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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 first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's advantage ahead of the interval

Second Period Revival Denied

However, the visitors rallied following the break after a adjustment of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the resumption

Furthermore with City visibly struggling to cope with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and issue fresh instructions in the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"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 spirit of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Coach's Disappointment

"I ask the fourth official at this point if you wish to take action. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we teach our players in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and whatever and if we simply try to exploit regulations and even do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's injury-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolves having scored less top-flight strikes this term

Tactical Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of adventure especially around substitutions, was almost vindicated for a courageous decision at the interval that almost reversed their situation

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, stated that his team were only able to regroup following Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they emerged, pressed us a lot higher, they put two in attack and altered the setup a little bit," said Foden

"We really struggled to gain control 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 occasion Leeds suffered four straight successive top-flight games was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke said that "our overriding emotion is disappointment", their second period display provided sufficient evidence to suggest they are able of arresting their present run and climbing back up the table

"To show such a performance should give us lots of belief. If we show such determination and unity we have a excellent chance to earn the points," Farke added

"We had the belief before the game, throughout the game and following the encounter. Or else you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second period"

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's changes, who is often criticised for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the City defenders"

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