“You’re getting sacked in the morning” rang in Sam Allardyce’s ears from Manchester City fans after Ilkay Gündogan’s second goal of a victory that moves Pep Guardiola’s champions three points closer to a hat-trick of titles.
A stroll was a fair characterisation of City’s display before what unfolded late on when Phil Foden earned a penalty. Despite Riyad Mahrez, a regular taker, and the 51-goal man Erling Haaland both being on the field, Gündogan stepped up in a bid to score his third goal of the afternoon.
The Germany international missed, smacking the spot-kick off Joel Robles’s left-hand post. Then, after a furious Pep Guardiola could be lip-read informing Haaland, “you have to take it”, Leeds moved downfield and Rodrigo beat Ederson from inside the area.
This resulted in time-wasting by Haaland and Foden at a corner flag and a wave of black-and-gold shirts attacking but City survived and seem destined to be champions again.