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

Leeds made the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's advantage before the half-time break

Second Period Revival Denied

Nevertheless, the visitors rallied after the interval following a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the restart

And with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to cope with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the sideline and issue new instructions during the two minutes play was stopped for

"Everyone understands why he collapsed," Farke stated

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the regulations. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the governing bodies to determine a resolution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"Unless we teach our footballers in football what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship and everything and if we just try to exploit regulations and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is allowed by the rules I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven Premier League matches to place them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched less top-flight strikes this term

Strategic Adjustments

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of boldness particularly around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a courageous choice at the half-time that almost turned around their situation

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

"At half-time we were in control. Second half they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair up top and changed the formation a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We really struggled to get hold of the match. We assembled on the edge of the field and changed a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds

The last occasion Leeds suffered four successive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their season ended with relegation

Nevertheless, while Farke stated that "their main emotion is frustration", their second period display offered sufficient evidence to suggest they are able of arresting their present run and moving up the table

"To show such a display should give us lots of belief. If we demonstrate such spirit and togetherness we have a great opportunity to win the points," the manager continued

"We had the belief before the match, during the game and following the encounter. Or else you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Pundit Analysis

Commenting on radio analysis, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable victory for Manchester City, but it has been far from easy in this second period"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is frequently criticised for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It looked like it could be a huge turning point in Leeds United's season, but City found a bit of quality. They escaped with one this evening"