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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" in their top-flight fixture at the Etihad

The visitors made the worst possible start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead before the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

However, the visitors fought back after the interval after a change of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately following the resumption

Furthermore with City visibly having difficulty to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver fresh directions in the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke commented

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is clever. If I approve? If it's within the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the authorities to determine a solution"

Coach's Frustration

"I ask the fourth official at this moment if you want to take action. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we teach our footballers in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations 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 within the rules I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's stoppage-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolves having scored less Premier League goals this season

Strategic Changes

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure especially around changes, was nearly rewarded for a courageous decision at the interval that nearly turned around their situation

Speaking to television pundits, Phil Foden, said that his team were only capable to regroup after Pep Guardiola's sideline meeting with his players

"At half-time we were in control. Second half they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed two up top and changed the setup a bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the match. We assembled on the side of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

The last time Leeds lost four consecutive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with relegation

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "our overriding emotion is frustration", their second period performance offered sufficient proof to suggest they are capable of arresting their present run and climbing up the table

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

"We had the belief before the game, during the game and following the game. Otherwise you can't respond with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on radio analysis, ex- Scottish club forward Chris Sutton said: "Everyone expected it to be a straightforward win for City, but it has been far from easy in this second half"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often questioned for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It appeared like it could be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds United's season, but City found a measure of brilliance. They got away with one this afternoon"