By Scott Cooper
April 3 2005

LEEDS UNITED 1-1 WOLVES | Had you been a neutral sat at Elland Road on Saturday you'd have noted how this game felt like the final game of the season. In reality it might as well have been. A draw was good enough for neither side.

Wolves conjured up their eighth draw in ten games at Elland Road on Saturday as any chance of reaching the play-offs was well and truly put to bed.

It was always going to be tough and boss Glenn Hoddle had singled out this as the first of three games Wolves had to win should any chance of reaching the play-offs be more than an unrealistic dream.

Unfortunately, yet again, Wolves could only manage a point as Shaun Derry's tame free kick was punched into his own net by the usually reliable Michael Oakes.

Carl Cort had given Wolves the lead shortly before the interval but for all of the huffing and puffing from the Molineux side after the interval a hit post from Kenny Miller was as close to a winner as they came.

"Michael [Oakes] will be disappointed with the way the goal had gone in but he has been magnificent for us in recent matches," the Wolves boss told the post match press conference.

"He has been playing very consistently but unfortunately his mistake today cost us two points, but I have told him mistakes happen and it is how you react to them. He kept a cool head after that and he has a good temperament and will bounce back from it."

"He has played so well for us this season and I have been delighted with him as a goalkeeper. He has held his hands up today, and he is not happy, but he will learn from it."

Oakes should have done better with the goal, but had Rob Edwards not given Leeds a ten yards advantage for dissent after Olofinjana had felled Hulse then it would have been different.

There was time at the final whistle for the fans from Molineux to pay tribute and show their appreciation for former Wolves Captain Paul Butler. He was excellent during his stay at Molineux, but this Wolves side must now plough on and look ahead to next season.

Surly it will be better than this one?

LEEDS 1-1 WOLVES