SOCCER: Manchester City 1 Leeds Utd 1: Alex Ferguson was a first-time visitor last night to the City of Manchester stadium, the place he has taken to calling the "Temple of Doom".
If it was to scrutinise the form of Mark Viduka, the talented but troublesome Leeds forward might have played himself closer to the trans-Pennine switch that is being mooted.
Viduka's goal will have left Manchester United's manager with plenty to ponder and it would have taken Leeds out of the relegation quagmire for the first time in two months had it not been for a late equaliser by the substitute Antoine Sibierski.
In doing so, the French midfielder spared the blushes of his compatriot David Sommeil, whose error had led to Viduka scoring the goal that for so long looked like inflicting more punishment on a City side without a win now in nine matches.
Sommeil not only gift-wrapped Leeds the opening goal but put a pink bow on it, too. The French centre half undoubtedly has talent, but also a habit of dropping the odd clanger or two.
Perhaps the most frustrating aspect for Keegan was that it came just as City were working up a head of steam. Sommeil untroubled when, as the last man in defence, he moved to cut out an awry pass from James Milner only for common sense suddenly to desert him. Sommeil's attempt to take the ball past Viduka was misguided and an atrocious first touch simply presented the ball to his opponent. Viduka calmly rounded David Seaman before converting a soft goal.
Suddenly the optimism that had been gathering inside this stadium made way for open vitriol and gallows humour. Sommeil was spared, but Richard Dunne was savaged when he misdirected a simple pass straight out of play soon after.
Viduka should have scored inside the opening six minutes, when he failed to get a meaty enough touch on Milner's free-kick, but Leeds were not alone in displaying signs of profligacy. Had Claudio Reyna shot with more conviction after another foray into Ian Harte's territory it is doubtful Michael Duberry would have been able to pull off the goal-line clearance that ensured Leeds were ahead at the interval.
For long stretches of the second half Leeds were virtually camped inside their own half. Joey Barton hit the inside of Paul Robinson's left-hand post and his substitution later on was booed by the home supporters. Keegan will have noted that replacing the ineffective Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler (five goals in 34 appearances now) did not merit the same reaction.
Sibierski replaced Barton and he merited the decision with a powerful header from Sun Jihair's cross nine minutes from time. Just as the game was going into injury time, Milner was clean through on goal when he was brought down from behind but the referee took no action.
Guardian Service
MANCHESTER CITY: Seaman, Jihai, Sommeil, Dunne, Distin, Wright-Phillips, Reyna, Barton (Sibierski 71), McManaman (Macken 70), Fowler (Wanchope 70), Anelka. Subs Not Used: Stuhr-Ellegaard, Tarnat. Goals: Sibierski 82.
LEEDS: Robinson, Kelly, Radebe (McPhail 74), Duberry, Harte, Pennant (Bridges 81), Smith, Batty (Kilgallon 90), Matteo, Milner, Viduka. Subs Not Used: Carson, Morris. Booked: Duberry, Batty, Bridges. Goals: Viduka 24.
Referee: G Barber (Hertfordshire).
