STORM Javier the happier
LEEDS sprang out of the bottom three after finally remembering how to win away from home, in a humdinger of a game that descended into chaos with red and yellow cards all over the place.
But boss Javier Gracia was just happy with the fight his men showed to pick up only their second away win of the season.
Visiting fans still had to chew their nails to the quick after seeing Wolves claw a way back from being 3-0 down.
It was an absorbing, chaotic encounter but it certainly wasn’t pretty as referee Michael Salisbury came perilously close to losing control.
He red-carded Wolves sub Mattheus Nunes from the bench amid ugly late scenes to add to the dismissal of Jonny late on for an appalling lunge at Luke Ayling. Wolves had three other players booked along with five of Gracia’s men.
Wolves boss Julien Lopetegui confronted the referee at the end and may find that he has to explain the actions of himself and his staff.
Gracia admitted it was stressful but loved it, saying: “It was a very good win. My players thoroughly deserved the reward of the three points.
“I have to admit I was feeling the stress at some points but now I have time to enjoy a great victory.”
“I was happy with all the players – they all played an amazing game.
“Hopefully this win helps you to work with more confidence in what you are doing. It should make this week more enjoyable.”
Jack Harrison’s sixth-minute strike certainly gave Wolves plenty to think about. Wilfried Gnonto showed Gracia why he should be in the side with a tricky run down the right which took him past Nelson Semedo and then he cut the ball back to Harrison on the penalty spot.
Harrison took the ball first time and cracked an unstoppable left-foot drive into the roof of the net.
That jolted Wolves and forced them to start making serious inroads into the visitors’ defence.
Pedro Neto was left holding his head in his hands in disbelief as Illian Meslier produced a stunning instinctive block to keep his shot out.
A combination of refereeing decisions and Leeds’ eagerness to take as much time over things as possible led to the game getting a bit spikey.
But as much as they tried, Wolves were struggling to get on level terms. Leeds, without an away win in their last seven games, badly needed a second and they got it five minutes after the break when Ayling struck.
His last goal came against Wolves a year ago to the day and the sight of him cartwheeling away followed by a series of forward rolls was almost too much to bear for home fans.
Ayling peeled away from Ruben
Neves at a corner and was unmarked at the far post to score with a header.
Leeds got a third on 61 minutes when Rasmus Kristensen scored just 31 seconds after coming on.
Wolves hit back – Jonny scoring with a stunning volley from fully 35 yards after the impressive Meslier had headed clear at the edge of his box.
Mattheus Cunha made it 2-3 when his 73rd-minute shot flew in off Max Wober. Jonny got his marching orders and when Rodrigo grabbed a fourth in stoppage time, Wolves finally lost the plot.
They felt Adama Traore had been pulled and the ref waved away appeals after looking at the monitor.
Chaos ensued with both managers and support staff prowling the touchline.
Wolves boss Lopetegui (right) said he would appeal both red cards, adding: “I understand a bit about football but I don’t feel that decisions are balancing out. “We have to be critical about bad things that we have done but I don’t understand some things. “I’m not waiting for an explanation. We are very unlucky in some of the decisions going against us. “I understand people make mistakes but it’s not easy to take when mistakes are repeated.”