After the 7-0 hammering of Norwich on Monday night, this was always likely to be a sterner challenge for a less experienced United side and so it proved, but a disciplined and well-organised performance was enough to see the game out after Joe Rothwell gave the Reds the lead early in the game.
After a competitive start with little between the sides, United made the most of a rare clear-cut chance to take the lead after 15 minutes. Fosu-Mensah played a long ball from right back for Keane to run onto. The forward, who netted five times against Norwich, turned provider on this occasion, holding the ball up before picking out Rothwell (above), who finished whose low shot gave city keeper Gunn no chance.
With little room in midfield, chances continued to be at a premium in the first half, although Pereira was forced to tip over a header from a corner and Josh Harrop's free kick drew a fine save from Gunn later in the half.
City began to look more threatening in the second half, although it said much about the quality of United's defending that Pereira still remained largely a spectator for much of the half. He had to be on his toes to deal with a dangerous cross from Garcia in the closing minutes and, in stoppage time, made a superb reflex save from the same player, who had carried the visitors' main threat all night and had just seen a shot blocked by Regan Poole, making his first start in a United shirt following his arrival from Newport.
The Reds now lead the table by two points with a game in hand and how face Reading, also at Leigh, on Monday night.
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