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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has accused City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" in their top-flight match at Etihad Stadium

The visitors made the poorest beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' advantage ahead of the interval

Second-Half Comeback Denied

Nevertheless, Leeds fought back following the interval after a adjustment of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately after the resumption

Furthermore with City visibly having difficulty to cope with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver new directions in the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke commented

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

Coach's Disappointment

"I ask the fourth official at this moment if you wish to take action. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we teach our footballers in football what to do in regards of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we just try to exploit regulations and actually do a simulated knock 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 can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time winner condemned Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to place them 18th in the division, with only bottom club Wolves having scored fewer Premier League strikes this season

Strategic Changes

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

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, said that his team were only able to regroup after Guardiola's sideline meeting with his players

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed a pair up top and altered the formation a bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the match. 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"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds

The most recent time Leeds suffered four straight consecutive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their season ended with demotion

Nevertheless, while Farke stated that "our main emotion is disappointment", their second period display offered enough proof to suggest they are capable of arresting their present run and moving back up the table

"Displaying such a display should provide us plenty of belief. If we demonstrate such determination and togetherness we have a great opportunity to win the results," Farke continued

"We possessed the confidence prior to the match, throughout the game and after the game. Or else you can't respond with a showing like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on radio analysis, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable victory for City, but it has been far from easy in this second half"

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

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

"It looked like it could be a massive turning point in Leeds United's campaign, but Manchester City found a measure of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"