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Leeds manager Daniel Farke claimed City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" during their Premier League match at Etihad Stadium

Leeds got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' advantage before the half-time break

Second-Half Revival Denied

However, the visitors rallied after the break following a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the resumption

And with City clearly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and deliver fresh instructions during the 120 seconds play was halted for

"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke stated

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the spirit of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a solution"

Coach's Frustration

"I questioned the assistant referee at this point if you want 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 simply try to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the regulations I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight matches to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having scored less Premier League strikes this season

Strategic Changes

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of boldness especially around changes, was nearly vindicated for a courageous decision at the interval that nearly turned around their situation

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, said that his side were only able to reorganize following Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

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

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the match. We got together on the edge of the field and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to get things right"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The last time Leeds lost four straight successive top-flight matches was in 2022-23, when their campaign concluded with relegation

However, while Farke stated that "our main feeling is disappointment", their second period display offered enough evidence to indicate they are capable of halting their present form and moving back up the table

"Displaying such a performance should provide us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a excellent opportunity to earn the results," Farke added

"We possessed the confidence prior to the match, throughout the fixture and after the game. Or else you can't come back with a showing like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Expert Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scottish club forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody expected it to be a straightforward victory for Manchester City, but it has been far from comfortable in this second period"

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

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

"It looked like it might be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds' campaign, but City found a measure of quality. They got away with one this evening"