Venables left in the mire by Bolton plunderers

Leeds United 2 Bolton Wanderers 4

"Let's make Elland Road a fortress again," ran the headline in the club programme, although right now it feels as secure as an unlocked council house in Chapeltown.

Since the opening day of the season, Leeds have won just a single Premiership match here, and that perversely, was against Manchester United. Losing to Everton at home for the first time since 1951 hurt but to have conceded four against a side which began the weekend bottom of the table would have stuck in the craw of an intolerant Yorkshire crowd that has proved itself impatient with Terry Venables' management. The club's annual general meeting at the end of the month in which the chairman, Peter Ridsdale, will seek re-election as a director, should prove a storm-tossed affair.

Venables is usually adept at putting a favourable spin on most results but rather than dwell on the fact he has an entire side injured, he simply stated: "We did not defend well right from the first whistle. We felt we had turned the corner but now we are back to square one."

The relief provided by successive victories over West Ham and Hapoel Tel Aviv has evaporated with remarkable speed. Midway through the second half, with the scores locked at 1-1, anxiety began to seep around Elland Road as the realisation grew that Bolton were the better side.

"I told my players that this was a good time to be playing Leeds," Sam Allardyce reflected afterwards. "I said that, if this was an even game with 10 minutes to go, we would be able to get something because of their heavy schedule."

The Bolton manager's prognosis proved exactly right. Stig Tofting, playing his first game since his conviction for assault in his native Denmark, aimed a pass which split the Leeds defence apart and sent Michael Ricketts sprinting through on goal, although as he was running wide he was witlessly brought down by Paul Robinson. Ricketts himself converted the penalty and Bolton had two minutes to hold on to their lead, although, incredibly, they extended it.

Far from drawing level, Leeds promptly conceded a fourth as Tofting drove over a cross deep into the home side's penalty area which Henrik Pedersen met with an astonishingly well-timed volley that bedded itself in the top corner of Robinson's net.

The Dane, who had not scored before today in the Premiership, might have had a hat-trick had his second-half shot not rebounded out against the inside of the post. He had opened the match with a goal in the third minute which was the first indication that this might be an afternoon out of the ordinary. One incisive pass from the afternoon's decisive figure, Youri Djorkaeff, gave Pedersen the time and space for a single touch, which he drove beautifully home.

It was the first time Bolton had taken the lead in more than two months and Allardyce was able to enjoy the experience for around a minute as Harry Kewell shielded the ball on the byline before pulling it back into Alan Smith's path. His shot was driven through Jussi Jaaskelainen's gloves and was his fifth goal in four days, although only his second of the season in the Premiership. Again, Allardyce complained about his defence's "suicidal tendencies".

They were nothing compared to the confusion in the Leeds back four 11 minutes from time that allowed Jay-Jay Okocha to find Djorkaeff unmarked a dozen yards out, a situation which allowed only one possible outcome. Again Bolton's death wish reappeared within five minutes as Smith's strength and desire fended off two feeble challenges and allowed him to find Mark Viduka, who set up his fellow Australian, Kewell, whose shot doused the chants of "What the **** is going on?". The silence, however, was temporary.

Goals: Pedersen (3) 0-1; Smith (4) 1-1; Djorkaeff (79) 1-2; Kewell (84) 2-2; Ricketts (88) 2-3; Pedersen (90) 2-4.

Leeds United (4-4-2): Robinson 5; Kelly 4, Woodgate 5, Lucic 5 (Duberry, 88), Wilcox 4; Barmby 4, Burns 4, McPhail 5 (Milner 5, 67), Kewell 7; Smith 7, Viduka 6. Substitutes not used: Bridges, Richardson, Martyn (gk).

Bolton Wanderers (3-5-1-1): Jaaskelainen 6; Barness 6, Campo 3, N'Gotty 6 (Tofting 8, 58); Mendy 6, Frandsen 4, Okocha 5, Nolan 4 (Ricketts, 78), Charlton 6; Djorkaeff 8; Pedersen 8. Substitutes not used: Holdsworth, Smith, Poole (gk).

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood) 8.

Bookings: Leeds: Burns, Kewell.

Man of the match: Djorkaeff.

Attendance: 36,627.