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Leeds manager Daniel Farke has accused City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" during their Premier League match at the Etihad

Leeds got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead ahead of the half-time break

Second Period Comeback Denied

However, Leeds rallied after the interval after a change of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately following the restart

And with City clearly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the sideline and deliver fresh directions during the 120 seconds play was stopped for

"Everybody understands why he collapsed," Farke commented

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I approve? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I ask the assistant referee at this point if you want to do something. Our hands are tied"

"If we don't teach our players in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations and even do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the regulations I can't complain"

Late Winner

Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive loss in seven Premier League matches to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched fewer top-flight strikes this term

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness especially around changes, was nearly rewarded for a bold decision at the interval that nearly turned around their fortunes

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, said that his team were only able to regroup following Pep Guardiola's sideline meeting with his squad

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot higher, they deployed a pair up top and changed the setup a bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the match. We assembled on the side of the field and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds lost four successive top-flight matches was in 2022-23, when their season ended with relegation

However, while Farke stated that "our main feeling is frustration", their second period display offered sufficient proof to indicate they are able of halting their current run and moving back up the table

"To show such a performance should provide us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such determination and togetherness we have a excellent chance to win the points," the manager continued

"We possessed the confidence prior to the match, during the game and after the game. Otherwise you can't respond with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everybody anticipated it to be a straightforward win for Manchester City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second half"

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

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

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