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

The visitors made the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' advantage before the interval

Second-Half Revival Thwarted

Nevertheless, Leeds rallied following the interval after a adjustment of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the restart

And with Manchester City clearly struggling to cope with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver new directions in the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. 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 governing bodies to find a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

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

"If we don't educate our footballers in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we just try to exploit regulations and actually do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an extra team talk, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Winner

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

Tactical Adjustments

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of boldness particularly around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a courageous decision at the half-time that nearly reversed their situation

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

"At half-time we were in command. Second half they emerged, pressed us a lot higher, they put a pair up top and changed the setup a little bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the match. We assembled on the side of the pitch and changed a few things and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to get things right"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds

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

However, while Daniel Farke said that "their main feeling is disappointment", their second-half performance provided enough evidence to indicate they are capable of halting their present form and moving back up the standings

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

"We possessed the belief prior to the game, throughout the game and following the game. Otherwise you can't come back with a showing like that. We have great unity and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody expected it to be a straightforward victory for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second half"

"Leeds United can derive 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 proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It appeared like it could be a massive turning point in Leeds United's campaign, but Manchester City discovered a measure of brilliance. They got away with one this evening"