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Leeds 2 Bolton 1: Caleb Ekuban and Pablo Hernandez sink Trotters who still remain six points above drop zone

Relief for Paul Heckingbottom with just his second win in charge since taking over at Elland Road in February

LEEDS halted Bolton Wanderers great escape with a narrow 2-1 win at Elland Road.

Caleb Ekuban and Pablo Hernandez with the goals for boss Paul Heckingbottom's second win since taking over in February and the Lillywhites first win in five league games.

 Caleb Ekuban with Leeds United opener
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Caleb Ekuban with Leeds United openerCredit: Reuters

Adam Le Fondre pulled one back for Wanderers with his fifth goal of the season.

But it was not enough for Phil Parkinson's side whose mini revival comes to and end after a morale boosting win last week at home to Aston Villa.

Ekuban opened the scoring for the home side - his low strike went through a sea of legs to unsight Ben Alnwick in goal.

Hernandez doubled United's lead when he reacted first to  Ezgjan Alioski's effort.

 Pablo Hernandez doubled Leeds United lead against Bolton
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Pablo Hernandez doubled Leeds United lead against BoltonCredit: Rex Features
 Adam Le Fondre pulled one back for Bolton
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Adam Le Fondre pulled one back for BoltonCredit: Rex Features

Bolton invited early pressure, with captain Andrew Taylor's under-hit back pass in the second minute being picked off by Ekuban.

He teed up Alioski but the winger could only curl an effort wide of the far post.


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Bolton should have been level after 10 minutes but Jan Kirchoff could not steer his close-range header on target from Sammy Ameobi's corner.

It was the visitors' only real chance of the half, while Leeds were a threat on the break on numerous occasions.

One counter ended with Lasogga stretching to meet an Alioski cross but the German forward's effort flew well wide of Ben Alnwick's left post.

Another saw Hernandez release Alioski, who had the beating of Taylor, but his effort from the edge of the area crept just past the right post.

Just before half-time another Leeds break ended with a Hernandez cross almost being nodded into his own goal by Mark Beevers, before Pontus Jansson headed against the crossbar from the resulting corner.

 Pierre-Michel Lasogga misses chance for Leeds
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Pierre-Michel Lasogga misses chance for LeedsCredit: Reuters
 Pablo Hernandez with his eighth goal of the season
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Pablo Hernandez with his eighth goal of the seasonCredit: Reuters

A second goal duly arrived five minutes into the second period.

Alioski caused more problems for Taylor before being denied by Alnwick and the rebound was controlled and turned in by Hernandez for his eighth goal of the campaign.

But Bolton got themselves back into the game two minutes later through Le Fondre, who headed in his third goal in four games after being picked out by Ameobi's inswinging free-kick.

And they should have been level two minutes later when an unmarked Will Buckley flashed a header across the face of goal from Jon Flanagan's cross.

Alnwick kept the visitors in the game with a brilliant save in the 69th minute, stretching out a boot to deny Ekuban who had been released through on goal by Stuart Dallas.

Ameobi's goal-bound effort was blocked by Eunan O'Kane but it was the hosts who ended strongly, with Matthew Pennington heading over and Ekuban being denied again by Alnwick in the final minute of normal time.

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