Dougie Freedman’s Bolton continued their revival with a third successive win and a five-goal salvo to leave Leeds’ play-off hopes hanging by a thread.

Three goals in a 12-minute spell either side of the interval by Joe Mason, Lukas Jutkiewicz and Zat Knight provided the platform for the 5-1 win, with Mark Davies adding the fourth 18 minutes from time and substitute Andre Moritz completing the rout on 89 minutes.

Substitute Matt Smith nodded a consolation goal in stoppage time for the hosts but it was too little too late.

Leeds were back at Elland Road for the first time since their 5-1 thrashing of Huddersfield on February 1, but it was a dismal homecoming.

Defender Jason Pearce lost his ever-present record as his wife had given birth to a baby boy, and Leeds badly missed his steadying influence.

Visiting goalkeeper Adam Bogdan was relieved to see Luke Murphy’s curling 25-yard shot only just clear the bar, but Leeds struggled to make their possession count with Ross McCormack and Connor Wickham tightly marked.

Leeds did themselves no favours with some careless passing, which drew groans from the crowd, and with Bolton initially unable to put keeper Jack Butland under much pressure on his home debut, the game badly needed a lift.

It arrived seconds before first-half stoppage time. The Leeds defence was caught napping by Neil Danns, who threaded the ball through a huge gap for fellow loanee Mason to draw Butland off his line and find the bottom corner.

Leeds left the field at the interval to a chorus of boos from supporters, who had expected so much more from their side. They began the second half with Sam Byram, brought on in place of right-back Lee Peltier, given a licence to attack down the right and improve the service to winger Jimmy Kebe.

But Bolton had different ideas and two goals in a four-minute spell had Leeds on the ropes. Rodolph Austin was cautioned for pushing Mohamed Medo 25 yards out and Jutkiewicz headed home Jay Spearing’s 52nd minute free-kick.

Then more slack marking enabled central defender Knight to weave his way through to the left of goal and fire past Butland, who was entitled to much better protection from his team-mates.

Leeds made a double substitution in the 64th minute, replacing wingers Kebe and Cameron Stewart with midfielder Alex Mowatt and striker Smith in the hope of regaining some pride, but appeals for handball were waved aside as Tom Lees’ shot was blocked in the goalmouth.

Jutkiewicz sent over a perfectly judged cross for Davies to head Bolton’s fourth and Moritz blasted Danns’ cross past Butland to make it 5-0 before Smith stooped to head Leeds’ consolation from point-blank range.

—Daily Mail