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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" during their Premier League fixture at the Etihad

Leeds made the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead before the half-time break

Second-Half Revival Denied

However, the visitors rallied following the break following a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the restart

And with Manchester City clearly struggling to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the touchline and deliver fresh instructions in the two minutes play was stopped for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke stated

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is smart. If I like it? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to determine a solution"

Coach's Disappointment

"I ask the fourth official at this point if you want to do something. Our hands are tied"

"If we don't teach our players in football what to do in terms of fair play 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 extra team talk, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Winner

Phil Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven top-flight fixtures to place them 18th in the division, with only last-placed Wolves having scored less top-flight goals this season

Tactical Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure particularly around changes, was almost rewarded for a courageous decision at the interval that nearly reversed their situation

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, said that his side were only capable to regroup after Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"During the break we were in control. Second half they came out, harried us a lot higher, they put two up top and changed the formation a little bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the game. We got together on the edge of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to get things right"

Positive Signs for Leeds

The last occasion Leeds United lost four consecutive Premier League matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign concluded with demotion

However, while Farke stated that "their overriding emotion is disappointment", their second-half performance offered enough proof to suggest they are able of arresting their current form and climbing up the table

"To show such a performance should provide us plenty of belief. If we demonstrate such determination and unity we have a great opportunity to win the points," the manager added

"We had the belief prior to the game, during the fixture and following the game. Otherwise you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

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

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often criticised for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the City defenders"

"It appeared like it might be a massive turning point in Leeds United's season, but Manchester City discovered a measure of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"