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Leeds manager Daniel Farke has accused City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" in their top-flight match at the Etihad

Leeds made the worst possible start with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's lead before the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

However, Leeds fought back after the break after a adjustment of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the restart

And with Manchester City visibly struggling to cope with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the sideline and issue fresh directions in the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everyone understands why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I approve? If it's within the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to find a solution"

Manager's Frustration

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

"If we don't teach our players in football what to do in regards of fair play and fair play and everything and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is allowed by the rules I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight matches to place them 18th in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched fewer Premier League strikes this term

Tactical Changes

However, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of adventure particularly around changes, was almost rewarded for a bold decision at the half-time that nearly reversed their fortunes

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, 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 emerged, harried us a lot higher, they deployed a pair up top and changed the formation a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the match. We got together on the side of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That little break was crucial to get things right"

Positive Aspects for Leeds

The most recent time Leeds United lost four successive top-flight games was in 2022-23, when their season concluded with demotion

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke stated that "their main emotion is disappointment", their second-half display offered sufficient evidence to indicate they are able of arresting their present form and moving up the table

"Displaying such a performance should give us lots of belief. If we show such spirit and togetherness we have a great opportunity to win the results," the manager added

"We possessed the belief before the match, throughout the fixture and after the game. Otherwise you can't respond with a performance like that. We have great unity and determination in the dressing room"

Expert Analysis

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Celtic attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable victory for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second period"

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often criticised for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the City centre-backs"

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