A CHANGE of owners was accompanied by a dramatic change in fortunes for Leeds United last night as they secured three vital points with a controversial penalty from Mark Viduka. Even if they deserved the spot kick, which was highly debatable, their performance had not merited the win.

It was their first penalty of the season and allowed the supporters to believe that their club could pull off a double by not only escaping financial ruin but also relegation from the Barclaycard Premiership. Last night they climbed above Wolverhampton Wanderers at the foot of the table but the performances will have to improve if this is to become a genuine revival and not just an isolated victory.

Defeat had looked likely as soon as Nicolas Anelka equalised Stephen McPhail’s opening goal and only poor finishing and some good saves from Paul Robinson had stopped City taking the lead.

Leeds were struggling to escape from their own half when, in the 74th minute, Alan Smith and Daniel van Buyten raced towards the penalty area. Smith had the slight edge over the centre half and, perhaps afraid of being caught for pace, Van Buyten gave a slight nudge with his shoulder.

The initial contact was outside the area but Smith fell to the ground and Wiley not only pointed to the spot but showed a red card to the Belgium defender. While Viduka kept his composure to score the winner, Kevin Keegan went apoplectic.

“It’s not the referee’s job to help Leeds United, it’s their job to get themselves out of trouble,” the City manager said. “It was six of one, half a dozen of the other and if he has anything about him, he will look at it again and say that he can’t help us now but he can take away the red card. He’s made a very poor decision.”

It did not help Keegan’s mood that Wiley had sent off Anelka last month at Highbury. “I don’t know what City have done to this referee but this is the second time,” he said. “I just feel sorry for the players.”

Van Buyten had risked a decision against him by using his shoulder, but Keegan’s ire was understandable. His side had played well, as they have done for much of a bad winter, but come away with nothing and they are now left just above the relegation zone. Worrying for the new board at Elland Road, Leeds had looked vastly inferior.

Gerald Krasner, the new chairman, had claimed earlier in the day that relegation was no more than “a remote possibility”. Perhaps he has been too busy doing the sums to look at the table. Either that or he has not been following Leeds as closely as he claimed.

Leeds had won only one match in the previous three months — against Wolves — and they were a long way short of City in terms of quality last night. Penned back into their own half for most of the game, they looked like the away team.

David James was barely troubled and, even when Leeds took the lead in the 23rd minute, it was not through a shot on goal. McPhail’s free kick from the flank was aimed for Smith but, if the England striker managed a touch, it was only the slightest flick with his blond spikes. Stranded in the middle of his goal, James dived too late to stop McPhail’s cross curling in off the far post.

It was an annoying goal for James to concede in front of Sven-Göran Eriksson, the England head coach, and he had far fewer chances to impress than Paul Robinson at the other end. City peppered the Leeds goal, with Michael Tarnat striking the outside of a post with a deflected free kick, Anelka drawing a good save and Robbie Fowler shooting just over the crossbar before the 44th-minute equaliser, which felt inevitable.

Allowed time and space to relay the ball across the edge of the Leeds penalty area, City drew level when Antoine Sibierski’s flick set up Anelka from 20 yards. His shot squeezed into the bottom corner. All the best football was coming from Shaun Wright-Phillips, Sibierski and Anelka, so the winning goal was not only controversial but unexpected.

“Mark Viduka was laughing afterwards because he knew he hadn’t played well,” Eddie Gray, the manager, said. The owners must pray that their luck continues.

LEEDS UNITED (4-4-2) P Robinson — G Kelly, S Caldwell, D Matteo, D Domi — J Pennant, Seth Johnson, S McPhail, J Milner — A Smith, M Viduka. Substitutes not used: S Carson, I Harte, L Radebe, A Lennon, Simon Johnson.

MANCHESTER CITY (3-4-1-2) D James — R Dunne, D van Buyten, S Distin — S Wright-Phillips, J Barton, P Bosvelt (sub: Sun Jihai, 82min), M Tarnat — A Sibierski — N Anelka, R Fowler. Substitutes not used: A Arason, P Wanchope, J Macken, T Sinclair. Booked: Sun. Sent off: Van Buyten.

Referee: A Wiley.