Leeds crush sorry City

Eirik Bakke puts Leeds ahead at Maine Road

Manchester City 0-4 Leeds

Leeds won their first away Premiership tie in more than four months as Manchester City continue to look a side destined to return to the Nationwide League.

Eirik Bakke opened the scoring in the first half and Lee Bowyer, followed by two late goals from substitute Robbie Keane, completed the rout.

The goals ended a run of winless away days for Leeds that stretched back to 26 August when they won at Middlesbrough.

Manchester City have clearly been struggling in their first season back in the Premiership and one win from their previous 12 matches told its own story.

But even Leeds manager David O'Leary was at a loss to explain his side's recent fall from grace in the league.

Last season's third-best team in England have performed admirably in the Champions League but O'Leary branded their Premiership position - six points off the drop zone before kick-off - as a disgrace.

Bookings

Leeds pushed forward from the kick-off but created few chances of any description.

The scoreline was very harsh if you look at the balance of play over 90 minutes but that's the reality of life at the bottom

  Man City manager Joe Royle

The first half was a dire affair peppered with niggling fouls which led to three bookings for each side.

With Keane starting on the bench after a knee injury and Mark Viduka carrying the effects of flu, Leeds' strikeforce lacked bite.

Viduka was unable to get on the end of a couple of early free-kicks and Jason Wilcox had a half-chance after being set up by Alan Smith with a cut-back from the right.

But Leeds could at least take comfort from the fact that Manchester City were offering even less up front.

It's about time we celebrated an away win. I thought it was comfortable enough but 4-0 was a bit flattering

  Leeds manager David O'Leary

The first half went by without the home side having a single effort on goal and to make matters worse they gifted Leeds' opener after 31 minutes.

When City were awarded a free-kick just outside their own area defender Andy Morrison hit the ball straight at Wilcox.

The winger strode back towards the City goal, laid the ball out to Bakke and the Norwegian slid the ball under City keeper Nicky Weaver.

City looked better after the break.

Paulo Wanchope hit the side netting after a neat through ball from Danny Tiatto and Leeds keeper Paul Robinson made a double save from Alf-Inge Haaland and Wanchope.

Brightness

Smith went close with a header for Leeds and, in the 66th minute, Tiatto produced the brightest moment of the match when he eluded two challenges and struck a fine shot that was well saved by Robinson.

At the other end Weaver made an even better save from a point blank Keane effort, although the Irishman should have scored.

Leeds did score again though with 10 minutes left when City failed to clear and Bowyer hit a deflected shot past Weaver.

Keane's first goal for Leeds from open play came in the last minute when he beat Tiatto to a flighted pass at the edge of the City box and lobbed delightfully over Weaver.

City were in total disarray when an injury time corner fell to the unmarked Keane at the far post who stumbled but only needed a touch to find the empty net.

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Man City: Weaver, Edghill, Dunne, Morrison, Howey, Granville, Tiatto, Whitley, Haaland, Goater, Wanchope.
Subs: Dickov, Wright-Phillips, Grant, Nash, Prior.

Leeds: Robinson, Mills, Matteo, Ferdinand, Radebe, Dacourt, Bakke, Bowyer, Wilcox, Viduka, Smith.
Subs: Martyn, Harte, Woodgate, Keane, Batty.

Referee: M Dean (The Wirral)