Keegan's ref rant

Top-scorer Viduka, outed by the new regime as being paid £3.5m a year, was worth his weight in gold with the penalty that leaves Leeds just three points adrift of safety at the bottom.

Gray said: 'Mark was smiling afterwards - he knows he didn't play as he can, but he showed a lot of composure. It was difficult for the ref. Some go for you, and we've not had a penalty all season.'

For much of the game, the flashing skills of Anelka had looked more likely to decide the game in City's favour as the striker relished his return to action after his suspension and injury.

Anelka's fluent style will always make him stand out in the Premiership, and Keegan has a point when he says his £11m signing should be on the bigger stage of the European Championships for France this summer.

Anelka will have done his cause no harm with the goal - his 21st of a season so rudely interrupted at Arsenal - that pulled City level last night.

His movement, as much a feature of his game as searing bursts of pace and clinical finishing power, took him into perfect position to collect Antoine Sibierski's subtle flick and shoot across Paul Robinson's forlorn dive.

Despite City often looking the brighter of teams that have severely underachieved this season, it was Leeds who had taken the lead, somewhat fortuitously, after 23 minutes dominated by Keegan's men.

When Michael Tarnat conceded the free-kick with the foul that halted Jermaine Pennant, the curling flight of Stephen McPhail's delivery evaded Smith's mighty leap.

Perhaps because Smith had missed it, England goalkeeper David James was suddenly struggling to reach the ball as it curled and dipped, and could only tip it on to his far post and into the net.

For Leeds, it seemed that the luck which has deserted them this miserable year was perhaps beginning to change at last on their first night under new ownership.

For City, it was a cruel blow since England prospect Shaun Wright-Phillips, who was being watched by England coach Sven Goran Eriksson, was as lively as ever and proving a real handful down the right flank not only for Didier Domi but his willing helper James Milner.

Wiley obviously failed to get a good view of Domi's desperate tug on the little winger's shirt as he fired into the sidenetting after 12 minutes, or there might have been another penalty in the game.

Robinson saved crucially from Sibierski as City threatened to settle the game in the second half.

Keegan added: 'We dominated and played some superb football, but you can't legislate for what happened tonight.'