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Leeds manager Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" during their Premier League fixture at the Etihad

The visitors got off to the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Revival Thwarted

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

And with Manchester City visibly struggling to cope with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver fresh directions during the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke stated

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I approve? 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 find a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

"I questioned the fourth official at this point if you want to take action. Our hands are tied"

"If we don't teach our players in the game what to do in regards of fair play and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply try to exploit regulations and even do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored less Premier League strikes this season

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness especially around substitutions, was nearly vindicated for a courageous choice at the half-time that nearly turned around their fortunes

Talking to television pundits, Foden, said that his team were only able to reorganize following Guardiola's touchline meeting with his squad

"At half-time we were in control. Second half they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and altered the formation a little bit," said Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the match. We assembled on the side of the field and adjusted a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to get things right"

Positive Signs for Leeds

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

However, while Farke said that "our overriding emotion is disappointment", their second period display provided enough proof to suggest they are capable of halting their present run and moving back up the table

"To show such a performance should provide us lots of belief. If we show such spirit and togetherness we have a great chance to win the results," Farke continued

"We had the belief before the game, throughout the fixture and after the encounter. Or else you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Celtic forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been far from comfortable in this second half"

"Leeds United can derive a lot from this performance with the manner they have played in this second period"

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often questioned 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 could be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds' campaign, but City discovered a bit of brilliance. They got away with one this evening"