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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke claimed City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" during their top-flight match at the Etihad

The visitors made the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second Period Revival Denied

However, the visitors rallied after the break following a adjustment of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away following the resumption

Furthermore with City visibly struggling to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and issue fresh instructions in the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke stated

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is smart. 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 find a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

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

"If we don't teach our players in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just attempt to bend the rules and even do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's injury-time winner condemned Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolves having notched fewer top-flight strikes this term

Strategic Adjustments

However, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness particularly around substitutions, was almost vindicated for a bold decision at the half-time that almost reversed their situation

Speaking to television pundits, Phil Foden, stated that his team were only able to reorganize following Pep Guardiola's sideline meeting with his players

"At half-time we were in control. Second half they emerged, harried us a lot higher, they put two in attack and altered the formation a little bit," commented Phil Foden

"We really had difficulty to get hold of the game. We got together on the edge of the pitch and changed a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds

The most recent occasion Leeds suffered four straight consecutive top-flight matches was in 2022-23, when their season ended with demotion

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke stated that "our overriding emotion is frustration", their second-half performance provided enough proof to indicate they are able of halting their current run and climbing back up the standings

"Displaying such a performance should give us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such determination and unity we have a great opportunity to win the points," Farke added

"We had the belief before the game, throughout the fixture and after the game. Or else you can't respond with a performance like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been far from easy in this second period"

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

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

"It looked like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds' campaign, but Manchester City found a bit of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"