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

Leeds made the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second Period Revival Denied

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

Furthermore with City clearly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and deliver new instructions in the two minutes play was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is smart. If I like it? If it's within the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to find a solution"

Manager's Disappointment

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

"If we don't teach our footballers in the game what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we just try to exploit regulations and even do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's stoppage-time winner condemned Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolves having notched less Premier League strikes this term

Tactical Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of adventure particularly around substitutions, was nearly vindicated for a bold choice at the half-time that nearly reversed their fortunes

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, stated that his side were only able to regroup following Guardiola's sideline meeting with his squad

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot higher, they put two up top and changed the formation a bit," said Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the game. We assembled on the side of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That little break was crucial to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

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

Nevertheless, while Farke stated that "their main emotion is disappointment", their second period performance offered enough proof to indicate they are capable of halting their present run and climbing back up the table

"Displaying such a display should give us lots of belief. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a great chance to earn the points," the manager continued

"We possessed the confidence prior to the game, throughout the fixture and following the game. Or else you can't respond with a performance like that. We have strong unity and determination in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everybody anticipated it to be a straightforward win for Manchester City, but it has been anything but easy in this second period"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently questioned for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the Manchester City defenders"

"It looked like it could be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds' campaign, but Manchester City discovered a measure of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"