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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their Premier League match at the Etihad

The visitors got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage before the half-time break

Second Period Revival Thwarted

However, the visitors rallied following the interval following a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the restart

Furthermore with City clearly having difficulty to deal with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the sideline and deliver new instructions during the 120 seconds play was halted for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke commented

"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 in line with the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to determine a solution"

Coach's Frustration

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

"If we don't educate our players in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and even do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the regulations I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's stoppage-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven Premier League matches to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched less top-flight strikes this season

Tactical Changes

However, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of boldness especially around changes, was nearly rewarded for a courageous decision at the interval that nearly reversed their situation

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, said that his side were only able to reorganize after Guardiola's sideline conference with his squad

"During the break we were in control. Second half they emerged, pressed us a lot higher, they put two in attack and altered the formation a little bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. We assembled on the edge of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That little break was crucial to get things right"

Positive Signs for Leeds

The most recent occasion Leeds United suffered four consecutive Premier League matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign ended with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke said that "their main emotion is disappointment", their second period display offered sufficient proof to suggest they are able of halting their present run and moving back up the table

"Displaying such a performance should provide us lots of belief. If we demonstrate such determination and unity we have a excellent opportunity to earn the results," Farke continued

"We possessed the confidence prior to the match, throughout the game and following the encounter. Otherwise you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have great unity and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

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

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's changes, who is frequently questioned for not being as responsive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the City defenders"

"It appeared like it could be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds' season, but Manchester City discovered a measure of brilliance. They escaped with one this afternoon"