Terry Venables' job is once again in the spotlight after Bolton ended their eight-match winless streak with a superb performance against Leeds at Elland Road.

Having gone behind after just three minutes to a wonderful strike from Henrik Pedersen, Venables side were back level a minute later thanks to Alan Smith's fifth goal in 64 minutes. And for the first half that was about it as entertaining as it got.

As the game looked to be petering out, Youri Djorkaeff sent the away fans crazy with a goal ten minutes from time but the fun was short-lived as Harry Kewell thundered the home side back into the game. But with less than sixty seconds to go, Paul Robinson brought down Michael Ricketts in the box and the Bolton striker converted from the spot.

To add salt to the wound Pedersen decided he would have have another bite of the proverbial cherry when he popped up in the dying seconds of the game to clinch a thoroughly deserved victory for the visitors.

Jonathan Woodgate returned from a two-match injury lay-off but he and team-mate Teddy Lucic often looked as though they weren't at the races. The first time was after just 121 seconds as Pedersen latched onto a through-ball from Djorkaeff, before firing his first goal of the season past Robinson.

But just 84 seconds later United responded through Smith. Stephen McPhail played in Kewell down the left wing who dragged it back to the edge of the box where Smith smacked a right-foot shot past goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

With 15 minutes of the game remaining Djorkaeff sent a ball for Pedersen to battle for with Woodgate. The Dane held off the England international to fire in an angled shot, only to cannon off the left-hand post and back into the grateful arms of the Leeds number one.

But Leeds' relief was short-lived for just five minutes later Jay-Jay Okocha found Djorkaeff who in turn played a one-two with Pedersen on the edge of the area, the France international then curling a right-foot shot beyond Robinson.

As in the first half, Leeds' response was again swift for inside four minutes Smith and Viduka set up Kewell for a rasping drive beyond Jaaskelainen. But then in the 88th minute Ricketts, a 77th minute substitute for Nolan, steered a penalty beyond Robinson after the striker had been brought down by the Leeds keeper.

This time Leeds failed to hit back, and instead it was Bolton who had the final say, with Stig Tofting again the supplier just as he had been earlier when he played in Ricketts with a ball which had forced Robinson off his line to concede the penalty.

The returning Stig then floated over a delightful cross for Pedersen to volley home, leaving Allardyce  off the bench in delight at the clinching goal and again at the end.

With five losses in seven home Premiership matches, there were again cries of "Venables out" at the final whistle as all the hard work Leeds had put in with wins over West Ham and Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the previous seven days apparently erased.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Henrik Pedersen (Bolton) - Early goal, late goal. But despite his brace he was active throughout. Constantly providing options for the visitors.

Leeds: Robinson, Kelly, Woodgate, Lucic (Duberry 81), Wilcox, Smith, Barmby, McPhail (Milner 68), Burns, Kewell, Viduka.
Subs Not Used: Martyn, Bridges, Richardson.
Booked: Burns, Kewell.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, N'Gotty (Tofting 59), Campo, Barness, Mendy, Okocha, Frandsen, Nolan (Ricketts 77), Charlton, Djorkaeff, Pedersen.
Subs Not Used: Poole, Holdsworth, Smith.

Att: 36,627
Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire)