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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" during their top-flight match at the Etihad

Leeds made the worst possible start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' lead before the interval

Second Period Comeback Thwarted

However, Leeds fought back following the break following a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately after the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly struggling to cope with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the touchline and issue new directions in the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everyone understands why he went down," Farke commented

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the rules. 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 up to the authorities to determine a solution"

Coach's Frustration

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

"Unless we educate our players in football what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we just try to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in order to do an extra team talk, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's stoppage-time winner condemned Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolves having notched less top-flight goals this term

Tactical Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of boldness especially around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a bold decision at the interval that almost reversed their fortunes

Talking to television pundits, Foden, stated that his team were only able to regroup following Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his squad

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

"We really struggled to gain control of the match. We assembled on the edge of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That little break was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The last occasion Leeds United lost four straight consecutive Premier League games was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign concluded with relegation

Nevertheless, while Farke stated that "our main emotion is frustration", their second period display offered sufficient evidence to suggest they are able of arresting their present form and moving back up the table

"To show such a performance should provide us plenty of belief. If we show such determination and unity we have a excellent opportunity to win the results," Farke continued

"We possessed the confidence prior to the game, during the fixture and following the game. Otherwise you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

Speaking on radio analysis, former Celtic forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been far from easy in this second period"

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently criticised for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the Manchester City centre-backs"

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