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

The visitors got off to the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden scoring within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead ahead of the interval

Second Period Revival Thwarted

However, the visitors fought back following the break following a change of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver new instructions in the 120 seconds play was stopped for

"Everybody knows 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 clever. If I like it? If it's within the spirit of fair play? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to find a solution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I ask the assistant referee at this point if you wish to take action. Our options are limited"

"If we don't educate our footballers in the game what to do in regards of fair play and fair play and whatever and if we just attempt to exploit regulations and even do a fake injury in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time winner condemned Leeds to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight matches to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched fewer Premier League goals this term

Strategic Changes

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of adventure especially around changes, was almost rewarded for a courageous choice at the half-time that nearly reversed their situation

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, said that his team were only capable to regroup following Pep Guardiola's sideline meeting with his squad

"During the break we were in command. Second half they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair up top and altered the formation a little bit," said Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the match. We assembled on the side of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

The most recent time Leeds United lost four straight successive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign ended with demotion

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke said that "their overriding emotion is frustration", their second period display offered enough evidence to suggest they are capable of arresting their current form and moving up the standings

"Displaying such a display should provide us lots of belief. If we show such spirit and unity we have a great chance to earn the results," the manager added

"We possessed the confidence before the game, throughout the fixture and following the game. Or else you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable victory for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second period"

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

"Then came 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 might be a massive turning point in Leeds United's season, but City discovered a bit of quality. They escaped with one this evening"