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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" during their top-flight fixture at the Etihad

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

Second Period Revival Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors rallied following the break following a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the restart

And with Manchester City clearly struggling to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver fresh directions in the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is clever. If I approve? If it's in line with the spirit of fair play? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to find a resolution"

Coach's Disappointment

"I questioned the fourth official at this point if you wish to take action. Our options are limited"

"Unless we teach our players in football what to do in regards of fair play and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply try to exploit regulations and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an extra team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is allowed by the rules I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal condemned Leeds United to a sixth consecutive loss in seven Premier League fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched less top-flight strikes this season

Tactical Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure particularly around changes, was almost rewarded for a bold decision at the interval that almost turned around their situation

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, stated that his side were only able to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed two in attack and changed the setup a bit," said Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. We got together on the edge of the field and changed a few things and it got better from there. That little break was vital to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

The last occasion Leeds United lost four successive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their season concluded with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "their main emotion is frustration", their second period performance provided enough evidence to suggest they are able of arresting their current run and moving up the table

"To show such a display should give us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and togetherness we have a excellent opportunity to win the results," Farke added

"We had the confidence before the match, throughout the fixture and following the encounter. Or else you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody anticipated it to be a comfortable victory for Manchester City, but it has been anything but easy in this second half"

"Leeds can derive a lot from this display with the manner they have performed in this second half"

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently criticised for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the City defenders"

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