LEEDS United's lowest crowd since their fall from the Premiership underlined the discontent among fans who are voting with their feet.

Just 16,268 spectators on a gloriously sunny afternoon bothered to turn up at Elland Road where Kevin Blackwell's side fell 1-0 to an injury-time goal from Wolves substitute Jay Bothroyd.

Rising ticket prices are largely responsible for the plunge in crowd figures, but hugely disappointing results since the play-off final defeat against Watford in May are also having an effect.

That match was also televised live and it was obvious that contributed to the poor turnout.

Blackwell can complain about his side conceding late goals, but if goals were going in at the other end those late lapses would scarcely matter.

A tally of just seven points from the opening six Championship matches tells a sorry story and disgruntled supporters who did turn up yesterday were not slow to let the Leeds hierarchy know what they thought.

Blackwell has a point when he complains about the number of players who have been unavailable through injury or suspension and matters will improve when the likes of Kevin Nicholls, Richard Cresswell, Geoff Horsfield and Shaun Derry return, but more and more supporters are growing tired.

Blackwell exaggerated somewhat when he said: "I think that's the fifth goal we've conceded in the 90th minute this season. We had so much possession so it is hard when you lose in those circumstances.

"Matt Murray made two top class saves from us in the first half, so to concede a wonder goal in injury time rubbed salt in our wounds. We deserved a lot more from the game than we got.

"The lads are feeling down but I told them they had nothing to be ashamed of because we dominated the game and our last one. I think anyone who writes anything else must be blind. To lose was very harsh."

Ian Moore and Seb Carole should have scored but were victims of Murray's exceptional reflexes, while Matthew Kilgallon's header was cleared off the line and a couple of second half handling errors from Murray went unpunished.

With Roy Keane's Sunderland due at Elland Road on Wednesday night, Leeds must win if those calling for Blackwell's head are to be silenced.

LEEDS MATCH FACTS
Leeds United 0, Wolves 1 (at Elland Road)

Leeds United: Warner, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey, Carole, Douglas, Westlake, Lewis (Stone 83), Moore (Beckford 78), Healy. Subs (not used): Sullivan, Gregan, Blake.

Wolverhampton Wanders: Murray, Edwards, Breen, Craddock, Mulgrew (Little 44), Potter, Olofinjana, Henry, Jones, Johnson (Clarke 76), Cort (Bothroyd 45). Subs (not used): Ikeme, Ricketts. Booked: Breen, Mulgrew, Edwards. Goal: Bothroyd 90.

Attendance: 16,268 Referee: L Mason (Lancashire).