Wolverhampton Wanderers edged out Leeds United by the odd goal in seven to climb into the Championship playoff zone this evening.
Nouha Dicko bagged two first-half goals, with Charlie Taylor's first senior strike sandwiching those two efforts to see the scoreline remain tight at the break.
The hosts looked to have put the game beyond their opponents by adding a third through an in-form Benik Afobe three minutes after the restart, but Danny Batth's own goal and a well-taken curler from Alex Mowatt levelled things up.
It was left to substitute Dave Edwards to win the game for his side in the final minute of normal time, heading home from inside the area to secure a dramatic 4-3 victory for Wanderers.
Relive Sports Mole's coverage of the entertaining Black Country affair, with our live text commentary below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship meeting between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United at Molineux.
It has been another busy day of action on this glorious Bank Holiday Monday, which has seen movement at both ends of the Championship table. There's still around five minutes to go in the majority of 3pm kickoffs, so before taking a look at the current league standings, let's focus on some team news.
TEAM NEWS!
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS XI: Ikeme, Iorfa, Batth, Stearman, Golbourne, Henry, McDonald, Price, Sako, Afobe, Dicko
LEEDS UNITED XI: Silvestri, Wootton, Bamba, Cooper, Berardi, Murphy, Phillips, Mowatt, C Taylor, Byram, Antenucci
So despite the quick turnaround in fixtures, Wolves remain unchanged for this evening's match. That may seem a little surprising with fatigue playing a part at this stage of the season, but you can hardly blame Kenny Jackett for wanting to keep things the same.
In terms of the visitors, Neil Redfearn has made three changes to the side that lost heavily against Blackburn Rovers earlier this Easter weekend. Interestingly, Mirco Antenucci has been handed a start - blowing away previous rumours suggesting that the Leeds boss has been told not to field the Italian due to fears of activating a goal-scoring clause in his contract. He was introduced from the bench in that 3-0 loss against Rovers, but he is in from there start here today.
Elsewhere, there is a first-team debut for Kalvin Phillips, while Liam Cooper is also recalled back into the fold. Rodolph Austin, Giuseppe Bellusci and Steve Morison are the men to drop out, the former of that trio missing out due to suspension.
BENCH WATCH!
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS SUBS: Kuszczak, Doherty, Edwards, Doyle, van La Parra, Ebanks-Landell, Hause
LEEDS UNITED SUBS: S Taylor, Del Fabro, Ngoyi, Sloth, Doukara, Cani, Sharp
Tommy Rowe has recently recovered from a knee ligament injury, but this game comes too soon for him to be involved. Carl Ikeme has been selected in goals once again, meaning that Tomasz Kuszczak has to settle for a place among the Wolves subs this evening. As far as Leeds are concerned, Lewis Cook's ankle injury sees him miss out on the squad, while Billy Sharp has also been selected among the matchday 18 for the visitors.
A memorable moment for United youngster Kalvin Phillips, who will run out for his debut this evening:
Right, well with all of the day's other Championship matches over and done with, all attention is now firmly focused on events at Molineux. All of the results from across the second tier can be found here, on an afternoon that saw Blackpool relegated from the Championship. Leeds may be camped firmly in mid-table, but the picture has become a little more clearer for Wolves this afternoon.
Victory for Wanderers in front of their home supporters will be enough to take them into the playoff zone following today's action, with sixth-placed Brentford having been held by Nottingham Forest. That offers the perfect incentive for Jackett's men to claim a fourth win on the bounce to keep their Premier League promotion hopes alive and well. Leeds, meanwhile, can move up to 11th place with a three-point haul in the Black Country.
Wolves have looked solid defensively of late, conceding just one goal in their last three outings, and their home record this season has been pretty impressive to offer further hope. It has been two months since Wanderers last tasted defeat at Molineux, with 13 points being claimed from the last 15 on offer.
It's by no means a case of turning up and collecting the three points this evening, though, as Leeds themselves have performed well away from home in recent times. In fact, they have lost just one of their last eight away games, keeping a clean sheet in half of those fixtures.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: Wolves won the reverse fixture 2-1 back in October, which stretched their impressive run against today's opponents. Leeds have failed to win in their last six visitrs to this venue, and in fact they have tasted victory on just one occasion in their last 15 trips here - that coming way back in 1973.
