WITH both clubs burdened by crippling debt and desperate for the arrival of wealthy benefactors, the matter of survival, on and off the pitch, is the burning issue for each of them. Yet if there is little to separate them in their financial crises, on the playing field, too, the gap between Leeds United and Manchester City appears to be a fine one.

It is now nine games since City recorded a victory, six in the Barclaycard Premiership, but at least they rescued a point at the City of Manchester Stadium last night when Antoine Sibierski, a substitute, headed an equaliser with eight minutes left. Their plight had earlier been exacerbated by David Sommeil’s dreadful first-half error that allowed Mark Viduka to pounce for his fourth goal of the season.

Eddie Gray, the Leeds caretaker manager, was absent at his daughter’s wedding, but it is the marriage of convenience between him and the Yorkshire club that has blossomed. Leeds remain in the bottom three, but eight points in four unbeaten games suggests that the former Leeds winger is having a positive effect in the dressing-room.

Gray’s celebrations at the reception might have been doubly joyous had Graham Barber, the referee, spotted a late infringement as James Milner raced away, striving for the winner. Television replays clearly showed that Sommeil had clipped the winger’s right leg as he prepared to shoot and, though the tackle was fractionally outside the area, a penalty could easily have been awarded, as well as a certain red card that would have compounded an awful evening for the City defender.

Perhaps Gray’s champagne began to lose its fizz when he learnt that a torn hamstring suffered by Lucas Radebe in the frantic closing minutes will preclude the defender from Leeds’s relegation battle for two months. They may be joined in that fight for survival by City if they are unable to convert their possession into goals. There was no doubt that they deserved their share of the spoils, but Kevin Keegan, the City manager, has had to watch in exasperation far too frequently as his multitalented, multimillion-pound acquisitions have stumbled.

“We have had three games here now, against Spurs, which finished 0-0, and Middlesbrough, when we dominated even more, if that’s possible, and lost,” Keegan said. “Take away the top three, who are exceptional, and you are talking about the Champions League or Europe, or staving off relegation. There is still a lot of football to be played in this league.”

Which direction City take in the new year will be dictated by their ability to rediscover the fluent, one-touch football that had hoisted them into the top six earlier in the season. In their present form, the last thing they needed was an expensive individual error, but when you are down, so is your luck, and, sure enough, an early festive gift was presented in the 24th minute.

Sommeil had dealt competently with the robust efforts of Viduka, but as the Frenchman got himself in a terrible tangle, the Australia forward scented the uncertainty that comes with a lack of confidence. On his 150th appearance for the club, Viduka pounced and carried the ball wide of David Seaman before securing the lead.

It was a sucker punch that took the wind out of City’s sails, but Keegan praised his players for their recovery. Claudio Reyna saw a 41st-minute effort blocked on the goalline by Michael Duberry, although the United States midfield player might have struck it with more venom. That could not be said of Joey Barton’s thunderous shot, low and accurate from 20 yards. With Paul Robinson again beaten, the ball bounced off the inside of a post to safety.

As an attacking force, Leeds resembled the snow that was forecast for the region last night: fleeting, before melting into obscurity. Three substitutions, all of an attacking nature, indicated Keegan’s desire to win the game, even if the fans voiced their disapproval at his withdrawal of Barton. “Joey was probably our best player on the night, but he is a holding midfield player and Sibierski is a goalscorer. If the crowd don’t understand that, I can’t explain it to them,” Keegan said.

City, who were worth a draw, got it when Sibierski moved elegantly to meet a right-wing cross from Sun Jihai. The Frenchman then cleared Duberry’s goal-bound header at the other end in a frenetic finale. With Keegan at the helm, nothing less should have been expected.

“If they (Leeds) had gone away with a win tonight, Dick Turpin would have met them halfway up the M62,” Keegan said. At least his sense of humour remains intact.

MANCHESTER CITY (4-4-2): D Seaman — Sun Jihai, R Dunne, D Sommeil, S Distin — S Wright-Phillips, J Barton (sub: A Sibierski, 71min), C Reyna, S McManaman (sub: J Macken, 71) — R Fowler (sub: P Wanchope, 71), N Anelka. Substitutes not used: K Stuhr-Ellegaard, M Tarnat.

LEEDS UNITED (4-5-1): P Robinson — G Kelly, M Duberry, L Radebe (sub: S McPhail, 74), I Harte — J Pennant (sub: M Bridges, 81), A Smith, D Batty (sub: M Kilgallon, 90), D Matteo, J Milner — M Viduka. Substitutes not used: S Carson, J Morris. Booked: Bridges, Batty, Duberry.

Referee: G Barber.