Patrick Bamford has been out injured since August but scored on his first-team return
Leeds United moved above Norwich to the top of the Championship after Patrick Bamford's goal on his first appearance since August secured victory against Bolton Wanderers.
Bamford was sent on in the second half of a game low on clear-cut chances, and buried his low shot from 10 yards.
Bolton's best chance saw Jack Hobbs' header cleared off the line late on, and they remain in the relegation zone after a 12th defeat of the season.
Heavy rain had an impact on the quality throughout the game, but Leeds still extended their winning run to five games.
The win put Marcelo Bielsa's side a point clear at the top of the table, with Norwich drawing at Bristol City in the late game.
Bielsa's decision to sacrifice 10-goal top scorer Kemar Roofe for Bamford around the hour mark proved a shrewd move, as the 25-year-old marked his return with his second goal of the campaign.
It has been a difficult week for Bolton players and staff amid concerns over wage payments, which chairman and majority stakeholder Ken Anderson agreed to personally fund.
They showed their commitment to the cause against a Leeds side in impressive form, frustrating the visitors, but could do nothing about Bamford's well-taken winner.
This loss means Bolton have only picked up three points from their last 12 league games, scoring five goals and conceding 18.
Saiz future at Leeds uncertain
Leeds completed victory without Spanish forward Samuel Saiz, who was given permission to miss the game for what Bielsa described as "a personal situation".
The 27-year-old, who has one goal in 21 appearances this season, has been linked with a loan move, external to La Liga side Getafe in January.
"What will happen in the future is linked to the club and Samuel Saiz," Bielsa toid BBC Radio Leeds.
"He has a personal situation to solve and the club allowed him to talk.
"What I can tell you is that he has the permission of the club to be absent, and I don't know what the personal reasons are for his absence."
Bolton manager Phil Parkinson told BBC Radio Manchester:
"The lads have given everything - we've been done by a moment of quality from a £7m player.
"We've closed down, we've ran and chased, we lacked quality at times when we had possession in difficult conditions.
"The lads and staff are hurting because it's horrible when you get beaten - it kicks you in teeth, game after game at the moment, but we've just got to keep going and looking to improve."
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa told BBC Radio Leeds:
"It was deserved win but a hard one.
"We had the possession but we didn't create enough chances to score.
"For Patrick Bamford it's very good for his confidence - he worked very hard to gain back his core fitness and for us to have in our team two important strikers is very important."
