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Leeds manager Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" in their top-flight fixture at Etihad Stadium

Leeds got off to the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second Period Revival Denied

However, Leeds fought back after the break following a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the resumption

And with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the sideline and deliver new instructions in the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everyone understands why he collapsed," Farke commented

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is smart. If I like it? If it's in line with the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

"I questioned the assistant referee at this moment if you wish to do something. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we teach our footballers in the game what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and whatever and if we simply try to bend the rules and even do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I like myself. But if it is allowed by the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolves having notched fewer Premier League strikes this term

Strategic Adjustments

However, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure especially around changes, was nearly rewarded for a bold decision at the interval that almost reversed their fortunes

Speaking to television pundits, Phil Foden, stated that his team were only able to reorganize following Pep Guardiola's sideline meeting with his squad

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot higher, they deployed two up top and changed the formation a bit," said Foden

"We really struggled to gain control of the game. We got together on the side of the pitch and changed a few things and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds

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

However, while Farke said that "their overriding emotion is frustration", their second-half display provided enough proof to suggest they are able of halting their present run and moving back up the standings

"To show such a display should provide us plenty of confidence. If we show such spirit and unity we have a excellent opportunity to win the results," Farke continued

"We had the confidence before the match, during the game and following the game. Otherwise you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on radio analysis, ex- Celtic forward 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 take a lot from this performance with the way they have played in this second period"

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

"It looked like it could be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds' campaign, but Manchester City discovered a bit of brilliance. They escaped with one this evening"