PREDICTION: This really is a huge match for Wolves, then, and one that they should be looking to win in order to climb into the top six. Playing last tends to have a negative effect, but with results largely going their way, the incentive is there to end this Easter Weekend sitting comfortably in a playoff place. Leeds may not have a great deal to play for on the face of it, yet Redfearn - who may not be in charge beyond this week - will be eager to steer his side back on track. I'll go with a 2-1 home win.
We are now just a few seconds away from kickoff at a sunny Molineux:
KICKOFF! Here we go, then, as Wolves get proceedings underway. The end of the season is now just one month away, so any points dropped between now and May could prove costly for Wanderers.
A promising early spell for Wolves ends with Dicko dragging a shot wide of goal from around 20 yards out. There's plenty of pace and power in that attacking line, which the hosts have already looked to utilise.
Wolves are certainly the side on top in these early stages. Golbourne was allowed to keep running towards the opposition goal, but he decided against firing a shot away from the edge of the box and instead played in Sako on the left. His subsequent cross was cleared away, though, bringing to an end the home side's latest attack.
YELLOW CARD! Leeds of course have had a day less to prepare for this game, and that has perhaps been telling in the opening seven minutes which has seen them fail to really settle down. Scott Wootton was forced to bring down Dicko right on the edge of the area, earning him the game's first caution.
Henry took the free kick, swinging it in from the left for Dicko to head goalwards, although he was unable to test Silvestri between the sticks. Wolves are continuing to push in search of an opening goal.
GOAL! WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 0-1 LEEDS UNITED (TAYLOR)
Regular viewers of this division will know just how unpredictable it can be at times, which has proved to be the case here once again. Wolves have been on top for the entire game so far, but a howler at the back has gifted Charlie Taylor his first senior goal for Leeds. McDonald's sloppy clearance deflected off Stearman and right into the path of the 21-year-old, who made no mistake by tucking the ball under Ikeme.
That goal was down to some sloppy play from Wolves at the back, although large credit must go to the Whites for pressing their opponents high up the pitch to force the error from McDonald. We have a game on our hands now in the Black Country, as Wolves look to find an immediate response.
CHANCE! Sako finds the ball at his feet around 10 yards from goal following a Henry cross from the right, but his shot was rather tame in the end and Silvestri was easily down to handle the ball.
GOAL! WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 1-1 LEEDS UNITED (DICKO)
This has been an impressive response by Jackett's men, who have been rewarded with an equalising goal. There was a slice of fortune about it, with Afobe's mishit shot being turned in by Dicko at the back post from the tightest of angles. Huge credit must go to Wolves for not dropping their heads following that earlier setback. Game on at Molineux!
A brilliant run from Sako, which saw him burst past four opponents, culminates in the powerful forward failing to pick out a teammate inside the box from his left-sided cross. A fine piece of play, but no reward on this occasion.
Wolves have been by far the better side in the opening quarter of this Championship contest, but they don't have a lead to show for their efforts. Leeds will not be too concerned at this stage, yet they have to start keeping hold of the ball a little more in attack.
SAVE! The home side are really closing in on a second goal now, this time Henry was the man to try his luck with a 25-yard curler which Silvestri is equal to. There was a nervy moment at the back from the subsequent corner, but Leeds just about managed to clear their lines.
Wolves still the team on top, then, as we enter the final 15 minutes of the first half. It's been a decent half thus far, which has been played almost exclusively in one half. Leeds took the lead against the run of play through Taylor, before Dicko hit back eight minutes later.
Leeds have done well to take the momentum away from Wolves' attacking players. It's been a quiet spell since that save from Silvestri, as the hosts knock the ball around in their own half in order to regroup.
Wolves are struggling to find any sort of attacking groove at the moment, being restricted to the odd hopeful punt into the box. Leeds have offered next to nothing in attack, meanwhile, other than that Taylor strike which came against the run of play.
Credit to Leeds for restricting their opponents to minimum attacking moves over the past 10 minutes. Still a long way to go, of course, but this would be a far better result for the visiting side than it would for the hosts.
Remember, Leeds actually have a pretty impressive record on the road in recent times, loosing just one of their last eight away games. That said, Wolves have taken 13 points from the last 15 on offer in front of their home supporters.
