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

Leeds made the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage before the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

However, the visitors fought back after the interval after a adjustment of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away after the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City visibly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver fresh instructions during the two minutes play was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I approve? If it's within the spirit 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 Frustration

"I questioned the fourth official at this point if you want to do something. Our options are limited"

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in regards of fair play and fair play and whatever and if we just try to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in order to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I like personally. But if it is allowed by the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Winner

Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds to a sixth loss in seven Premier League fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolves having notched less Premier League strikes this term

Tactical Changes

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness particularly around changes, was almost vindicated for a courageous decision at the interval that nearly reversed their situation

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, said that his team were only able to reorganize following Pep Guardiola's touchline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot higher, they deployed two up top and changed the setup a little bit," commented Phil Foden

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

Positive Aspects for Leeds

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

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "our main emotion is disappointment", their second period display offered enough proof to indicate they are capable of arresting their current run and climbing up the table

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

"We possessed the belief prior to the game, during the game and following the encounter. Otherwise you can't come back with a showing like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Analysis

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

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently questioned for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the City defenders"

"It looked like it might be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds United's campaign, but Manchester City found a bit of quality. They escaped with one this evening"