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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" in their top-flight match at Etihad Stadium

Leeds got off to the worst possible start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' advantage ahead of the interval

Second Period Revival Thwarted

However, Leeds rallied after the break after a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately following the resumption

Furthermore with City visibly having difficulty to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the sideline and issue new instructions during the two minutes play was halted for

"Everybody knows why he went down," 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 approve? If it's within the spirit of fair play? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a solution"

Coach's Disappointment

"I questioned the fourth official at this point if you want to do something. Our options are limited"

"If we don't educate our players in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations and actually do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like myself. But if it is allowed by the rules I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's stoppage-time winner sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven Premier League matches to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having scored fewer Premier League strikes this season

Strategic Adjustments

However, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness particularly around substitutions, was almost rewarded for a courageous choice at the half-time that almost turned around their situation

Talking to television pundits, Foden, stated that his team were only capable to reorganize after Guardiola's touchline conference with his squad

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they emerged, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair in attack and changed the setup a bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the game. We got together on the side of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was vital to get things right"

Positive Signs for Leeds

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

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "their main emotion is disappointment", their second-half display provided sufficient evidence to indicate they are capable of halting their present run and climbing back up the standings

"Displaying such a performance should give us lots of belief. If we show such determination and unity we have a excellent opportunity to earn the results," the manager added

"We possessed the confidence prior to the match, throughout the fixture and after the encounter. Otherwise you can't respond with a showing like that. We have strong unity and determination in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody anticipated it to be a comfortable victory for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second period"

"Leeds United can derive a lot from this performance with the way they have played in this second half"

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is frequently criticised for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the City defenders"

"It appeared like it might be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds United's season, but City found a measure of brilliance. They escaped with one this afternoon"