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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke claimed City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" during their Premier League fixture at the Etihad

The visitors got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's advantage before the interval

Second Period Revival Thwarted

However, Leeds fought back after the interval after a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the resumption

Furthermore with Manchester City visibly having difficulty to deal with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the sideline and deliver fresh instructions in the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to determine a solution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I questioned the fourth official at this point if you wish to take action. Our options are limited"

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in regards of fair play and sportsmanship and whatever and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like myself. But if it is allowed by the regulations I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive loss in seven Premier League matches to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched fewer top-flight strikes this term

Strategic Adjustments

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness especially around changes, was nearly rewarded for a bold choice at the interval that nearly turned around their fortunes

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

"During the break we were in command. After halftime they emerged, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed a pair up top and altered the setup a bit," commented Foden

"We really had difficulty to gain control of the match. We assembled on the side of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was vital to get things right"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds United lost four consecutive Premier League games was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign ended with relegation

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke said that "our main emotion is frustration", their second period performance offered enough evidence to indicate they are capable of halting their current form and climbing back up the table

"Displaying such a performance should provide us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and togetherness we have a excellent opportunity to win the results," Farke continued

"We possessed the confidence prior to the match, throughout the fixture and following the encounter. Otherwise you cannot respond with a showing like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on radio analysis, former Celtic attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable victory for Manchester City, but it has been far from easy in this second half"

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

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

"It looked like it might be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds United's campaign, but City discovered a bit of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"