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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" in their top-flight fixture at the Etihad

Leeds got off to the worst possible start with Phil Foden scoring inside the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's lead ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, Leeds rallied after the interval after a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the restart

And with City visibly having difficulty to cope with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the sideline and issue fresh instructions in the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everyone knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is smart. If I like it? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the authorities to determine a solution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"Unless we teach our players in football what to do in regards of fair play and sportsmanship and everything and if we just try to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven Premier League fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored less Premier League strikes this season

Strategic Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure especially around changes, was almost rewarded for a courageous decision at the half-time that almost turned around their fortunes

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

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they emerged, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair in attack and changed the setup a little bit," said Foden

"We really struggled to get hold of the game. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

The most recent occasion Leeds lost four consecutive Premier League matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign concluded with relegation

Nevertheless, while Farke stated that "their main feeling is frustration", their second period display provided sufficient evidence to indicate they are able of halting their present run and moving up the standings

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

"We possessed the confidence before the match, throughout the fixture and after the game. Or else you can't come back with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody expected it to be a straightforward victory for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second half"

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

"Following that were 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 Manchester City defenders"

"It appeared like it could be a huge turning point in Leeds' season, but City discovered a measure of quality. They escaped with one this evening"