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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke claimed City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" in their Premier League fixture at the Etihad

Leeds made the poorest beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' advantage ahead of the interval

Second Period Comeback Denied

Nevertheless, the visitors fought back following the interval after a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away after the resumption

And with Manchester City clearly struggling to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and deliver fresh instructions during the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is smart. If I like it? If it's within the sense of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to find a solution"

Manager's Disappointment

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

"If we don't educate our players in the game what to do in regards of fair play and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an extra team talk, it is not what I like personally. But if it is allowed by the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time winner condemned Leeds to a sixth loss in seven Premier League fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolves having notched fewer top-flight goals this term

Tactical Adjustments

However, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of adventure particularly around changes, was almost rewarded for a courageous decision at the half-time that almost reversed their fortunes

Talking to television pundits, Foden, stated that his team were only capable to regroup after Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his squad

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair in attack and altered the setup a little bit," said Foden

"We really struggled to gain control of the game. We assembled on the side of the field and adjusted a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

The last time Leeds lost four consecutive top-flight matches was in 2022-23, when their season concluded with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "our main emotion is disappointment", their second-half performance offered enough evidence to suggest they are able of halting their current run and climbing up the standings

"Displaying such a display should give us lots of confidence. If we show such determination and togetherness we have a excellent chance to earn the points," Farke added

"We possessed the belief prior to the game, throughout the fixture and after the encounter. Or else you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

Commenting on radio analysis, former Scottish club forward Chris Sutton said: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable victory for Manchester City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second half"

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

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

"It appeared like it could be a huge turning point in Leeds' campaign, but City found a measure of quality. They escaped with one this evening"