Perhaps miracles do happen as Wolves gave themselves a fighting chance of bucking a trend which has haunted every rock-bottom club since the inception of the Premiership.

It is still odds on Wolves will go the way of all the sides who have propped up the table come Christmas and be relegated, with Leeds now looking increasingly likely to join Dave Jones' side in the First Division next season.

As Wolves celebrated their first league victory for two months, Leeds were left to reflect on seeing all their hard work in mounting a prior five-match unbeaten run fly out of the window at Molineux.

This was a match neither side could afford to lose - a traditional six-pointer in every sense - and perhaps the turning point for both teams arrived in the 18th minute when Alan Smith scored an equalising own goal.

Leeds had ridden their luck in previous matches, despite the spirit and endeavour displayed since the arrival of caretaker Eddie Gray, while Wolves had perhaps failed to gain just reward for some of their workmanlike performances.

It appeared as if it was going to be another one of those days for Wolves when they went behind in the third minute, with centre-back Michael Duberry grabbing his second goal in four matches after a previous three-and-a-half-year barren spell.

The Wolves marking was shocking as Duberry was allowed to rise unchallenged at the near post to an Ian Harte inswinging corner before planting a crisp header beyond Michael Oakes.

With Gray switching to a 4-4-2 formation, as opposed to the 4-5-1 which had brought nine points from their five-game run, Leeds appeared primed to open up a potential nine-point gap between themselves and their rock-bottom opponents.

But this was also a day when the normally telepathic frontline partnership of Smith and Mark Viduka were not on the same wavelength, perhaps due to the fact they had not played in tandem since Gray took over.

It was rough justice on Smith, though, for Wolves' 18th-minute equaliser as the 23-year-old's right-foot slice to an awful Henri Camara corner saw the ball sail over the head of a prone Paul Robinson and in-off the far post.

Smith tried to make amends five minutes later, taking on and beating Oleg Luzhny and Colin Cameron as he made his way inside the area.

But with Viduka and Jermaine Pennant waiting for the pull back, Smith tried to beat Oakes with an acutely-angled shot to the near post, however the Wolves goalkeeper had the drive covered.

Viduka's frustrated body language said it all before Leeds then ran into yellow card trouble with Duberry, Dominic Matteo and Stephen McPhail all booked by referee Andy D'Urso before the interval, the latter picking up his fifth caution of the season.

Duberry was lucky not to have joined Smith in the own-goal column when a 20-yard drive from Camara struck the defender's legs, and although Robinson was again beaten by the deflection, he was grateful to see the ball land on top of his net.

It was perhaps indicative of Wolves' season that Jones' side have played far better this season, yet found themselves trailing by a heavy margin in other matches.

So to then take the lead two minutes after the restart was a real coup, with Steffen Iversen heading home his third of the season, the ball looping over the outstretched grasp of Robinson following a right-wing cross from Naylor.

Leeds responded with arguably their brightest period of attacking play since Gray took charge as they applied considerable pressure for a 20-minute spell, although it was Wolves who came closest to grabbing a third.

Naylor was again the supplier, this time with a 62nd-minute right-wing free-kick which was met by a bullet header from Kenny Miller, only for Robinson to produce an instinctive blocking save.

After James Milner replaced McPhail a minute later, Leeds then twice came close to the equaliser, only for Jody Craddock to first block Smith's fierce drive, before Paul Ince deflected Harte's 20-yarder onto the top of the net.

Leeds' hopes of rescuing a point nosedived in the 76th minute when Matteo was sent off for a second-bookable offence as he scythed down Naylor, ruling him out - along with McPhail - for the trip to Southampton on January 17.

With Leeds committed in attack, Wolves wrapped up the points in injury time as a surging run from Camara ended with a fierce drive against the base of Robinson's right-hand post, but with Iversen on hand to sidefoot home the rebound.

Teams

Wolverhampton Oakes, Luzhny, Craddock, Butler, Naylor, Newton (Kachloul 82), Ince, Cameron, Camara, Miller, Iversen.

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Silas, Gudjonsson, Clyde.

Booked: Naylor.

Goals: Smith 18 og, Iversen 48, 90.

Leeds Robinson, Kelly, Kilgallon, Duberry, Harte, Pennant (Sakho 82), McPhail (Milner 62), Smith, Matteo, Bakke, Viduka.

Subs Not Used: Carson, Johnson, Richardson.

Sent Off: Matteo (76).

Booked: Duberry, Matteo, McPhail, Bakke.

Goals: Duberry 3.

Att: 29,139

Ref: A D'Urso (Essex).