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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" in their Premier League fixture at Etihad Stadium

Leeds made the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' advantage before the interval

Second-Half Revival Denied

Nevertheless, the visitors fought back following the interval following a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the resumption

Furthermore with City clearly having difficulty to cope with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and deliver new directions in the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everyone understands why he went down," Farke stated

"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 sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the authorities to find a solution"

Coach's Frustration

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

"If we don't teach our players in the game what to do in regards of fair play and sportsmanship and everything and if we just try to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in order to do an extra team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the rules I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven Premier League matches to leave them 18th in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched fewer Premier League strikes this season

Strategic Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness particularly around changes, was nearly rewarded for a bold decision at the half-time that nearly turned around their situation

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, said that his team were only capable to regroup after Guardiola's touchline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair up top and changed the setup a bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the game. We got together on the side of the field and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds

The last occasion Leeds suffered four straight consecutive Premier League matches was in 2022-23, when their season ended with relegation

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke said that "their overriding emotion is disappointment", their second-half display provided enough proof to indicate they are able of halting their current form and climbing back up the table

"Displaying such a performance should provide us plenty of belief. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a excellent chance to win the points," the manager continued

"We possessed the belief prior to the game, during the fixture and after the game. Or else you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everyone expected it to be a comfortable victory 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 played in this second period"

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is frequently criticised for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the City defenders"

"It looked like it might be a massive turning point in Leeds' season, but City found a measure of brilliance. They escaped with one this evening"