Bolton 4 Leeds 1
The West Yorkshire outfit are now six points adrift with two games left, but their atrocious goal difference means they already know their fate.
Leeds had gone ahead after Mark Viduka fired home on 25 minutes following a controversial penalty decision, but he was dismissed just minutes later - which was the beginning of the end for The Whites.
A terrific second half display from Bolton, which saw goals from Youri Djorkaeff (twice), Kevin Nolan and an Ian Harte own goal, means the UEFA Champions League semi-finalists from just three years ago are gearing up for trips to the likes of Plymouth, Crewe and Rotherham.
The game started evenly, but Bolton almost went ahead after just five minutes when Henrik Pedersen got on the end of a Kevin Davies flick on, but Michael Duberry deflected the ball wide.
Stephen McPhail tested Jussi Jaaskelainen with a powerful effort from the edge of the area, but it was the home side who looked the better in the early stages.
Djorkaeff, Nicky Hunt and Kevin Davies all saw decent efforts blocked by a Leeds defence who threw themselves at everything.
Leeds then took the lead against the run of play, with a keenly disputed penalty.
Paul Robinson cleared long upfield, Emerson Thome misjudged the bounce which allowed Alan Smith to get goal-side of him - however the England striker tumbled as the Brazilian went to challenge and referee Steve Bennett pointed to the spot.
Viduka stepped up and finished with great aplomb, but the Australian was then to have a major bearing on the game.
The Australian was booked for an off the ball clash with Thome, which saw a brief melee amongst the two teams.
Just moments later - and almost inexcusably - Viduka led with his arm in a challenge on Bruno N'Gotty and, although not vicious, the Frenchman reacted with anger and it left Bennett with little choice but to give him his marching orders.
The sending off had a major effect on Leeds and within ten minutes of the second period, their relegation was all but confirmed.
Two minutes in and Jay-Jay Okocha weaved his way through the midfield and found Djorkaeff in the area - his attempted flick did not come off but the ball fell kindly into his path and he powered the ball past Robinson.
Davies and Djorkaeff had chances in the next few minutes as Leeds' defence began to crumble and the second soon came for Bolton.
Hunt's persistence saw him break into the area and he fired at goal, which saw Robinson parry - but only into the path of Djorkaeff who thundered the ball home from just eight yards.
The away side again failed to respond with any sort of composure and a third came within minutes as Harte deflected the ball past Robinson after great work down the left from Davies.
Bolton were rampant, and the ubiquitous Okocha was trying shots and extravagant passes from all over the pitch.
The Nigerian superstar then created the fourth as he threaded through a brilliant ball for Kevin Nolan to surge on to and his toe-poke trickled past Robinson into the away goal - which was no more than Bolton deserved for a brilliant second half display.
