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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has accused City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" during their Premier League fixture at Etihad Stadium

Leeds got off to the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors fought back following the interval following a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately following the restart

Furthermore with City visibly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the sideline and deliver fresh instructions in the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke stated

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the spirit of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to determine a solution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"Unless we teach our footballers in the game what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and whatever and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and even do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like personally. But if it is allowed by the regulations I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Phil Foden's stoppage-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight matches to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolves having notched less Premier League strikes this term

Strategic Changes

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of adventure especially around substitutions, was almost rewarded for a bold choice at the half-time that nearly reversed their situation

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

"During the break we were in control. Second half they emerged, harried us a lot higher, they put a pair up top and changed the setup a bit," said Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was vital to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds lost four straight successive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their season ended with demotion

However, while Farke said that "their overriding emotion is disappointment", their second-half display offered sufficient proof to indicate they are able of arresting their current run and moving back up the standings

"To show such a display should give us lots of belief. If we show such determination and unity we have a excellent chance to win the results," the manager continued

"We had the confidence before the match, during the fixture and after the encounter. Or else you can't come back with a showing like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

Commenting on radio analysis, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable victory for Manchester City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second half"

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

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

"It appeared like it could be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds' season, but City discovered a measure of brilliance. They got away with one this afternoon"