WHEN they needed it most Leeds United produced their best display of the season to demolish Wolves 4-1 at Elland Road last night.

Defeat would have virtually spelt the end of their struggle to stay in the Premiership.

Instead they ended a sequence of seven successive defeats and crawled off the bottom above Wolves to keep within touching distance of the rest of the stragglers.

They did it in some style and with steadier finishing could have hit double figures against a poor side who had no answer to the power and skill of twin spearhead Alan Smith and Mark Viduka.

The result - and the performance - poses two questions. Can they maintain this level of play? Why have they not reached these heights more often in a dire season?

Although caretaker-manager Eddie Gray was 'delighted' with his team's display he is realistic enough to know that his squad still have a huge task on their hands to escape the drop.

"Make no mistake, we are still in big trouble in this league. But if the boys believe in themselves like I believe in them they can still turn the corner," he said.

Their next Premiership games are at Manchester United and at home to Liverpool, but the four clubs immediately above them - Leicester, Portsmouth, Manchester City and Everton all have to come to Elland Road.

After last night's taming of Wolves there is suddenly a bit more substance in the belief that Leeds can escape.

It was a game Leeds simply could not afford to lose and they went about their business with great purpose from the first whistle.

Chances, never mind goals, have been in short supply since Christmas but Leeds had already built up a head of steam before Alan Smith jabbed them ahead from close-range on 14 minutes after Stephen Caldwell headed down Jermaine Pennant's deflected cross from the right.

Wolves responded seven minutes later when Carl Cort chested the ball down and Romanian international Viorel Ganea's instant low shot from 20 yards beat the partially unsighted Paul Robinson, who was slow going for the ball.

Robinson had a few shaky moments in the driving rain and swirling wind and his opposite number, Paul Jones, was having similar problems.

It was from a miscued punch by Wolves' recent recruit from Southampton that United regained the lead, skipper Dominic Matteo driving in the loose ball.

Leeds, having survived a mini-revival by the visitors after their equaliser, had shown some new-found resolve to get back in front and it was Wolves who crumbled in the second half.

On the hour United put clear daylight between themselves and the Midlanders when Smith brilliantly created space on the right to arc in a low cross which found James Milner at the far post and the teenager thumped the ball into the roof of the net.

The goal came amidst a golden spell for Milner who gave veteran right back Denis Irwin, nearly 20 years his senior, a torrid time as Wolves fell apart.

The Leeds youngster threaded in a superb pass to Smith who slid the ball wide with just Jones to beat. An exquisite piece of skill by Milner then left Irwin floundering and the teenager's cross was headed against the bar by Viduka, Pennant slashing the rebound high and wide.

Despite the enormity of the outcome, Leeds were playing with confidence and poise, creating nearly as many chances in the game than they had in any of their other matches put together since the New Year.

Milner was again the creator near the end when he picked out Viduka, who failed to put away a free header.

However, the big Australian, who looked hungry for action throughout, gained his reward with a sharp turn and cracking drive in injury time to score the fourth goal to take Leeds above Wolves on goal difference.

Leeds were unrecognisable from the shambles that crashed 3-0 to Middlesbrough ten days ago.

In another ten days they will face a true test of their mental and physical strengths - at Old Trafford.

FA Carling Premiership

Leeds United 4, Wolves 1

(at Elland Road)

Leeds United: Robinson, Kelly, Caldwell, Matteo, Domi (Harte HT), Pennant, Bakke, Johnson, Milner, Smith, Viduka. Subs (not used): Carson, McPhail, Lennon, Richardson. Caution: Bakke. Goals: Smith 14, Matteo 41, Milner 60, Viduka 90.

Wolves: Jones, Irwin, Butler, Craddock, Naylor, Miller (Silas 61), Cameron, Rae, Kennedy, Ganea, Cort (Iversen 75). Subs (not used): Oakes, Clude, Gudjonsson.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral) Attendance: 36,867

Updated: 10:58 Wednesday, February 11, 2004