EVEN the presence of United manager David O'Leary failed to inspire his second string team to victory over their counterparts from Manchester City.

The Leeds team, which included nine players with a taste of first team action, played some neat football but failed to trouble Manchester City's back line and went down 2-1 at Bootham Crescent.

City went ahead after 36 minutes when a free kick was floated into the box and Stephen Paisley headed home from eight yards with hardly a challenge from a Leeds defender.

Three minutes after half time Leeds levelled when Gary Kelly's free kick was met by Alan Maybury's very weak shot and the ball somehow eluded City goalkeeper Murphy.

City forward Chris Killen scored the decider after some good work down the right from Shaun Wright-Phillips, the son of former Arsenal and England star Ian Wright.

Leeds United: Robinson, Kelly, Candsell-Sheriff, Burns, Duberry, Radebe, Maybury, Boyle (Singh), Farrell (McMaster), McPahil, Wilcox.

Subs, not used: Richardson, Keegan, Milosevic.

Man City: Murphy, Mears (Barton), Jordan, Whelan, Paisley, Etuhu, Wright-Phillips, Dunfield, Killen, Mike, Shuker.

Subs, not used: Furnival, Quigley, Hogan, Browne.

Attendance: 668.

Updated: 12:13 Wednesday, September 05, 2001