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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 the Etihad

The visitors made the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage ahead of the interval

Second-Half Revival Denied

However, Leeds rallied after the interval following a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away following the restart

Furthermore with City visibly struggling to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive attention, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and issue new instructions during the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke stated

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is clever. If I approve? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to determine a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

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

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we just attempt to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the rules I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolves having scored less top-flight strikes this term

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness especially around changes, was nearly rewarded for a courageous decision at the half-time that nearly reversed their fortunes

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, said that his team were only capable to regroup after Pep Guardiola's touchline conference with his squad

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed two in attack and changed the formation a little bit," said Phil Foden

"We really had difficulty to gain control of the match. We got together on the edge of the field and adjusted a few things and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds

The most recent time Leeds suffered four straight successive top-flight games was in the 2022-23 season, when their season ended with demotion

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "their overriding feeling is disappointment", their second period display offered enough evidence to suggest they are able of halting their current run and climbing back up the table

"To show such a performance should give us lots of confidence. If we show such determination and unity we have a great opportunity to win the results," Farke added

"We possessed the confidence prior to the match, throughout the fixture and after the encounter. Or else you can't come back with a showing like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Analysis

Commenting on radio analysis, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody anticipated it to be a straightforward victory for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second period"

"Leeds United can take a lot from this performance with the manner they have performed in this second half"

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

"It appeared like it might be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds' season, but City found a bit of quality. They escaped with one this evening"