Bolton 4 Leeds 1 - Utd face Division 1

By Andy Baggott
May 2 2004

Leeds lost 4-1 to Bolton to effectively seal their relegation to the First Division, and signal the sale of their remaining star players

Leeds effectively left the Premiership today with a wimper, as they crashed 4-1 to Bolton. The home side were the better from the start, and it came as a suprise when Leeds took the lead. Smith was sent tumbling in the area, and Viduka scored the penalty. Wanderers defender Thome should have been red carded as he was the last man, but the referee decided to show yellow. Minutes later Thome was at the centre of another bust up, this time with Viduka, which saw the Leeds man booked, but Thome escape. Barely a minute later, Viduka, who had the red mist, made contact wiith N'Gotty, and was shown a second yellow. He was perhaps a little unlucky, but should have known better. As the Aussie left the field, Leeds' hopes of surviving relegation went with him. Leeds still led 1-0 at the break, but Bolton changed that within 2 minutes of the restart, when Djorkaef fired home. Within 8 minutes, the game, and Leeds' fate were sealed. Djorkaefs second, and an unlucky on goal by Harte meant that the game was as good as over. Nolan aded a fourth late on, and when the final whistle blew, Leeds fans ~(who were magnificent throughout) knew that the inevitable had arrived. There were tears in the stand as well as on the piutch were Robbo and Smith openly wept.

So what now? Viduka, Smith, Robbo and possibly Milner will be on their way. The loan players will all return to their clubs, and Batty, Bridges and Wilcox will all leave as their contracts expire. We will have to make the most of some very good kids coming through (Richardson, Lennon and Keegan), and make some good loan or free signings. A new manager is likely to bve appointed, with gordon Strachan rumoured to be in the frame, and the only other b it of good news is a new owner of the club is likely to be in place sooner rather than later. Steve Parkin is close to agreeing a deal, and he has some serious backers. I'm informed that a deal could be in place within a matter of days. A meeting on Tuesday will decide how to take the club forward now that we know where we will be playing next season...