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Leeds manager Daniel Farke has accused 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 start with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' advantage before the interval

Second Period Revival Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors rallied following the interval after a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately following the resumption

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly struggling to cope with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the touchline and deliver fresh instructions in the 120 seconds play was stopped for

"Everyone knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the regulations. It is smart. If I like it? If it's in line with the spirit of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I questioned the assistant referee at this moment if you want to do something. Our options are limited"

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just try to exploit regulations and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the rules I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to place them 18th in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched less top-flight strikes this season

Tactical Changes

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of boldness particularly around changes, was nearly rewarded for a courageous decision at the half-time that almost turned around their fortunes

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, stated that his team were only able to reorganize after Guardiola's touchline conference with his players

"During the break we were in command. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot higher, they deployed a pair up top and changed the setup a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the game. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and adjusted a few things and it got better from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Positive Aspects for Leeds

The most recent occasion Leeds United lost four straight successive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their season ended with demotion

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke said that "their overriding feeling is frustration", their second-half performance offered enough evidence to indicate they are capable of halting their current form and climbing back up the table

"To show such a display should give us plenty of belief. If we show such spirit and togetherness we have a excellent chance to earn the points," Farke continued

"We had the confidence before the match, throughout the game and after the game. Otherwise you can't come back with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody anticipated it to be a comfortable win for Manchester City, but it has been far from easy in this second half"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often questioned for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It appeared like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds' season, but Manchester City discovered a measure of brilliance. They got away with one this evening"