Role reversal as City battle fallen Leeds

[Folami David]

When Manchester City last met Leeds United in the FA Cup, the fixture pitted a team flying high in the top flight and one who had fallen on hard times and slipped out of the game's elite.
.
On Sunday the sides will meet again in the fifth round, and while the narrative remains the same, the roles of the two protagonists have been turned on their head.
.
Thirteen years ago, Leeds, on their way to a third-place Premier League finish, won 5-2 in a fourth- round stroll against a City side who had just been promoted to the second tier of English football having diced with financial meltdown.
.
Now the boot is on the other foot and City are rolling in Middle-Eastern wealth and fighting for a second consecutive Premier League title while Leeds are watching the pennies and trying to plot a route back to the top division.
.
The differing paths the teams have taken since they were both established members of English soccer's elite in the late 1960s and 70s is a reminder of how financial misjudgements and high-stakes gambles can bring down even the biggest clubs.
.
Leeds, three times league champions, were flying when David O'Leary took them to the Champions League semifinal in 2001 with an expensively- assembled side that included 18 million pounds ($28.19 million) defender Rio Ferdinand.
.
The club took out large loans based on hopes of continued Champions League football and when they failed to qualify the next season, their problems spiralled and they were relegated in 2004. Three years later they fell into the third tier.

[Shola Sholaz]

i tip city to win this anytime anyday. there wont be room for any upset