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

The visitors got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second Period Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors rallied following the interval following a adjustment of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away following the resumption

And with Manchester City visibly struggling to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and deliver fresh instructions during the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to determine a solution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I ask the fourth official at this point if you wish to do something. Our hands are tied"

"If we don't educate our footballers in football what to do in regards of fair play and fair play and everything and if we simply try to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in an attempt 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 stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven Premier League matches to leave them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored fewer top-flight strikes this term

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of boldness particularly around substitutions, was almost vindicated for a courageous choice at the interval that nearly reversed their fortunes

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, said that his team were only capable to regroup following Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they emerged, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed two in attack and altered the setup a little bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. We got together on the edge of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

The last time Leeds United lost four successive Premier League matches was in 2022-23, when their season ended with demotion

Nevertheless, while Farke stated that "our main feeling is frustration", their second-half display provided sufficient evidence to indicate they are capable of arresting their current form and climbing up the table

"Displaying such a performance should provide us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a excellent opportunity to earn the results," Farke added

"We possessed the confidence before the game, during the game and following the game. Or else you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Pundit Analysis

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Scottish club forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone anticipated it to be a straightforward win for Manchester City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second period"

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

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

"It appeared like it might be a massive turning point in Leeds' campaign, but Manchester City found a bit of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"