The Sam Allardyce era at Leeds United kicked off with a defeat to Premier League leaders Manchester City on Saturday afternoon, with Ilkay Gundogan's first-half brace doing the damage before a late Rodrigo goal gave the Whites an unlikely late lifeline in a 2-1 defeat.
Allardyce began his tenure with four changes from the Leeds United side that lost 4-1 at Bournemouth last weekend, with the inclusion of Joel Robles ahead of Illan Meslier perhaps the biggest talking point.
Junior Firpo and Max Wober returned to the defence, while Adam Forshaw started his first game of 2023. Robin Koch, Liam Cooper and Crysencio Summerville were the other players to make way.
READ MORE: Beren Cross' Leeds United player ratings from Man City defeat
After a steady start, it was the hosts who broke the deadlock when Ilkay Gundogan curled home a Riyad Mahrez pass to put City on their way in the 19th minutes. The pair then combined again eight minutes later for a carbon copy of the goal as it looked like Pep Guardiola's side would cruise to the points.
For all their dominance, a third goal would come however, even when Gundogan was gifted a golden opportunity for his hat-trick after Pascal Struijk took down Phil Foden in the box to give away a penalty with six minutes remaining. The German's effort smacked again the post as Erling Haaland looked on and a minute later Leeds pulled one back through Rodrigo.
While this set up something of a tense finish, City remained in control and held on for all three points.
The defeat meant the Sam Allardyce rescue mission got off to a losing start, but there is certainly something for the new boss to build on.
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