Patrick Bamford has been out injured since August but scored on his first-team return
Leeds United moved above Norwich to the top of the Championship after Patrick Bamford's goal on his first appearance since August secured victory against Bolton Wanderers.
Bamford was sent on in the second half of a game low on clear-cut chances, and buried his low shot from 10 yards.
Bolton's best chance saw Jack Hobbs' header cleared off the line late on, and they remain in the relegation zone after a 12th defeat of the season.
Heavy rain had an impact on the quality throughout the game, but Leeds still extended their winning run to five games.
The win put Marcelo Bielsa's side a point clear at the top of the table, with Norwich drawing at Bristol City in the late game.
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It has been a difficult week for Bolton players and staff amid concerns over wage payments, which chairman and majority stakeholder Ken Anderson agreed to personally fund.
They showed their commitment to the cause against a Leeds side in impressive form, frustrating the visitors, but could do nothing about Bamford's well-taken winner.
This loss means Bolton have only picked up three points from their last 12 league games, scoring five goals and conceding 18.
Saiz future at Leeds uncertain
Leeds completed victory without Spanish forward Samuel Saiz, who was given permission to miss the game for what Bielsa described as "a personal situation".
The 27-year-old, who has one goal in 21 appearances this season, has been linked with a loan move to La Liga side Getafe in January.
"What will happen in the future is linked to the club and Samuel Saiz," Bielsa toid BBC Radio Leeds.
"He has a personal situation to solve and the club allowed him to talk.
"What I can tell you is that he has the permission of the club to be absent, and I don't know what the personal reasons are for his absence."
Bolton manager Phil Parkinson told BBC Radio Manchester:
"The lads have given everything - we've been done by a moment of quality from a £7m player.
"We've closed down, we've ran and chased, we lacked quality at times when we had possession in difficult conditions.
"The lads and staff are hurting because it's horrible when you get beaten - it kicks you in teeth, game after game at the moment, but we've just got to keep going and looking to improve."
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa told BBC Radio Leeds:
"It was deserved win but a hard one.
"We had the possession but we didn't create enough chances to score.
"For Patrick Bamford it's very good for his confidence - he worked very hard to gain back his core fitness and for us to have in our team two important strikers is very important."
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Bolton
1Alnwick
16Olkowski
31Wheater
14Hobbs
3Taylor
21WilliamsSubstituted forOztumerat 80'minutes
4LoweBooked at 63mins
12NooneBooked at 90mins
6Vela
11BuckleySubstituted forWildschutat 72'minutes
28MagennisSubstituted forDoidgeat 75'minutes
7Oztumer
8Donaldson
9Doidge
18Wilson
19O'Neil
20Matthews
30Wildschut
Leeds
1Peacock-Farrell
46Shackleton
18Jansson
23Phillips
3DouglasBooked at 84mins
4Forshaw
19HernándezSubstituted forHalmeat 90+4'minutes
34BakerSubstituted forClarkeat 45'minutes
43Klich
10Alioski
7RoofeSubstituted forBamfordat 61'minutes
9Bamford
11Roberts
13Huffer
22Harrison
40Davis
47Clarke
52Halme
Referee:
Robert Jones
Attendance:
17,484
Match Stats
Home TeamBoltonAway TeamLeeds
Possession
Home30%
Away70%
Shots
Home4
Away12
Shots on Target
Home0
Away4
Corners
Home4
Away10
Fouls
Home14
Away11
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Bolton Wanderers 0, Leeds United 1.Full TimePosted at 90'+6'
Second Half ends, Bolton Wanderers 0, Leeds United 1.
SubstitutionPosted at 90'+4'
Substitution, Leeds United. Aapo Halme replaces Pablo Hernández.BookingPosted at 90'+2'
Craig Noone (Bolton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.Posted at 90'+2'
Barry Douglas (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by Craig Noone (Bolton Wanderers).Posted at 90'
Attempt missed. Jason Lowe (Bolton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Erhun Oztumer.Posted at 89'
Foul by Jamie Shackleton (Leeds United).Posted at 89'
Erhun Oztumer (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.Posted at 88'
Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Ben Alnwick.Posted at 88'
Attempt saved. Mateusz Klich (Leeds United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Pablo Hernández.Posted at 87'
Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Jack Hobbs.Posted at 87'
Attempt blocked. Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pablo Hernández.Posted at 86'
Adam Forshaw (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 86'
Foul by Christian Doidge (Bolton Wanderers).Posted at 86'
Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by Jamie Shackleton.Posted at 86'
Attempt blocked. Jack Hobbs (Bolton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Josh Vela with a cross.Posted at 85'
Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by Barry Douglas.BookingPosted at 84'
Barry Douglas (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.Posted at 84'
Foul by Barry Douglas (Leeds United).Posted at 84'
Craig Noone (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.Posted at 83'
Foul by Adam Forshaw (Leeds United).Posted at 83'
Christian Doidge (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 81'
Barry Douglas (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 81'
Foul by Craig Noone (Bolton Wanderers).SubstitutionPosted at 80'
Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Erhun Oztumer replaces Joe Williams.Posted at 78'
Attempt blocked. Mateusz Klich (Leeds United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ezgjan Alioski.Posted at 75'
Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 75'
Foul by Josh Vela (Bolton Wanderers).Posted at 75'
Foul by Barry Douglas (Leeds United).Posted at 75'
Craig Noone (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.SubstitutionPosted at 75'
Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Christian Doidge replaces Josh Magennis.SubstitutionPosted at 72'
Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Yanic Wildschut replaces William Buckley because of an injury.Posted at 71'
Attempt missed. Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Pablo Hernández with a cross following a corner.Posted at 71'
Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Pawel Olkowski.Posted at 70'
Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Jack Hobbs.Posted at 68'
Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by Kalvin Phillips.Posted at 68'
Attempt blocked. Josh Vela (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Goal!Posted at 66'
Goal! Bolton Wanderers 0, Leeds United 1. Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Pablo Hernández.Posted at 65'
Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Ben Alnwick.
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Source: bbc.com
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