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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke claimed City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" in their top-flight fixture at the Etihad

Leeds got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead ahead of the interval

Second-Half Comeback Denied

However, the visitors fought back following the interval after a adjustment of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away following the resumption

And with City clearly struggling to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and issue new instructions during the two minutes play was halted for

"Everyone understands why he went down," Farke stated

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is smart. If I like it? If it's in line with the sense of fair play? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to determine a solution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I ask the assistant referee at this point if you want to do something. Our options are limited"

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in regards of fair play and fair play and everything and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations and even do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an extra team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is allowed by the rules I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's stoppage-time winner condemned Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven top-flight fixtures to leave them 18th in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored fewer Premier League strikes this term

Tactical Adjustments

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness especially around changes, was almost rewarded for a bold decision at the half-time that nearly turned around their situation

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, stated that his side were only able to regroup after Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in control. Second half they came out, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair up top and changed the formation a little bit," commented Foden

"We really had difficulty to gain control of the match. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was crucial to get things right"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

The most recent time Leeds lost four straight successive top-flight games was in 2022-23, when their season concluded with relegation

However, while Farke stated that "our main emotion is disappointment", their second period performance provided sufficient proof to indicate they are capable of halting their present run and moving up the table

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

"We possessed the belief before the game, throughout the fixture and following the game. Otherwise you cannot respond with a showing like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Celtic attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everyone anticipated it to be a straightforward win for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second half"

"Leeds United 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 often criticised for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the Manchester City defenders"

"It looked like it could be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds United's season, but City discovered a measure of quality. They escaped with one this evening"