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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" during their Premier League match at Etihad Stadium

The visitors got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' lead before the half-time break

Second-Half Revival Denied

Nevertheless, the visitors fought back following the interval after a adjustment of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away following the resumption

Furthermore with City visibly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive attention, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver fresh instructions in the 120 seconds play was halted for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the regulations. It is clever. If I approve? If it's in line with the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Coach's Disappointment

"I ask the fourth official at this moment if you want to do something. Our options are limited"

"If we don't educate our players in football what to do in regards of fair play and fair play and everything and if we just attempt to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is allowed by the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League matches to leave them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched fewer Premier League goals this term

Strategic Changes

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of boldness particularly around changes, was almost vindicated for a bold decision at the interval that almost turned around their fortunes

Talking to television pundits, Foden, stated that his team were only capable to reorganize following Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in control. Second half they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and altered the setup a bit," said Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the game. We assembled on the edge of the field and changed a few things and it got better from there. That brief pause was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds

The last time Leeds lost four straight successive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their season ended with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "their overriding feeling is frustration", their second period display offered enough evidence to indicate they are able of halting their present form and moving back up the table

"To show such a performance should give us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such determination and unity we have a great opportunity to win the results," Farke added

"We possessed the belief before the game, throughout the fixture and after the encounter. Or else you can't come back with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Pundit Analysis

Commenting on radio analysis, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everyone anticipated it to be a straightforward victory for Manchester City, but it has been far from comfortable in this second half"

"Leeds can derive a lot from this performance with the way they have played in this second period"

"Following that were Daniel Farke's changes, who is frequently criticised for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the City defenders"

"It looked like it might be a massive turning point in Leeds' campaign, but Manchester City found a measure of brilliance. They escaped with one this evening"