No complaints, as Wolves were worth their victory and could have been ahead early on but for a tremendous diving save from Neil Sullivan to deny Lee Naylor.
Leeds were then frustrated by an outstanding double save from Stefan Postma, who did brilliantly to block a close-range header by Matthew Kilgallon and then recover to push wide the follow-up from David Healy.
Within two minutes Leeds had a double escape of their own as Tom Huddlestone’s 25-yarder smacked against the crossbar and fell for Ganea to get in a shot which Sullivan deflected against the frame of the goal.
But the breakthrough came in the 39th minute when Naylor’s left-wing centre was miscued by Ki-Hyun Seol, only to fall invitingly for Ganea to slot home his fifth goal of the season from close range.
Leeds hardly threatened in a tight second half and their hopes were virtually scuppered when stand-in right-back Simon Walton was sent off eight minutes from time.
The youngster, who was also dismissed in his debut for the club in a friendly as a 16-year-old, had earlier been yellow-carded for a foul on man of the match Joleon Lescott when he pushed Kenny Miller away with his arm in a chase for the ball.
Referee Chris Foy had no hesitation in reaching for his pocket for the second time.
This is a mini-slump that Kevin Blackwell knows he has to put right, and if Glenn Hoddle says he will have a satisfying Christmas, somehow I don’t think the Leeds boss will enjoy his turkey quite as much.
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