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

Leeds got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's lead ahead of the interval

Second-Half Comeback Denied

Nevertheless, Leeds fought back after the break after a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the restart

And with City clearly struggling to cope with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive attention, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and issue new instructions in the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke stated

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I approve? If it's within the spirit of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the authorities to determine a solution"

Coach's Frustration

"I questioned the assistant referee at this point if you wish to take action. Our options are limited"

"Unless we teach our players in football 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 extra team talk, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is allowed by the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven Premier League matches to leave them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolves having notched less Premier League goals this term

Strategic Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of adventure particularly around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a bold choice at the half-time that nearly turned around their situation

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, stated that his side were only able to regroup following Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his squad

"During the break we were in control. Second half they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they put a pair up top and altered 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 adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds

The most recent occasion Leeds lost four straight successive top-flight games was in the 2022-23 season, when their season concluded with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke said that "our main emotion is frustration", their second-half display offered enough evidence to suggest they are able of arresting their current form and moving up the table

"Displaying such a display should provide us lots of confidence. If we show such determination and unity we have a excellent opportunity to earn the results," Farke continued

"We possessed the belief before the game, during the game and after the game. Or else you can't respond with a showing like that. We have great unity and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable win for Manchester 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 performed in this second period"

"Following that were Daniel Farke's changes, who is frequently criticised for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the City defenders"

"It appeared like it might be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds' season, but City discovered a bit of brilliance. They got away with one this evening"