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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke claimed City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" during their top-flight fixture at the Etihad

Leeds made the worst possible start with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead ahead of the interval

Second Period Comeback Thwarted

However, the visitors rallied after the interval following a change of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the resumption

Furthermore with City clearly struggling to cope with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver fresh instructions during the 120 seconds play was halted for

"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is smart. If I like it? If it's in line with the spirit of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the authorities to determine a solution"

Coach's Disappointment

"I questioned the assistant referee at this moment if you want to take action. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we teach our footballers in football what to do in terms of fair play and fair play and whatever and if we simply try to bend the rules and even do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time winner condemned Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to leave them 18th in the division, with only bottom club Wolves having notched less top-flight strikes this season

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of boldness particularly around substitutions, was almost vindicated for a courageous choice at the interval that nearly reversed their fortunes

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 squad

"At half-time we were in command. Second half they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and changed the setup a bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the match. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and adjusted a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds

The last occasion Leeds United suffered four successive Premier League games was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign concluded with relegation

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "their main emotion is frustration", their second period display provided sufficient evidence to suggest they are capable of arresting their current run and moving back up the standings

"To show such a display should give us plenty of confidence. If we show such determination and unity we have a great chance to win the results," Farke continued

"We possessed the confidence prior to the match, throughout the game and after the encounter. Or else you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

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

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, 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 looked like it might be a massive turning point in Leeds United's campaign, but City discovered a bit of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"