IF Bristol City were unfortunate to have a man sent off and lose narrowly at Reading the week before, there were no such mitigating circumstances as Leeds were handed victory on a plate.

Louis Carey had good reason to feel aggrieved when he was shown a dubious red card at the Madjeski Stadium, but James Wilson and Yannick Bolasie only had themselves to blame when being sent for an early bath at Ashton Gate during a crazy 14-minute period in which the Robins completely lost their way.

Furious home fans were quick to turn on referee James Linnington but, in truth, he had little option but to reduce City to nine men and effectively kill the game as a meaningful contest after 58 minutes.

An improving player of considerable potential, Wilson has acquitted himself ably whenever called upon in the Championship this season. Yet he remains a work in progress and his inexperience caused him to be sent off for the first time in a senior game. Caught the wrong side of the lively Ross McCormack, the centre-back was forced to pull the Scot back to deny him a clear run on goal.

Referee Linnington had no option but to reach for the red card, Wilson having denied Leeds' top scorer a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Leeds were already ahead through Robert Snodgrass's 41st-minute strike when Wilson received his marching orders shortly before half time, but City were by no means finished.

Manager Derek McInnes sensibly withdrew Neil Kilkenny at half-time, introducing Ryan McGivern at left-back, switching Richard Foster to right-back and moving the dependable Cole Skuse into midfield, changes that afforded the home side much-needed balance.

However, any chance they had of restoring parity disappeared along with Bolasie shortly before the hour mark. Although he was unfortunate to be cautioned for a seemingly innocuous challenge on Adam Smith moments earlier, the winger was clearly asking for trouble when he needlessly lunged at the same player close to the touchline.

Undone by the impetuosity of youth, the remaining nine men were left to carry out an exercise in damage limitation from then onwards.

Hopelessly outnumbered and tiring fast, the home team were no match for a Leeds side that passed the ball intelligently and made full use of their numerical advantage to score two late goals and achieve a margin of victory that flattered them.

It was little consolation to City and their disappointed fans that they had dominated proceedings up until Snodgrass poached the opening goal completely against the run of play.

McInnes adopted the right team selection and tactics against a Leeds side without a manager and still smarting from a 4-1 whipping by Birmingham and the visitors were on the back foot for much of a first half in which City made all the running and looked the more likely winners.

While there was much to admire about the way the Robins went about their business in the opening 40 minutes, it will concern the manager and his staff that his side were unable to translate their territorial advantage into goals.

Of course, McInnes will be hoping top-scorer Nicky Maynard, who was sold to West Ham United on transfer deadline day, will not be missed. It remains to be seen if that is the case.

Although big Chris Wood put himself about and made life uncomfortable for visiting defenders in the first half, he has managed just one goal in four appearances since arriving from West Brom, while fellow strikers Jon Stead and Brett Pitman have just four goals between them this season.

In the absence of the talismanic Maynard, Albert Adomah has emerged as City's best chance of scoring and he looked the most likely source of a goal against Leeds, twice forcing smart saves from Andy Lonergan, the keeper who stood between Leeds and a pasting in the opening 45 minutes.

City may have been dominant, but the fact they failed to score when on top is likely to hasten the process of bringing in a striker on loan when the window reopens this week.

While those supporters who questioned Maynard's commitment are happy he has gone, his departure to Upton Park threatens to leave the Robins short of firepower in their fight against relegation.