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

Leeds made the poorest start with Phil Foden scoring within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's advantage ahead of the interval

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, Leeds fought back following the break following a adjustment of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away after the restart

And with Manchester City visibly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the touchline and issue fresh directions in the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

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

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

"Unless we teach our footballers in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and whatever and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an extra team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Phil Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to place them 18th in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolves having scored fewer top-flight goals this term

Tactical Changes

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of adventure particularly around substitutions, was nearly vindicated for a courageous decision at the half-time that almost turned around their situation

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, said that his team were only able to regroup following Guardiola's touchline meeting with his squad

"At half-time we were in command. Second half they came out, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and altered the setup a bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the game. We assembled on the edge of the field and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to get things right"

Positive Signs for Leeds United

The most recent occasion Leeds United suffered four successive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their season concluded with demotion

However, while Farke stated that "their overriding emotion is disappointment", their second-half display provided sufficient evidence to suggest they are able of arresting their current run and climbing back up the standings

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

"We had the confidence prior to the match, throughout the fixture and after the game. Or else you can't come back with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Analysis

Speaking on radio analysis, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody expected it to be a straightforward victory for Manchester City, but it has been anything but easy in this second half"

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

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

"It looked like it could be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds' season, but City found a bit of quality. They got away with one this evening"