LEE SHARPE eased the pressure on Leeds manager Howard Wilkinson with a stunning winner to sink Wimbledon and leave pointless Wimbledon anchored at the bottom of the Premiership.

Wilkinson, under fire from sections of the Elland Road crowd after just two matches, must have been fearing the worst as his team failed to shine against the typically combative Londoners.

Leeds' disgruntled fans made their feelings known as early as the 10th minute, boos echoing around Elland Road following a low key start by the home side.

Marcus Gayle signalled Wimbledon's attacking intent in the first minute with a soaring header, that home goalkeeper Nigel Martyn did well to gather at full stretch as the ball arrowed towards the bottom corner.

Ben Thatcher then saw his goal bound half volley cannon off the back of Sharpe and fly over, while Leeds defender Ian Harte had an heart stopping moment when he headed narrowly wide of his own goal under intense pressure from Efan Ekoku.

Sharpe crashed a close range shot wastefully over after being teed up by Ian Rush - but the two new boys linked to devastating effect in the 58th minute to break the stalemate.

Rush was again the provider, feeding Sharpe as he galloped forward and the former England winger cut inside on to his unfavoured right foot to arc a wonderful shot low past Sullivan from 20 yards.

Leeds should have doubled their advantage on 72 minutes when Bowyer volleyed just wide after Gary Kelly - on as a substitute for the out of sorts Andy Couzens - had ripped Wimbledon open with a blistering run before crossing to the unmarked £2.6 million teenager.