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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke claimed City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" in their top-flight fixture at the Etihad

Leeds made the worst possible start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead before the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, Leeds fought back after the break following a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the resumption

And with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to deal with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive treatment, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the touchline and deliver new instructions during the two minutes the game was halted 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 regulations. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the sense of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to find a solution"

Coach's Frustration

"I ask the fourth official at this moment if you wish to take action. Our hands are tied"

"If we don't educate our players in the game what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the regulations I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's injury-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive loss in seven Premier League matches to leave them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched fewer top-flight strikes this term

Tactical Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of adventure especially around substitutions, was nearly vindicated for a courageous choice at the interval that almost reversed their situation

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, stated that his side were only able to regroup following Pep Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"At half-time we were in command. Second half they came out, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair up top and altered the formation a bit," said Foden

"We really had difficulty to gain control of the game. We assembled on the side of the pitch and adjusted a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds United

The most recent occasion Leeds United lost four consecutive top-flight games was in the 2022-23 season, when their season ended with relegation

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke stated that "our overriding emotion is frustration", their second period performance offered enough proof to suggest they are able of halting their current run and climbing back up the table

"To show such a display should give us lots of belief. If we show such spirit and togetherness we have a great chance to win the results," Farke continued

"We had the belief before the game, throughout the fixture and following the encounter. Otherwise you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have great unity and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Celtic attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable victory for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second period"

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

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

"It looked like it might be a massive turning point in Leeds' campaign, but Manchester City found a measure of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"