Robbie makes mark on his return

Robbie Fowler scored on his long awaited return as Leeds United relieved some of the pressure on manager Terry Venables with a 3-0 victory a...

Robbie Fowler scored on his long awaited return as Leeds United relieved some of the pressure on manager Terry Venables with a 3-0 victory at fellow struggler Bolton Wanderers.

Starting for the first time in eight months because of injuries, Fowler scored with a close-range tap-in for a 16th minute strike which was sandwiched by two rare 25-yard spectaculars by Danny Mills and Jason Wilcox.

Bolton’s French midfielder Youri Djorkaeff had a penalty saved by England international Paul Robinson as little went right for Sam Allardyce and his team.

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Although the result doesn’t lift venables team up from their position of 16th in the 20-club standings, it ends a run of six losses. It also leaves Bolton next to last although Wanderers have a game in hand on their fellow strugglers.

After a 12-minute spell of almost non-stop Bolton pressure, Leeds broke out to go ahead.

Mills swapped passes with Harry Kewell deep in the Wanderers half and, unleashing a 25-yard shot with his weaker left foot, was delighted to see it fly into the top left corner of the net for his first goal for 15 months.

Four minutes later it was 2-0 but with a far bigger element of good luck.

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A leftwing cross from Wilcox appeared to be falling to safety and Bolton’s French defender, Bruno N’Gotty let it go. The ball spun against the post, Kewell headed the ball back into the danger area and Fowler was on hand to score from three yards.

It was the former Liverpool striker’s ninth goal in six games against Bolton.

The home side had a great chance to halve the lead in the 24th minute when Ian Harte tackled Djorkaeff just inside the area and the two players fell to the turf.

Referee Graham Poll, after consulting his linesman, ruled that the Leeds defender had handled the ball while on the ground but Harte was rescued by his goalkeeper, who pushed the penalty kick against the post and to safety.

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Bolton went close twice in the same move midway through the second half when an acrobatic shot by Djorkaeff was blocked by Mills and the ball ran clear to Danish midfielder Stig Toefting whose 25-yard shot skimmed the crossbar.

But Leeds made sure of the points 15 minutes from the end when Wilcox collected a loose ball in midfield and was allowed to run unchallenged before firing a right-footed 25-yarder into the top right hand corner. It was his first Premier league goal for two and a half seasons.