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Leeds manager Daniel Farke claimed City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" during their top-flight match at Etihad Stadium

The visitors made the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead before the half-time break

Second Period Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors rallied after the interval after a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the resumption

Furthermore with City visibly having difficulty to deal with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the sideline and issue new directions during the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everyone understands why he collapsed," Farke commented

"It is not the obvious issue. 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 sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Manager's Frustration

"I ask the assistant referee at this moment if you want to take action. Our options are limited"

"Unless we educate our players in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we just try to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Phil Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League matches to place them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolves having scored less top-flight strikes this season

Tactical Changes

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure particularly around changes, was nearly rewarded for a bold choice at the half-time that nearly turned around their situation

Speaking to television pundits, Foden, said that his team were only able to regroup following Guardiola's sideline meeting with his players

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they put two up top and altered the formation a little bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the game. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That little break was crucial to make corrections"

Positive Signs for Leeds

The last time Leeds United lost four straight successive top-flight games was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with demotion

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke said that "their overriding emotion is frustration", their second-half display offered enough evidence to suggest they are able of halting their current form and moving back up the standings

"Displaying such a display should give us lots of confidence. If we show such determination and togetherness we have a great chance to win the results," the manager continued

"We possessed the belief before the match, during the fixture and after the game. Or else you can't come back with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

Commenting on radio analysis, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody anticipated it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second period"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often questioned for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the Manchester City defenders"

"It looked like it could be a huge turning point in Leeds United's campaign, but Manchester City discovered a bit of quality. They escaped with one this evening"