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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke claimed City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their Premier League fixture at the Etihad

Leeds made the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's advantage ahead of the interval

Second Period Revival Denied

Nevertheless, the visitors rallied after the break after a change of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away after the resumption

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to deal with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the touchline and issue new instructions during the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everyone knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is clever. If I approve? If it's within the spirit of fair play? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to determine a resolution"

Manager's Frustration

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

"If we don't teach our footballers in the game what to do in terms of fair play and fair play and everything and if we just attempt to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in an attempt to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Winner

Foden's stoppage-time winner condemned Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolves having notched fewer Premier League goals this term

Tactical Changes

However, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of boldness especially around changes, was almost rewarded for a bold decision at the interval that nearly reversed their fortunes

Talking to television pundits, Foden, said that his team were only able to regroup following Guardiola's sideline conference with his squad

"During the break we were in command. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot higher, they deployed a pair in attack and changed the formation a bit," commented Phil Foden

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

Encouraging Signs for Leeds United

The last time Leeds suffered four straight successive top-flight games was in 2022-23, when their campaign concluded with relegation

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "their main feeling is frustration", their second period performance provided enough evidence to indicate they are capable of arresting their current run and climbing up the standings

"Displaying such a display should give us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a excellent chance to earn the points," the manager continued

"We possessed the belief before the game, throughout the fixture and after the encounter. Or else you can't come back with a showing like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on radio analysis, ex- Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody 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 performance with the way they have played in this second period"

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

"It looked like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds' campaign, but City discovered a measure of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"