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

Leeds got off to the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's lead ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Revival Denied

However, Leeds fought back after the interval after a change of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away following the restart

Furthermore with City clearly struggling to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver new instructions during the 120 seconds play was stopped for

"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke commented

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is smart. If I like it? If it's within the spirit of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to find a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

"I ask the fourth official at this moment if you wish to take action. Our options are limited"

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

Late Winner

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

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure especially around changes, was nearly rewarded for a bold choice at the interval that nearly turned around their situation

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, said that his side were only able to reorganize following Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot higher, they deployed two in attack and changed the formation a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We really 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 crucial to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent occasion Leeds lost four successive top-flight matches was in 2022-23, when their season ended with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "our overriding feeling is frustration", their second period display offered sufficient evidence to suggest they are able of halting their present run and moving up the standings

"Displaying such a display should give us lots of belief. If we show such determination and togetherness we have a excellent chance to earn the points," the manager added

"We had the confidence prior to the game, during the fixture and following the game. Otherwise you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone expected it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second half"

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently criticised for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the Manchester City centre-backs"

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