YELLOW CARDS! Two bookings in double-quick time for Wanderers. Golbourne was the first to enter the referee's book for pulling back on an opponent, before Batth joined him for his foul on Taylor.
Antenucci was agonisingly close to latching onto the ball a few yards from goal, but it just ran away from him a little which allowed Ikeme to collect. That came on the back of a positive surge forward from Taylor, as Leeds begin to build some momentum of their own.
SHOT! A strange one this, as what appeared to be a simple clearance for Leeds to make at the back turns into Henry getting his foot on the ball and turning it goalwards from close range. Silvestri had to be alert to keep that one out.
BLOCK! Sako unleashes a rocket of a drive from 20 yards out, which looked certain to smash the back of the net if not for a solid block from Bamba. Much better from Wolves, who are ending this half on a high.
GOAL! WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 2-1 LEEDS UNITED (DICKO)
What a superb finish from Dicko, who now has 12 league goals to his name this season. A perfectly weighted through-ball from Sako gave his teammate all the time in the world to take the shot on, but Silvestri will be annoyed not to have done more to keep that one out at his front post.
It must be said, Wolves certainly deserve to head into half time ahead following a decent first-half display. They had a quiet period of around 15 minutes where the game fell flat, but it is they who have provided all the threat in attacking positions.
HALF TIME: WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 2-1 LEEDS UNITED
So Wolves are on their way to climbing into the Championship playoff zone, having taken a 2-1 lead into half time. Leeds took the lead with their only real attempt in the half early on, but Wanderers hit back in style thanks to Dicko's double.
MATCH STATS: Wolves had 11 attempts in the opening 45 minutes compared to Leeds' three. Six of those Wanderers efforts were on target, while the visitors had just the one shot on goal - Taylor's 11th-minute strike. Wolves have also had the better of the possession count, seeing 63% of the ball in a half which saw them prevail 2-1.
The travelling Leeds supporters will hope to see an improvement from their side in the second half:
BENCH WATCH!
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS SUBS: Kuszczak, Doherty, Edwards, Doyle, van La Parra, Ebanks-Landell, Hause
LEEDS UNITED SUBS: S Taylor, Del Fabro, Ngoyi, Sloth, Doukara, Cani, Sharp
A full selection of players for both managers to choose from in terms of substitutes, then. Bar a quiet spell of around 15 minutes, Jackett will be pleased with what he saw in the opening 45 minutes, while Redfearn will surely wait until the hour mark before making a change. Leeds are still in this game, and they have shown already that they know how to find the net.
RESTART! So the onus is very much on Leeds in this second half, as they get proceedings back underway at Molineux. We have seen plenty of twists and turns in the Football League already today, so what will these next 45 minutes provide?
CHANCE! Wolves should have breathing space, but McDonald's touch when through on goal badly let him down. Beradi was the man tracking back, and McDonald simply showed the Italian too much of the ball and allowed him to clear away.
GOAL! WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 3-1 LEEDS UNITED (AFOBE)
Afobe continues his impressive goalscoring run for Wanderers, bagging his 10th goal in 16 appearances to draw level with Harry Kane in the overall scoring charts. Sako managed to cut the ball back for Batth to hit, and his effort deflected perfectly into the path of the former MK Dons man to rifle home from close range.
Antenucci was very nearly in on goal a few moments ago, but he couldn't quite get the ball under control. This one is by no means over yet, but Leeds really must step things up now if they are to take anything away from this game.
CHANCE! Wolves' attacking trio are having so much joy this evening, with two of them - Sako and Afobe - linking up to create the latest chance. The latter couldn't find the target when picked out by his teammate in acres of space in the centre of the box, though, firing a yard or so wide.
So as things stand Wolves will end this bumper Easter fixture list sitting in sixth place in the Championship table. They have looked comfortable throughout this evening, and they really will be one to avoid should they earn themselves a playoff place.
YELLOW CARD! Bamba becomes the latest to receive a caution for his challenge on Dicko. A yellow card is the very least that deserved.
This really has been a disappointed performance from Leeds, whose season continues to drift away. It's never easy when you're firmly camped in mid-table, but you would expect the Whites to at least give it a go in these closing 30 minutes. There's not enough movement or bodies in the box at the moment.
The Wolves supporters are the ones making all the noise at the moment:
Mowatt was unlucky not to get a shot away at the end of a positive piece of play, but that aside we have not seen much from either side over the past 10 minutes or so. That third Wolves goal has taken the pace out of the game. One Leeds goal would go a long way to changing that.
