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Leeds manager Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" during their top-flight match at the Etihad

The visitors got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden scoring within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Revival Thwarted

However, Leeds fought back after the break following a adjustment of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away after the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City visibly having difficulty to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the sideline and deliver fresh directions in the 120 seconds play was stopped for

"Everyone understands why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't 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 in line with the spirit of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a solution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"Unless we educate our footballers in the game what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we just try to exploit regulations and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's injury-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored fewer top-flight goals this term

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of boldness especially around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a courageous decision at the interval that almost turned around their situation

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

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair in attack and altered the setup a little bit," said Foden

"We really had difficulty to get hold of the match. We got together on the side of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

The most recent time Leeds suffered four straight consecutive top-flight matches was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with relegation

However, while Farke said that "their main feeling is disappointment", their second period performance offered sufficient evidence to indicate they are able of halting their present run and climbing back up the standings

"To show such a display should provide us plenty of belief. If we demonstrate such spirit and togetherness we have a excellent opportunity to win the points," Farke added

"We had the belief prior to the match, during the fixture and after the game. Otherwise you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been far from easy in this second period"

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

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

"It looked like it could be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds' campaign, but City discovered a bit of brilliance. They got away with one this evening"