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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke claimed City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" during their Premier League match at Etihad Stadium

The visitors got off to the worst possible start with Phil Foden scoring within the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead ahead of the interval

Second Period Revival Denied

Nevertheless, Leeds rallied after the break after a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately after the resumption

And with City visibly struggling to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the touchline and issue new instructions in the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everyone knows why he collapsed," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is smart. If I approve? If it's in line with the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a resolution"

Manager's Frustration

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

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we simply try to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an extra team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's injury-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched less top-flight goals this season

Strategic Changes

However, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure especially around substitutions, was almost vindicated for a courageous decision at the half-time that nearly turned around their fortunes

Speaking to television pundits, Foden, stated that his team were only capable to reorganize after Guardiola's touchline meeting with his squad

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed two up top and changed the formation a little bit," said Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the match. We got together on the side of the field and adjusted a few things and it got better from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

The last occasion Leeds lost four successive Premier League games was in the 2022-23 season, when their season concluded with demotion

However, while Farke said that "our main emotion is frustration", their second period performance offered enough evidence to suggest they are capable of arresting their current run and climbing back up the table

"Displaying such a performance should provide us lots of belief. If we show such determination and unity we have a great opportunity to win the points," Farke added

"We had the confidence before the match, throughout the fixture and following the game. Otherwise you cannot respond with a showing like that. We have strong unity and determination in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

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

"Leeds United can take a lot from this performance with the manner they have played in this second period"

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often questioned for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the City defenders"

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