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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" during their Premier League fixture at Etihad Stadium

Leeds got off to the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' lead before the interval

Second Period Revival Denied

Nevertheless, Leeds fought back after the break following a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the restart

And with Manchester City visibly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and deliver fresh directions in the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke commented

"It is not 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 in line with the spirit of fair play? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

"I questioned the assistant referee at this moment if you wish to take action. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we teach our players in the game what to do in regards of fair play and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the rules I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Phil Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive loss in seven top-flight fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolves having scored less Premier League goals this season

Tactical Adjustments

However, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness particularly around substitutions, was almost vindicated for a courageous decision at the interval that almost reversed their fortunes

Speaking to television pundits, Foden, said that his side were only able to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"During the break we were in control. Second half they emerged, pressed us a lot higher, they put a pair up top and altered the formation a little bit," commented Foden

"We really struggled to get hold of the match. We got together on the edge of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to get things right"

Positive Signs for Leeds

The last time Leeds lost four straight successive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their campaign concluded with relegation

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke said that "their overriding emotion is disappointment", their second period display offered sufficient evidence to indicate they are able of halting their current form and moving up the standings

"Displaying such a performance should give us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a excellent opportunity to win the points," the manager added

"We possessed the belief before the match, during the game and after the game. Otherwise you can't respond with a performance like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

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

"Leeds United can derive a lot from this display with the manner they have played in this second half"

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently questioned for not being as responsive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the Manchester City defenders"

"It looked like it could be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds' campaign, but City discovered a bit of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"