The last 100 per cent record in the Premiership is no more. It had belonged to Leeds United after routine victories over Everton and Middlesbrough hinted at the depth in David O'Leary's injury-hit squad. But last night that was exposed as just a hint. Leeds, still missing Harry Kewell, were poor from beginning to end. The home disappointment was that their record was surrendered so meekly.
All Manchester City had to be was solid and for the vast majority of a tepid contest that was as easy as tracking Mark Viduka. Having taken a 2-0 lead in the first half through rare goals from Steve Howey - his seventh in 11 seasons - and from Gerard Wiekens - his first since last December - City had to rebuff only one sustained period of Leeds pressure.
It came shortly after half-time and during it Lee Bowyer scored with an emphatic header. Thereafter, though, Leeds returned to the shell from which they never seriously threatened to leave. The watching scouts from Barcelona, AC Milan and Besiktas will have left bemused.
"We came with a plan and stuck to it," said a delighted Joe Royle. Leeds let them. With George Weah left on the bench, containment was the point City were trying to make. Wiekens, Alfie Haaland and Kevin Horlock all snapped away in midfield; the City defence was virtually untroubled in a somnambulant opening half hour.
Then the game and the night changed suddenly. First City won a 34th minute corner, an event in itself given the football previously on show. The lively Mark Kennedy swung it in, the excellent Paulo Wanchope jumped highest to plant a firm header onto the Leeds crossbar and when the ball fell the prostrate Howey scooped in the rebound. The slack Viduka, nominally Howey's marker, put in his customary 70 per cent challenge.
Maybe this was the wake-up call Leeds had been waiting for. That certainly seemed to be the case when, 30 seconds after the restart, Michael Bridges roamed upfield and unleashed a 30-yard volley that crashed off the underside of Nicky Weaver's bar. The ball bounced out when it could so easily have bounced in.
But that was the extent of the home response. Just over five minutes later City won another corner. Again it was floated in from the left by Kennedy, though this time Lucas Radebe rose first to meet the ball. However, Radebe's header carried only to Wiekens lurking outside the box and his dipping volley clipped Nigel Martyn's bar as it flew in.
City had taken a two-goal lead but they had done so against Sunderland before conceding two themselves, though City eventually won that game. This was different, City were up against a top five club away from home, now we would see their real strength.
Except Leeds left them untested. Briefly Leeds rushed and Wanchope did well defending an Ian Harte free-kick. Spencer Prior also made a block from Matthew Jones but when Bowyer instigated a leftwing move with a short, sharp pass to Alan Smith, City at last were forced to withdraw nervously. From Smith the ball went quickly to Bridges and his deft cross was graced by a meaty 10-yard header from Bowyer. He had finished what he started.
With 34 minutes left, the question now was could Manchester City do the same. Leeds appeared to have signalled their intent but after a Michael Duberry effort was disallowed for offside and as the whistle-interrupted play progressed, City stabilized.
Wanchope, who began the week in Venezuela playing for Costa Rica, re-emerged as a tireless influence. Wanchope was aided in this by the 18 year-old Shaun Wright-Phillips, the adopted son of one Ian Wright, on for Kennedy.
"The better team won," said O'Leary, wearily.
LEEDS: Martyn, Kelly, Harte, Radebe, Duberry, Bowyer, Dacourt, Jones (Evans 57), Viduka, Bridges, Smith. Subs not used: Huckerby, Robinson, Mills, Hay. Booked: Duberry, Radebe, Dacourt. Goals: Bowyer 56.
MAN CITY: Weaver, Haaland, Howey, Whitley, Prior, Wiekens (Granville 78), Tiatto, Ritchie, Horlock, Wanchope, Kennedy (Wright-Phillips 66). Subs not used: Dickov, Wright, Weah. Booked: Howey, Haaland. Goals: Howey 34, Wiekens 40.
Referee: G Poll (Tring)
