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

Leeds made the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead before the interval

Second Period Revival Thwarted

However, Leeds fought back following the break following a adjustment of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the resumption

Furthermore with City clearly struggling to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the touchline and deliver new directions during the two minutes play was halted for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is smart. If I like it? If it's within the sense of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to find a solution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I questioned the assistant referee at this moment if you want to do something. Our options are limited"

"If we don't teach our footballers in the game what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we just attempt to bend the rules and even do a simulated knock in order to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Winner

Foden's injury-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive loss in seven Premier League fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored fewer top-flight goals this season

Tactical Adjustments

However, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure particularly around substitutions, was nearly vindicated for a bold decision at the interval that almost turned around their situation

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, said that his side were only able to regroup after Pep Guardiola's touchline conference with his squad

"At half-time we were in control. Second half they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed a pair in attack and altered the setup a bit," said Foden

"We really struggled to get hold of the match. We assembled on the side 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

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

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "their overriding emotion is disappointment", their second period performance provided enough proof to suggest they are able of halting their present run and climbing up the table

"To show such a display should provide us lots of belief. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a excellent opportunity to win the results," the manager continued

"We had the confidence prior to the game, during the game and following the game. Or else you can't come back with a showing like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Expert Opinion

Commenting on radio analysis, former Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been far from easy in this second half"

"Leeds can take 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 defenders"

"It looked like it might be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds' season, but City found a bit of quality. They escaped with one this evening"