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

Leeds made the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Denied

Nevertheless, Leeds rallied following the interval after a adjustment of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away following the restart

Furthermore with City clearly struggling to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive treatment, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the sideline and issue new instructions in the two minutes play was stopped for

"Everyone understands why he collapsed," Farke stated

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within 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 resolution"

Manager's Frustration

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

"If we don't educate our footballers in the game what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just try to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team meeting, 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

Foden's injury-time winner sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched fewer top-flight goals this term

Strategic Changes

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness especially around changes, was almost rewarded for a bold decision at the interval that almost reversed their situation

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, said that his side were only capable to regroup after Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"During the break we were in command. Second half they emerged, pressed us a lot higher, they put two up top and altered the setup a little bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the match. We got together on the edge of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to get things right"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

The last time Leeds United lost four straight successive top-flight games was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with demotion

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke said that "their overriding emotion is disappointment", their second period performance offered enough evidence to indicate they are able of arresting their current form and moving up the standings

"To show such a performance should provide us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and togetherness we have a excellent chance to earn the results," Farke added

"We had the confidence before the game, throughout the game and following the game. Otherwise you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everyone expected it to be a comfortable victory for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second period"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often criticised for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the City defenders"

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