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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has accused City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" during their top-flight fixture at Etihad Stadium

Leeds got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' advantage before the interval

Second Period Revival Thwarted

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

Furthermore with City visibly struggling to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and deliver fresh instructions during the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Manager's Frustration

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

"If we don't educate our footballers in the game what to do in regards of fair play and fair play and everything and if we just attempt to exploit regulations and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is within the rules I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Phil Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth loss in seven Premier League matches to leave them 18th in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored fewer top-flight strikes this term

Tactical Changes

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of boldness especially around substitutions, was nearly vindicated for a bold choice at the half-time that nearly reversed their fortunes

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, said that his team were only capable to reorganize following Pep Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"At half-time we were in control. Second half they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair in attack and changed the formation a bit," said Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the match. We assembled 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"

Positive Signs for Leeds

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

However, while Daniel Farke said that "their overriding feeling is frustration", their second-half performance offered enough proof to suggest they are able of halting their current form and climbing back up the standings

"To show such a performance should provide us plenty of belief. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a excellent opportunity to earn the results," Farke continued

"We had the belief before the match, during the game and after the encounter. Or else you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

Commenting on radio analysis, former Celtic attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everyone expected it to be a comfortable win for Manchester City, but it has been anything but easy in this second period"

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

"Then came 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 huge turning point in Leeds United's season, but Manchester City found a bit of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"