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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" during their Premier League fixture at Etihad Stadium

Leeds got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' advantage before the interval

Second-Half Comeback Denied

However, the visitors rallied after the break following a adjustment of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the restart

Furthermore with City visibly struggling to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver new directions during the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everyone 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 bounds of the regulations. It is smart. 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 determine a resolution"

Manager's Frustration

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

"Unless we educate our players in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply try to exploit regulations and even do a fake injury in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the regulations I can't complain"

Late Winner

Phil Foden's stoppage-time winner condemned Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolves having scored fewer top-flight strikes this season

Tactical Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness particularly around changes, was almost vindicated for a bold decision at the interval that nearly reversed their fortunes

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, stated that his team were only able to regroup following Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in control. Second half they came out, harried us a lot higher, they put two in attack and altered the formation a bit," said Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the game. We assembled on the side of the pitch and adjusted a few things and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds United lost four straight consecutive Premier League matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign concluded with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke said that "our overriding feeling is disappointment", their second-half performance offered enough proof to indicate they are capable of halting their current form and climbing back up the standings

"Displaying such a performance should provide us plenty of belief. If we demonstrate such spirit and togetherness we have a great chance to earn the points," Farke added

"We possessed the belief prior to the game, during the game and following the game. Otherwise you can't respond with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Expert Analysis

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone expected it to be a comfortable win for Manchester City, but it has been far from comfortable in this second period"

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's changes, who is often criticised for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the City defenders"

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