Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Leeds United 0

After a week of headlines dominated by Kenny Miller and Izale McLeod, it was neither a Wolverhampton Wanderers striker who supposedly wants out nor one that wants in who stole the show at Molineux on Saturday.

No, it was the turn of Vio Ganea to once again step up to the plate with a demonstration of the simple goalscorer's art that has been sadly lacking for Wolves in recent weeks. Namely, when a chance comes along, sticking it in the back of the net.

Who knows what the future holds for Ganea, clearly not a favourite of Glenn Hoddle, more down to the manager's preferred formation than anything personal.

The Romanian forward is not one for the tireless running of the likes of Miller, nor the silky skills of Ki-Hyeon Seol, and leading the line at times alone has often proved troublesome.

But give him the right service, and rarely does he miss. Regardless of his description of Ganea's performance as "indifferent", Hoddle might have been better served to wonder just what would have happened had more of the numerous squandered chances in recent weeks fallen to his number nine.

Ganea had already hit the post via Neil Sullivan before his 38th-minute winner on Saturday, popping up in just the right place to bury a low shot after Seol had miscued an attempted volley from Lee Naylor's cross.

It was to prove the decisive breakthrough of a decent, hard-fought tussle which lacked only a bit more goal-mouth incident to warm the cockles of Molineux's biggest audience of the season.

The first half had been a pretty tepid affair up until a crucial spell prior to Ganea's breakthrough which tipped the scales Wolves' way.

As is becoming his trademark, goalkeeper Stefan Postma, beaten only three times in eight appearances since replacing the injured Michael Oakes, made his one superb save of the afternoon to deny Richard Cresswell from point-blank range before getting up to block David Healy's follow-up just after the half hour mark.

Wolves hit back. Tom Huddlestone rattled the crossbar with a stupendous strike and Ganea himself hit the woodwork before then making no mistake soon afterwards.

That gave Wolves a platform to take into the second half, and as it was the defence, again impressive, had little of note to deal with.

It was at the other end where Wolves were pressing. Former defender Paul Butler was forced to block a Ganea shot as Miller screamed for a return ball and the Romanian headed on to the roof of the net from Seol's cross before Leeds had defender Simon Walton dismissed late on for two bookings.

So Ganea's one goal ultimately proved enough, leaving Wolves ending a run of four successive draws, making it eight games unbeaten and returning to the top six in one fell swoop.

"We always knew it would be tough against Leeds and we'd have to work hard but the balance of our game came alive," said Hoddle, who has Paul Ince, Mark Davies and Jody Craddock all continuing their comebacks for the reserves tomorrow with Carl Cort not too far behind.

"There were moments when we played some good, silky football as well as defending well when we needed to.

"And to go eight games unbeaten is a real positive that gives us a good foundation going into Christmas.

But what of match-winner Ganea? Well, Hoddle wants more.

"I thought it was a bit indifferent from Vio but he does score goals," he said.

"There are a lot of parts to his game that he's got to improve but he is an 18-yard man and if you put the ball in the box he will finish it off."

Just as he did on Saturday afternoon.