Leeds produced a Premiership masterclass of attacking football to book their place in the last 16 of the FA Cup, but only after Manchester City had threatened to paint a different picture.

United boss David O'Leary's top-flight pacesetters were twice forced to come from behind against manager Joe Royle's Division One frontrunners before finally putting City to the sword.

In the end, Leeds' pedigree - particularly during a pulsating first half - allowed them to cut Royle's brave side to ribbons and end a disappointing two-match losing run.

United's dazzling young guns had too much skill for the Blues, and but for keeper Nicky Weaver, Royle could have been witness to a landslide.

The City boss, however, can be proud of his players for a flying start to a game being billed as a clash of the Sky boys.

Rupert Murdoch's shilling has recently bought a stake in both clubs, and the satellite giants couldn't have wished for a more heaven-sent game.

It's no wonder Murdoch chose to pump £14million into Leeds and a further £10million into City if both sides continue to serve up such Sunday lunch-time treats.

The entertainment during that opening 45 minutes was as riveting as anything seen in the Premiership this season, with 30,000 inside Maine Road and those at home glued to their seats.

Royle's side made a dream start, with a clearly offside Shaun Goater exposing a surprisingly static Leeds defence after just 118 seconds, leading to a rendition of City's theme song 'Blue Moon'.

Kevin Horlock played a simple ball over the top of Jonathan Woodgate and skipper Lucas Radebe, who was back after suspension but playing his last game before flying out to lead South Africa in the African Nations' Cup.

There was little Woodgate or Radebe could do, however, to stop Goater - who had a yard on both players - from looping a header into the top corner beyond Nigel Martyn.

But United's response was one you would expect from the Premier League leaders, hitting back in the ninth minute.

But that was only after man-of-the-match Harry Kewell - up front for the suspended Michael Bridges - had headed a Jason Wilcox header narrowly wide five minutes earlier.

It was a foul by City skipper Richard Edghill on Kewell down by the left-hand bye-line which led to Stephen McPhail, fit again after missing last week's 2-1 home defeat by Aston Villa, to whip in the free-kick.

Ian Harte powered a 14-yard header goalwards, but it was Eirik Bakke who managed to get the decisive touch, deflecting the ball past a leaden-footed Weaver.

There's certain to be a friendly argument between the potential claimants, although Norwegian Under-21 international Bakke might have the final word, particularly as his other two goals for Leeds were in the third round win over Port Vale.

Anybody expecting a rout were then stunned when City regained the lead with only their second attack of the game, but it was a finish worthy of the top flight.

Ian Bishop dispossessed McPhail and after taking a stride to gain position, the central midfielder curled a cracking shot round Martyn with the outside of his right foot.

But Leeds soon made their Premiership class tell again. Lee Bowyer, also back in the side after serving his one-match ban, saw Horlock clear his drive off the line, before Weaver kept City in the game with two fine saves.

Harte drilled in a thunderous 35-yard free-kick, and despite being blinded by the mid-afternoon sun, Weaver just managed to push the ball over the bar.

The England Under-21 international then showed lightning reactions to block at the feet of Bakke after being played through by Wilcox, who was revelling in his first start for Leeds following his £3million transfer from Blackburn just before Christmas.

But Weaver could do nothing about United's 23rd minute equaliser as McPhail was again the supplier, this time with a corner, for another Harte header which was blocked on the line by Bishop.

From the ricochet, Alan Smith was on hand to poach only his fourth goal of the season, and his first since November 20.

Weaver then produced a stunning double just a minute later as he first used his feet to save from Smith, before recovering his ground to push away Kewell's stunning drive.

After another superb block from Wilcox in the 37th minute was only a prelude to Leeds finally taking the lead.

Two minutes from the break came the goal which knocked the heart out of City as Bowyer spread the ball out wide to Wilcox for the winger to drill in a drive through the six-yard box where Kewell was on hand to tap home at the far post.

After the break it was then all about keeping the score to a minimum, and ensuring confidence did not take too much of a battering if City are to reclaim their place in the Premiership at the end of May.

The game-killing fourth for Leeds, though, was clinical as Wilcox treated Bowyer to a perfect delivery for the midfielder to roof a first-time left-foot shot for his ninth of the season in the 65th minute.

It was Kewell who then drove the final knife into City, tapping home an 88th minute pass from Darren Huckerby, a substitute moments earlier who had powered down the left wing and cut in as the home defence was cruelly exposed again.

Kewell could have made it six on the stroke of full-time with a spellbinding run through the now bewildered City rearguard, before his angled shot across Weaver struck the post and denied him a deserved hat-trick for such a magical display.

It was easy in the end for Leeds, and Royle still has much rebuilding work to do if his side hope to enjoy an extended stay in the Premiership, if they go on to win promotion this season.

Teams:

Man City: Weaver, Edghill, Wiekens, Horlock, Goater, Dickov, Bishop, Grant (Whitley 55), Kennedy, Jobson,Granville (Peacock 67).

Subs Not Used: Crooks, Wright, Tiatto.

Booked: Horlock.

Goals: Goater 2, Bishop 11.

Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Harte, Radebe, Woodgate, Kewell, Bowyer, McPhail, Wilcox, Smith (Huckerby 87), Bakke.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Mills, Jones, Duberry.

Booked: Smith.

Goals: Bakke 8, Smith 20, Kewell 41, Bowyer 66, Kewell 88.

Att: 29,240

Ref: D Gallagher (Banbury).