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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke claimed City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their top-flight match at Etihad Stadium

Leeds got off to the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden scoring within the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' lead ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Revival Thwarted

However, the visitors fought back after the interval after a adjustment of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the resumption

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly struggling to deal with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and deliver new instructions in the 120 seconds the game was halted 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 regulations. It is smart. If I like it? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to determine a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

"I ask the assistant referee at this point if you want to do something. Our hands are tied"

"If we don't teach our players in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in order to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I like myself. But if it is allowed by the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

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

Strategic Adjustments

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of boldness particularly around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a courageous choice at the interval that almost turned around their situation

Speaking to television pundits, Phil Foden, stated that his team were only able to reorganize following Pep Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot higher, they deployed two up top and altered the setup a bit," said Foden

"We really struggled to gain control of the match. We assembled on the side of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds United

The last occasion Leeds lost four straight consecutive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their season concluded with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke said that "our main feeling is frustration", their second period performance offered sufficient evidence to indicate they are able of arresting their present run and climbing back up the table

"Displaying such a performance should provide us lots of confidence. If we show such spirit and unity we have a great opportunity to earn the results," the manager continued

"We had the belief before the match, during the fixture and after the encounter. Or else you can't come back with a performance like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Scottish club forward Chris Sutton said: "Everybody expected it to be a straightforward victory for Manchester City, but it has been anything but easy in this second period"

"Leeds can derive a lot from this performance with the way they have performed in this second period"

"Following that were Daniel Farke's changes, who is frequently criticised for not being as responsive as he should 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' campaign, but Manchester City found a measure of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"