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

Leeds made the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Revival Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors fought back after the break after a adjustment of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away following the restart

And with Manchester City visibly struggling to cope with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive attention, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and deliver new directions in the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the regulations. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the spirit of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to determine a solution"

Manager's Disappointment

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

"If we don't teach our footballers in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in order to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's stoppage-time winner condemned Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having scored fewer Premier League goals this term

Strategic Changes

However, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure particularly around substitutions, was almost vindicated for a bold choice at the half-time that almost turned around their fortunes

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, stated that his team were only capable to reorganize following Guardiola's sideline meeting with his squad

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

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the game. We got together on the side of the field and changed a few things and it got better from there. That brief pause was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds

The last occasion Leeds suffered four straight successive top-flight games was in the 2022-23 season, when their season ended with demotion

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke stated that "their main feeling is frustration", their second period performance offered enough proof to indicate they are capable of halting their present run and climbing back up the standings

"To show such a display should provide us plenty of belief. If we show such determination and unity we have a great chance to earn the points," the manager continued

"We had the belief prior to the game, throughout the fixture and following the game. Otherwise you can't respond with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Analysis

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody anticipated 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 performed in this second half"

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

"It appeared like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds United's campaign, but City discovered a bit of brilliance. They got away with one this afternoon"