Doesn't succeed, we're told, in the city (5)

I believe the answer is:

leeds

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'the city' is the definition.
(Leeds is an example)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for leeds that I've seen before include "British city and premier division football club" , "22 [FA CUP] runners-up" , "Northern town" , "English city" , "Industrial city of northern England" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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