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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" during their Premier League match at the Etihad

The visitors got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Denied

Nevertheless, the visitors fought back following the interval after a change of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the resumption

And with City visibly struggling to cope with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the touchline and issue fresh instructions in the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is smart. If I approve? If it's in line with the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to determine a solution"

Coach's Frustration

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

"If we don't educate our footballers in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and even do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolves having notched fewer Premier League goals this term

Tactical Adjustments

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

Speaking to television pundits, Foden, said that his side were only able to regroup after Guardiola's touchline conference with his squad

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they put two in attack and altered the setup a bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the match. We assembled on the side of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent occasion Leeds United lost four successive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their season concluded with demotion

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke said that "our overriding feeling is frustration", their second period performance offered enough proof to suggest they are capable of halting their current run and moving up the table

"To show such a display should provide us lots of belief. If we show such spirit and togetherness we have a great opportunity to earn the results," the manager continued

"We possessed the confidence prior to the game, throughout the game and after the game. Otherwise you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Expert Opinion

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Celtic forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody anticipated it to be a comfortable victory for Manchester City, but it has been far from easy in this second half"

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

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

"It appeared like it could be a massive turning point in Leeds' campaign, but City found a measure of brilliance. They got away with one this afternoon"