Leeds United can take great pride from their second half as Daniel Farke’s tactical nous almost secured the most unlikely of comebacks against Man City, and Dermot Gallagher thinks Leeds were robbed.
An early goal from Phil Foden and a Josko Gvardiol tap-in had put City leading 2-0 at half-time. But some tactical tweaks from Daniel Farke, including two substitutions and a formation change saw Leeds equalise.
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Daniel Farke of Leeds United
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on at half-time, and he scored his second Leeds goal before Lukas Nmecha scored in his third consecutive Premier League game. Missing a penalty, he tapped home the rebound.
Farke’s changes had worked, his change of formation had worked, and it has earned the German some praise. It has garnered a sense of momentum, even if Foden scored a second goal for City in injury time.
Dermot Gallagher.
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Dermot Gallagher says Man City’s second shouldn’t have counted
Speaking to Sky Sports’ Ref Watch on Monday, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher explains that Leeds should feel aggrieved over the scoring of Gvardiol’s goal, with Foden in an offside position.
Before the corner in which Gvardiol scores, Foden takes a corner from the other flank. It is headed back to the Man City star by Gvardiol who drives in and strikes the ball, going out for another City corner.
Gallagher explains that when Gvardiol heads the ball back to Foden, the England star is offside: “When the corner is taken by Foden, the assistant is forced to move to go level with the last defender.
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“Foden is on his right so he doesn’t see him. Gvardiol heads the ball first time back to Foden who is offside. He takes the ball in, strikes it. Wins a corner. VAR couldn’t get involved because it wasn’t a goal.”
Phil Foden gives Daniel Farke credit for his half-time switch🗣️
“It’s up there as one of the wildest games. We had full control in the first half. They changed their system in the second half and we couldn’t get going.”
Phil Foden after Leeds’ 3-2 loss to Man City
What Dermot Gallagher said about the Man City team talk
Much has been made of City forcing a team talk in an attempt to make tactical changes and deal with what Farke had done at half-time. Ruben Dias is seen shouting at Gianluigi Donnarumma to go down.
Action is being taken to prevent such matters from happening again. Donnarumma went down, faking injury and allowing Guardiola to make the changes he deemed necessary to regain control of the match.
Lukas Nmecha said he had never seen anything like it as Guardiola spoke to his players. Gallagher said: Referee is hamstrung. You’re not a physio, you’re not a doctor. There is nothing a ref can do.”
Even though Leeds failed to win or get anything from the game, it has given Leeds a new sense of life. A tactic that works against one of the Premier League’s best sides. All eyes on Chelsea, on Wednesday.
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