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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" in their top-flight fixture at Etihad Stadium

The visitors made the poorest beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' advantage before the interval

Second Period Revival Denied

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

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly struggling to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and issue new directions in the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everyone knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with 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"

Coach's Frustration

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

"If we don't educate our footballers in football what to do in regards of fair play and fair play and whatever and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations and even do a simulated knock in order to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is allowed by the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's injury-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored fewer Premier League strikes this term

Tactical Adjustments

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of adventure particularly around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a courageous decision at the interval that almost reversed their situation

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, said that his side were only able to reorganize following Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his squad

"During the break we were in command. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and altered the formation a bit," said Phil Foden

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

Positive Aspects for Leeds

The most recent occasion Leeds suffered four successive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "our overriding emotion is frustration", their second-half display offered sufficient proof to indicate they are capable of arresting their current run and moving up the table

"Displaying such a performance should give us plenty of confidence. If we show such determination and togetherness we have a great opportunity to win the points," Farke added

"We had the belief prior to the match, during the fixture and following the encounter. Or else you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody expected it to be a straightforward victory for Manchester City, but it has been far from comfortable in this second period"

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often questioned for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It looked like it could be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds' season, but City found a bit of brilliance. They got away with one this afternoon"