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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has accused City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their top-flight fixture at the Etihad

Leeds made the poorest start with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead before the interval

Second Period Revival Denied

However, Leeds fought back following the interval after a adjustment of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City visibly having difficulty to deal with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and issue new instructions during the 120 seconds play was halted for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke commented

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the authorities to find a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I questioned the assistant referee at this moment if you want to do something. Our options are limited"

"If we don't teach our players in the game what to do in regards of fair play and fair play and whatever and if we simply try to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the regulations I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's injury-time winner condemned Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven top-flight fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolves having scored fewer top-flight goals this term

Tactical Adjustments

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of adventure especially around substitutions, was almost vindicated for a courageous decision at the interval that nearly reversed their fortunes

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, said that his team were only able to regroup after Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair in attack and altered the setup a little bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the match. We got together on the side of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Positive Signs for Leeds

The last occasion Leeds suffered four consecutive top-flight matches was in 2022-23, when their campaign concluded with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "our overriding feeling is frustration", their second period display offered enough evidence to indicate they are able of halting their current form and moving up the table

"Displaying such a performance should provide us plenty of belief. If we show such determination and unity 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 encounter. Otherwise you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Expert Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Celtic forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody expected it to be a straightforward victory for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second half"

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

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

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