GOAL! WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 3-2 LEEDS UNITED (BATTH, OG)
It's another defensive howler for Wolves, who are looking to do this the hard way. They have taken their foot off the gas since racing two goals ahead, and while Leeds have hardly pushed on themselves in search of a goal, they have benefited from Batth's miscued clearance here to pull one back. Mowatt's cross was a simple on for Ikeme to deal with, but the skipper stuck a leg out to put the ball beyond his own keeper. Game. On.
I said shortly before that Batth own goal that this game is far from over, and that point have just been proved. It will be interesting to see what Wolves do now. They have lost their momentum over the past 15 minutes or so, which doesn't look like coming back any time soon.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS SUB: A little later than expected, Jackett opts to make his first change of the evening. Two-goal hero Dicko goes off, with Dave Edwards the man to come on in his place.
Leeds have seen 69% of the ball since moving to within one-goal of their opponents, which goes to show the shift in things. We have a really intriguing final quarter of this contest ahead of us now - it really could go either way.
GOAL! WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 3-3 LEEDS UNITED (MOWATT)
THREE-THREE!! Absolutely incredible. Wolves, so comfortable at 3-1 after 48 minutes, have paid the ultimate price for sitting back as Leeds level things up. It was a fine strike from Mowett, too - United's best player this evening. Having nicked the ball from Stearman, the youngster curled a sublime effort beyond the reach of Ikeme to send the travelling supporters wild.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS SUB: Rajiv van la Parra has been introduced in place of Henry to offer Wolves something a little different down the flank. It is the home side who have seen more of the ball since that Mowatt strike, but they have been unable to find a way through for a fourth time.
CHANCE! Van la Parra, on the field for just a couple of minutes, is picked out in acres of space inside the box but unable to steer his shot on target. That is down to a fine block from Berardi in front of goal, with the substitute firing the rebound wide.
LEEDS UNITED SUB: Neil Redfearn has thrown on a pair of fresh legs up top; Billy Sharp on for Antenucci for these final nine minutes or so.
Silvestri had to be brave to get his hands to Sako's cross, as Wolves continue to ask all the questions. There was a player in a golden shirt waiting to tap home, but the Whites stopper collected on the stretch.
Sako again is the provider from the left, swinging in a cross to the near post area for Edwards to meet. He made contact with the ball, but it deflected behind for a corner which his side were unable to capitalise on.
Three minutes to go at Molineux, and Wolves are still the side looking more likely to find the game's seventh goal. I was going to suggest a goal now would win it, but I wouldn't want to bet my house on it! Leeds just need to remain compact at the game.
GOAL! WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 4-3 LEEDS UNITED (EDWARDS)
What a potentially huge moment in this highly-entertaining playoff race. Edwards, introduced by his manager from the bench just a short while ago, heads home to rescue Wanderers right at the death. McDonald swung in a cross from the left, but the super sub still had so much to do, guiding the ball beyond Silvestri to make it 4-3.
Well much like Andy King up the road at Leicester City yesterday afternoon, another Welshman has come off the bench to surely secure all three points for his side. Four minutes of added time still left to play, meaning plenty of time for Leeds to produce another dramatic moment.
Wolves, understanably so, appear to be happy to sit back in these final few minutes as Leeds push forward. No way through for the Whites in the early stages of these four minutes of added time.
Luke Murphy sends a volley high over the bar to relieve some pressure on the Wolves defence. Home supporters are now bouncing around in the knowledge that just one minute remains between them and three massive points.
FULL TIME: WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 4-3 LEEDS UNITED
What a brilliant advert for Championship football that was. 1-0 down, 3-1 up, pegged back to 3-3, but eventual 4-3 winners - Wolverhampton Wanderers have certainly done things the hard way at Molineux this evening. Credit to Leeds for making a real game of it and, taking everything into consideration, they will feel massively hard done by having come unstuck with just a minute left to play.
That win is enough to take Wolves into the Championship's top six, while Leeds remain firmly in mid-table. Well that brings to an end Sports Mole's coverage of today's action in the Football League, but before signing off I'll point you in the direction of our live text commentary of events at Selhurst Park, where Crystal Palace take on Manchester City in 45 minutes' time.
