LEEDS head coach Steve Evans insists his players were not distracted by off-field protests against owner Massimo Cellino before his side's 2-1 Sky Bet Championship win against Bolton at Elland Road.

Two goals from Mirco Antenucci helped ease the pressure on Evans following last Monday night's 4-0 thrashing at Brighton, but the game was overshadowed by the latest stunts of fans' group Time To Go Massimo.

An advertising van displaying anti-Cellino protest messages was driven round Leeds city centre and outside the ground before the group held a mock funeral by the East Stand's Billy Bremner statue to mark what they termed "the death of the club".

The group, calling for Cellino to sell, also funded a fly-over ahead of kick-off which saw a plane carrying a 'Time To Go Massimo' banner circling the stadium.

When asked if the protests had proved a distraction, Evans said: "No, none of it. We have to keep our focus on the grass.

"At the team meeting at the hotel I said to the players whatever happens we can't affect it. It's not our business.

"Our business is to turn up as professional footballers, professional coaching staff and medical staff and support the team on the pitch and get three points.

"We know if we get the three points we send the Leeds United family home ready to enjoy their Saturday night.

"For me there's been too many Saturday's when they've gone home a little bit miffed off with us."

Antenucci struck in the 39th and 62nd minutes before Bolton substitute Kaiyne Woolery ensured a nervous finale by reducing the deficit in the 74th minute.

"I'm really proud of my players and staff, it's been a tough week," said Evans, whose future was in doubt after Monday's defeat following comments made by Cellino.

"It was the most amount of pressure I've ever experienced at Elland Road in the build up to the game and we've dealt with it."

Defeat for Bolton sends them back to the foot of the table and leaves them without a league win on the road this season.

"It's been a problem for us all season, we've lacked quality in the final third and that was apparent here," said manager Neil Lennon.

"For all our good approach play we weren't clinical enough. We had Leeds on the back foot for the last 20 minutes.

"They had one shot in the second half and it goes in the back of the net. Strikers cost money and we've not got a lot of that this season."

Lennon, who feels his side must win six of their remaining 11 games in order to escape relegation, refused to blame his side's plight on next week's High Court hearing when club must give more detail of a planned sale to a consortium headed by former striker Dean Holdsworth.

"I wouldn't say it's been a distraction because it's been on-going for quite a while," Lennon added.

"We'll be in the High Court for a third time on Monday and we need the takeover to come through otherwise we'll be looking at an administration scenario.

"Why it's taken so long to come through I don't know because it was announced two weeks ago that Dean's group had bought the club.

"But I think the League need more proof of funds to sustain it. I hope it goes through."