone Mears on Ross McCormack, Penalty awarded.

68:15

Shot from just outside the box by Ross McCormack misses to the left of the target.

67:15

Direct free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

67:15 Substitution

Substitution Darren Pratley goes off and David Ngog comes on.

67:15 Substitution

Substitution Benik Afobe comes on in place of Chung-Yong Lee.

67:15

Alan Tate fouled by Kevin Davies, the ref awards a free kick.

66:39

Ross McCormack produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that goes over the bar.

66:20

David Norris handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Chris Eagles.

65:06

Ross McCormack provided the assist for the goal.

65:06 Goal scored

Goal - Luciano Becchio - Leeds Utd 1 - 0 Bolton Luciano Becchio scores a placed penalty. Leeds 1-0 Bolton.

64:00

Unfair challenge on Ross McCormack by Zat Knight results in a Penalty.

62:14

The referee blows for offside against Paul Green. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Bogdan.

60:07

Kevin Davies challenges Jason Pearce unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

58:48

Short corner taken by El-Hadji Diouf from the left by-line.

58:07

Alan Tate fouled by Kevin Davies, the ref awards a free kick. Patrick Kenny restarts play with the free kick.

56:53

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on El-Hadji Diouf by Tim Ream. The free kick is delivered right-footed by El-Hadji Diouf from left channel, Tyrone Mears makes a clearance.

54:12

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Chung-Yong Lee from the left by-line to the near post, Rodolph Austin manages to make a clearance.

51:53

Shot by Marcos Alonso from just outside the area goes over the net.

51:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jay Spearing by David Norris. Zat Knight restarts play with the free kick.

50:40

Long distance effort from Chris Eagles misses to the left of the goal.

49:54

Shot from just outside the box by Samuel Byram goes over the bar.

49:29

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by El-Hadji Diouf played to the near post, Jay Spearing makes a clearance.

47:03

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Norris by Kevin Davies. Free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

46:01

The ball is sent over by Keith Andrews, clearance by Samuel Byram.

45:23

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jason Pearce on Darren Pratley. Free kick taken by Keith Andrews.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:36 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

45:00 +1:03

Samuel Byram gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Eagles. Direct free kick taken by Adam Bogdan.

45:00 +0:56

The ball is delivered by Samuel Byram, Darren Pratley makes a clearance.

44:02

Kevin Davies is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

42:37

El-Hadji Diouf takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Luciano Becchio has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the goal.

40:33

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Luciano Becchio by Keith Andrews. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Alan Tate, Darren Pratley manages to make a clearance.

40:15

A cross is delivered by Zat Knight.

39:31

David Norris gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Darren Pratley. Tim Ream takes the free kick.

37:52

Chung-Yong Lee takes the inswinging corner, Jason Pearce makes a clearance.

37:19

Chris Eagles takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Fantastic save by Patrick Kenny.

36:35

Jason Pearce challenges Kevin Davies unfairly and gives away a free kick. Adam Bogdan restarts play with the free kick.

35:58

Foul by Chris Eagles on Rodolph Austin, free kick awarded. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Alan Tate, Kevin Davies manages to make a clearance.

31:54

El-Hadji Diouf produces a cross, clearance by Kevin Davies.

31:37

Short corner worked by El-Hadji Diouf.

31:19

Shot by David Norris. Blocked by Tyrone Mears.

31:11

A cross is delivered by El-Hadji Diouf, Zat Knight makes a clearance.

29:57

David Norris challenges Keith Andrews unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Adam Bogdan.

29:50

Samuel Byram delivers the ball, Jay Spearing manages to make a clearance.

27:47

Kevin Davies concedes a free kick for a foul on Alan Tate. Alan Tate takes the direct free kick.

26:49

The official flags Luciano Becchio offside. Zat Knight takes the direct free kick.

26:28

Samuel Byram crosses the ball, Keith Andrews manages to make a clearance.

26:12

Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Eagles on Luciano Becchio. Alan Tate restarts play with the free kick.

24:18

Handball decision goes against Paul Green. Direct free kick taken by Marcos Alonso.

22:03

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tyrone Mears on Ross McCormack. Patrick Kenny takes the free kick.

21:21

Chris Eagles takes a shot. Comfortable save by Patrick Kenny.

20:41

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by El-Hadji Diouf from the left by-line to the near post, Marcos Alonso manages to make a clearance.

20:41

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by El-Hadji Diouf played to the near post, Zat Knight manages to make a clearance.

20:36

The ball is crossed by El-Hadji Diouf, Zat Knight manages to make a clearance.

19:14

Chris Eagles has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.

18:03

Foul by Darren Pratley on Alan Tate, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

17:46

The ball is delivered by Tyrone Mears.

16:42

Foul by Darren Pratley on Jason Pearce, free kick awarded. Alan Tate takes the direct free kick.

15:46

Shot by Rodolph Austin from outside the box goes over the net.

15:18

Unfair challenge on El-Hadji Diouf by Marcos Alonso results in a free kick. Free kick crossed by El-Hadji Diouf, clearance by Marcos Alonso.

13:54

Chris Eagles takes a shot. Blocked by Paul Green.

11:53

Shot from outside the box by Darren Pratley goes wide right of the target.

11:14

Corner taken by El-Hadji Diouf from the right by-line, clearance by Zat Knight.

10:17

Jay Spearing gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ross McCormack. Rodolph Austin produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick, blocked by Zat Knight.

8:28

Tyrone Mears sends in a cross.

6:37

The ball is crossed by Chris Eagles, Header from deep inside the area by Darren Pratley goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

6:37 Booking

Booking Samuel Byram is cautioned.

6:25

Samuel Byram gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chung-Yong Lee.

5:42

Effort on goal by Luciano Becchio from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.

2:51

El-Hadji Diouf concedes a free kick for a foul on Keith Andrews. Zat Knight takes the free kick.

2:13

El-Hadji Diouf crosses the ball, clearance made by Chung-Yong Lee.

1:16

Keith Andrews concedes a free kick for a foul on El-Hadji Diouf. Alan Tate takes the direct free kick.

0:00

The match begins.

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