Barry Douglas set the tone with a stunning free-kick as Nuno Espirito Santo’s men played some fine first-half football, with Ivan Cavaleiro finishing off a fine team move for 2-0.

Leeds pulled one back early in the second half through Ezgjan Alioski but Ronaldo Vieira’s stupid sending off for two bookable offences killed their hopes of a comeback.

And Wolves rubbed salt into the wounds with two more goals courtesy of Diogo Jota and a Helder Costa penalty.

Luke Ayling made the first positive move by either side in the second minute when he burst forward from right-back for Leeds and found himself in the Wolves penalty area.

He skipped past Willy Boly and tried a shot that deflected off Matt Doherty but was claimed easily by goalkeeper John Ruddy.

Wolves’ first chance came from a moment of trickery by Cavaleiro, who cut in from the right flank and hit a cross-shot that former Wolves goalkeeper Andy Lonergan could only parry, forcing his team-mates to clear the danger.

Kalvin Phillips then blasted an ambitious, long-range shot well over for Leeds. But Leeds then handed Wolves a chance from which they took the lead in the 15th minute.

Liam Cooper was forced to foul Cavaleiro after Gaetano Berardi had squandered possession and, while Cooper escaped what looked an obvious booking, Douglas soon inflicted a harsher punishment.

He curled a wonderful left-footed free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards to open the scoring.

Leo Bonatini then went close to adding another goal when he missed the target narrowly from a Cavaleiro cross. But in the 26th minute a fine, flowing move brought Wolves their second.

Diogo Jota’s brilliant turn and pass on halfway fed Matt Doherty, his cross found Cavaleiro on the edge of the box and the winger did the rest, spinning away from Pontus Jansson and burying a shot beyond Lonergan.

Cavaleiro could have made it three before half-time when he sent a delicate chip just wide after a clever pass by Jota.

Just before the break Ruddy made a decent save to keep out a curling, long-range effort by Kemar Roofe.

Just three minutes into the second half Leeds threw themselves a lifeline with a stylish goal.

Samuel Saiz delivered a fantastic lofted pass into the box from distance and Alioski made a darting run that was not spotted by Wolves before turning the ball home.

Saiz then fired just over as Leeds enjoyed a spell on the front foot.

But Vieira gave his side a mountain to climb when, after being booked in the first half, he flew in needlessly on Jota and received his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

Saiz tried his luck again for Leeds from distance but this time his shot was saved by Ruddy.

Wolves then cashed in with two quick goals.

The first came in the 73rd minute when Jota raced onto a long ball and chipped Lonergan.

And three minutes later Lonergan brought down Bonatini with Costa converting from the spot.

Wolves (3-4-3): Ruddy; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Saiss, Neves, Douglas; Cavaleiro, Bonatini, Jota.

Leeds (4-2-3-1): Lonergan; Ayling, Cooper, Jansson, Berardi; Phillips, Vieira; Alioski, Saiz, Hernandez; Roofe. Booked: Vieira.