Despite having Manchester City rattled at times Leeds United could not quite get anything from a big effort against the title chasers and an ultimately disappointing day saw manager Daniel Farke sent-off after the final whistle.
Farke saw red after complaining to referee Peter Bankes – the latest to attract criticism for his handling of a Leeds game – and will now have to sit in the stands for a game after being upset at the lack of time added on at the end by the official despite clear time wasting by the visiting players.
The Whites boss was unable to take his usual after match press conference because of the red card and in his absence Eddie Riemer was able to speak of pride in a great effort by the United team.
He said: “Really proud of the boys, unbelievable shift, performance, created our chances and moments.
Daniel Farke confronts referee Peter Bankes and is about to be sent-off at the end of the Manchester City game.placeholder image
Daniel Farke confronts referee Peter Bankes and is about to be sent-off at the end of the Manchester City game.
"Disappointed not to take one of our chances, playing the best team in the world you need to take them. Restricted them to few chances.
“This one moment in the worst moment before half-time, well played by Man City, good finish. You can't always avoid it. Worst possible moment to go 1-0 down."
Riemer explained the reasons for Farke's anger towards the referee: “I think we had six minutes added time and obviously if you're chasing, you're 1-0 down, you see the opposition wasting time. They got booked, you feel like you can add a few seconds more.
“I think after just about six minutes we get the ball for one delivery, you're emotional, this is what the sport is all about, you're not allowed to get the last ball in.
Brenden Aaronson is denied by Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.placeholder image
Brenden Aaronson is denied by Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
“The explanation is probably going to be he was over emotional how he's gone on the pitch, I would suggest.
“But yeah, disappointing that he got sent off, would have wished for a more sensible action of the referee as well. Maybe you can give a yellow card. It's an emotional game and that's it."
Leeds ripped into City at the start and although they were unable to keep up the intensity for 90 minutes they could count themselves unlucky not to be ahead at half-time.
Instead they were one down as Antione Semenyo scored from close range from Rayan Ait-Nouri's great low cross eight seconds before the break.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin goes close to scoring for Leeds United in the first half.placeholder image
Dominic Calvert-Lewin goes close to scoring for Leeds United in the first half.
City had not managed a single effort on goal in the first 38 minutes so much were the Whites on top.
Calvert-Lewin raced onto a ball over the City defence in the 16th minute, twisted and turned past England defender Marc Guehi and got a shot away only for his angled effort to go wide.
A minute later James Justin's shot had to be well saved by Donnarumma and Leeds' closing down of their opponents was causing all sorts of problems for them.
Karl Darlow down to make a save for Leeds United.placeholder image
Karl Darlow down to make a save for Leeds United.
The next chance soon followed as Jayden Bogle won possession high up the pitch and found Aaronson in the box. The American met the cross and his shot was deflected wide – only for the officials to give a goal kick.
Justin, who seemed to be everywhere in the first half, was inches away from getting on the end of a Pascal Struijk header on, before City finally got a foothold in the game.
After surviving their first pressure Leeds broke and Aaronson raced clear from half way only to see his effort saved in a one-on-one with Donnarumma. Replays showed the Whites player may have been offside so it would not have counted, but no flag went up.
City's first shot saw Omar Marmoush's angled effort well held by Karl Darlow and within a minute they came close again as Darlow was forced into a more difficult save to keep out a Nico O'Reilly header.
The visitors' strong finish to the half saw them go ahead late with Semenyo's close range effort and it was then going to be a different game after the break.
Initially Leeds did well with Calvert-Lewin picked out well by Anton Stach. He chested the ball down, but saw his shot well blocked.
Jayden Bogle on the ball for Leeds United.placeholder image
Jayden Bogle on the ball for Leeds United.
Gabriel Gudmundsson sent an ambitious volley over and that was the last seen of United as an attacking force until they put in a big finish after Farke had made a number of attacking substitutions.
City controlled the game for large spells now without ever really threatening to run away with the game.
Marmoush sent a near post volley wide and sneaked in at the far post to shoot wide after latching onto Ruben Dias' miss-hit shot.
Ait-Nouri was well wide with a shot from outside the box and Semenyo had a shot deflected wide.
Darlow then made a terrific save to keep out Guehi's header from a corner and Leeds survived their toughest period of the game.
Their big finish did not bring any rewards although it showed how desperate City became that they had two players booked for time wasting and put on an extra defender from the bench.
Substitute Jaka Bijol headed wide with his first touch after coming on and that was it for real chances for United although they had a big shout for a penalty waved away after the ball hit Matheus Nunez on the arm inside the area.
Not many of the big decisions had gone their way leading to the frustrations of the manager at the end. But they could look back on the match with some pride after a battling effort against a team still in the running for four trophies.
(Semenyo 45+2)
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Premier League
Attendance: 36,838
Leeds: Darlow; Justin (Piroe 87), Rodon (Bijol 87), Struijk; Bogle (James 75), Ampadu, Gruev (Gnonto 75), Gudmundsson; Stach, Aaronson (Nmecha 65); Calvert-Lewin.
City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, Silva; Semenyo, Cherki (Ake 87), O'Reilly (Reijnders 70); Marmoush (Savinho 68).
Referee: Peter Bankes
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