INJURY-HIT Leeds would no doubt have been hoping that their famously unpredictable visitors would have an off-day when they turned up at Elland Road last night.

Unfortunately for David O'Leary's men, they didn't.

Manchester City have enjoyed a rollercoaster start to the season, and that ride took a major if unexpected upswing as they overturned the Tykes 2-1.

"The best team won," conceded a disappointed O'Leary. "We did not play particularly well, and we looked like we had too many important players out."

Indeed, Leeds could include first-teamers Harry Kewell, Eirik Bakke, David Batty, Jonathan Woodgate, Jason Wilcox and Stephen McPhail on their injury list, and the side clearly missed a certain spark against a surprisingly solid-looking City back line.

"We needed some of our quality players who were missing to unlock the door," added O'Leary.

Too true. United had been distinctly second best in the first half-hour and although they came out for the second period seemingly fired up after going into the break 2-0 down, they created few real chances.

They were given a huge lift as Lee Bowyer pulled a goal back with 34 minutes still to go, heading home Michael Bridges' pin-point cross from the left.

However, City 'keeper Nick Weaver did not thereafter have a save to make in earnest, being asked to deal only with a spooned Matthew Jones effort, following a scramble in the box, and a fierce Bowyer cross from the right.

Granted, it was backs-to-the-wall stuff at times by City. But with debutant Paul Ritchie and former Leeds favourite Alfie Haaland - City's new captain - adding toughness to a previously shaky back four, Leeds rarely threatened - giving upcoming Champions League opponents Barcelona and AC Milan little to fear.

Blues chief Joe Royle said: "We came here with a plan and stuck to it superbly. I know Leeds had one or two players missing but I didn't see any Academy boys out there."

Royle singled out special praise for Paulo Wanchope, who, with George Weah on the bench, ploughed a lone furrow up front for the Blues.

The £3.75million signing from West Ham had only arrived from international duty with Costa Rica at 11am yesterday, yet was simply outstanding.

"I though he was world class," said a delighted Royle. "He played against two centre backs (Duberry and Radebe) of high stature and mithered the life out of the pair of them."

Wanchope had set up City's first goal with a thumping header from Kennedy's 34th-minute outswinging corner, the ball crashing back off the bar and being stabbed into the roof of the net by Steve Howey.

That goal seemed to spark a sterile Leeds into life, and within 60 seconds Bridges hit the underside of the bar with a superb dipping 25-yard volley.

Alan Smith also went close when scooping the ball over from close range, but Leeds were left rocking again on 40 minutes when another Kennedy corner fell to Gerard Wiekens on the edge of the box.

The Dutchman volleyed the ball home to send the visiting support into raptures and ultimately seal the points for City.