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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke claimed City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" during their Premier League match at the Etihad

The visitors made the poorest start with Phil Foden scoring within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead before the half-time break

Second-Half Revival Thwarted

However, Leeds rallied following the break following a adjustment of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away after the resumption

Furthermore with Manchester City visibly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and issue new directions in the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I approve? If it's in line with the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to find a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

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

"If we don't teach our footballers in football what to do in regards of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations and even do a fake injury in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's injury-time winner condemned Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolves having notched less Premier League goals this season

Tactical Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness especially around substitutions, was almost rewarded for a bold decision at the half-time that nearly reversed their fortunes

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, said that his side were only able to regroup after Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in command. Second half they emerged, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they put two up top and changed the setup a bit," said Foden

"We really had difficulty to get hold 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 United

The most recent occasion Leeds United lost four successive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their season concluded with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "our main feeling is disappointment", their second period display offered sufficient proof to indicate they are capable of halting their present form and moving up the standings

"To show such a display should give us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a excellent chance to win the results," the manager added

"We possessed the belief before the game, during the game and following the game. Otherwise you can't come back with a showing like that. We have strong unity and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody expected it to be a straightforward win for City, but it has been far from easy in this second half"

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

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

"It looked like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds United's season, but Manchester City found a bit of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"