Manchester City stretch lead at top despite late scare by Allardyce’s Leeds

“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. For Allardyce, the future is bleaker: Leeds’s new head coach now has only three games remaining to avoid the drop and on this evidence he may fail.

More to follow.