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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" in their Premier League match at Etihad Stadium

The visitors made the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead ahead of the interval

Second-Half Comeback Denied

Nevertheless, the visitors rallied after the interval following a adjustment of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the restart

Furthermore with City clearly struggling to cope with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the touchline and issue new directions in the two minutes play was halted for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the sense of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a resolution"

Manager's Frustration

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

"Unless we teach our footballers in the game what to do in terms of fair play and fair play and everything and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and even do a simulated knock in order to do an extra team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolves having notched less top-flight strikes this season

Strategic Adjustments

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure especially around changes, was nearly rewarded for a bold decision at the half-time that almost turned around their situation

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, stated that his team were only capable to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his squad

"During the break we were in command. Second half they came out, harried us a lot higher, they deployed a pair up top and altered the setup a little bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. We got together on the side of the field and adjusted a few things and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds United

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

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "our overriding feeling is disappointment", their second period performance offered enough proof to indicate they are able of halting their current run and climbing up the table

"Displaying such a display should provide us lots of confidence. If we show such spirit and togetherness we have a excellent opportunity to win the points," the manager added

"We had the confidence before the match, throughout the fixture and after the encounter. Otherwise you can't respond with a showing like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everybody anticipated it to be a comfortable victory for 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"

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is frequently criticised for not being as responsive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the City centre-backs"

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