Leeds United will be hoping to pull off a repeat of their last visit to Molineux when they face Wolves in the Premier League, although perhaps without the drama of a classic encounter.
Daniel Farke and his Leeds side have the polar opposite issue to the last Whites side that faced Wolves, as they have failed to score from open play in the Premier League this season.
However, the side that the ill-fated Javi Gracia inherited from the recently departed Jesse Marsch had no issue finding the net, as their dramatic win over Wolves proved.
Leeds would be delighted to emulate the success they achieved in front of goal on their last visit to Molineux, after Ally McCoist criticised Dominic Calvert-Lewin for his profligacy against Fulham.
The new Leeds hero can look to Rodrigo Moreno for inspiration after he fired home to secure a dramatic win for the Whites to breathe hope into the survival hopes.
- READ MORE: Leeds United can take inspiration from this thumping win over Wolves in must-win relegation battle
Rodrigo Moreno was the hero last time Leeds United visited Molineux
Leeds travelled to Wolverhampton on the 18th March 2023, sitting in 19th place in the table as they ran out of time to mount a dramatic bid for survival.
However, having taken four points from three games under Gracia, there was a growing sense of optimism that the Spaniard could steer Leeds away from trouble.
A dramatic 4-2 victory against Wolves only added fuel to that fire, as the two sides played out a fiery encounter. Jack Harrison continued his run of good form against Wolves by firing home from the penalty spot to give Leeds the lead in the first half.
Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui was incensed when the referee failed to award his side after a trip from Junior Firpo.
His mood soured further when Luke Ayling peeled away at the back post to head his side into a 2-0 lead after the interval. When Rasmus Kristensen fired home to give Leeds a 3-0 lead, the game appeared to be over.
However, Illan Meslier was caught off his line after attempting to clear the ball with a diving header to allow Wolves back into the game through Jonny. When Matheus Cunha scored through a deflected strike to make it 3-2, the nerves in the away end were jangling.
But there was still time for more drama, as Jonny had an initial yellow card upgraded to a red for a foul on Ayling, to the chagrin of Lopetegui.
The Wolves players then inexplicably stopped, claiming a foul on Adama Traore in the dying moments, which allowed Crysencio Summerville to play through Rodrigo to score the final goal of the game. Leeds ended the day outside the relegation places, with real hope of saving their season.
- READ MORE: Why Wolves boss Vitor Pereira could have been in the Leeds United dugout instead of Daniel Farke
Spectacular collapse under Javi Gracia remains a mystery
Although it is easy to write off Gracia’s reign as an unmitigated disaster, given the way it ended, it is still hard to explain why the wheels came off Leeds’ resurgence so spectacularly.
Speaking to the BBC after the win over Wolves, Gracia praised his players, stating: “We knew before coming here it would be a very demanding game. After scoring three goals, we maybe thought the game was over. My players deserve their reward. To win here, they did many things well.”
After a defeat against Arsenal, a 2-1 home win over Nottingham Forest meant Leeds had won 10 points in six games. When they took an early lead in the next home game against Crystal Palace through Patrick Bamford, the Whites looked destined for safety.
Leeds’ results under Javi Gracia:
- Leeds 1-0 Southampton
- Chelsea 1-0 Leeds
- Leeds 2-2 Brighton
- Wolves 2-4 Leeds
- Arsenal 4-1 Leeds
- Leeds 2-1 Nottingham Forest
- Leeds 1-5 Crystal Palace
- Leeds 1-6 Liverpool
- Fulham 2-1 Leeds
- Leeds 1-1 Leicester
- Bournemouth 4-1 Leeds
However, 45 minutes later, the season took on a completely different complexion, as they succumbed to a 5-1 defeat in the meekest fashion. A 6-1 defeat against Liverpool followed, and Gracia was soon gone, following a 4-1 loss at Bournemouth, replaced by Sam Allardyce.
Only the players and staff know what happened in the dressing room to bring about the swift end to the momentum under Gracia.
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