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

Leeds got off to the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' lead ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Revival Denied

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

Furthermore with Manchester City visibly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the touchline and issue fresh directions during the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everyone knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is smart. If I like it? If it's within the spirit of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to determine a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

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

"If we don't educate our footballers in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we simply try to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the rules I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Phil Foden's injury-time winner condemned Leeds to a sixth loss in seven Premier League matches to leave them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored fewer Premier League strikes this term

Strategic Changes

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

Speaking to television pundits, Phil Foden, said that his side were only able to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's touchline meeting with his squad

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair in attack and altered the formation a bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely 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 make corrections"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds United suffered four successive top-flight games was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign ended with relegation

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke stated that "our overriding feeling is disappointment", their second-half performance offered enough proof to suggest they are able of halting their present run and moving back up the table

"To show such a display should give us plenty of confidence. If we show such determination and togetherness we have a excellent opportunity to win the points," Farke added

"We possessed the confidence prior to the match, throughout the fixture and after the encounter. Otherwise you can't come back with a performance like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Expert Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable victory for Manchester City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second period"

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

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

"It appeared like it could be a massive turning point in Leeds' campaign, but Manchester City discovered a measure of quality. They got away with one this evening"