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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 match at Etihad Stadium

Leeds made the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead ahead of the interval

Second-Half Comeback Denied

Nevertheless, the visitors rallied after the break following a adjustment of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately after the resumption

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive attention, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the sideline and deliver new instructions in the 120 seconds play was halted for

"Everyone knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"If we don't educate our footballers in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we just attempt to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is within the regulations I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched less top-flight strikes this season

Tactical Changes

However, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness particularly around changes, was almost rewarded for a bold choice at the half-time that nearly reversed their fortunes

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, said that his team were only capable to regroup after Guardiola's sideline meeting with his squad

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

"We really had difficulty to gain control of the game. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and changed a few things and it improved from there. That little break was vital to get things right"

Positive Signs for Leeds United

The last time Leeds lost four straight consecutive Premier League matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their season ended with demotion

However, while Farke said that "our main emotion is frustration", their second period performance provided sufficient proof to suggest they are capable of arresting their current run and moving back up the table

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

"We possessed the belief before the game, during the fixture and following the encounter. Otherwise you can't respond with a performance like that. We have great unity and determination in the locker room"

Expert Opinion

Commenting on radio analysis, ex- Celtic attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been far from comfortable in this second half"

"Leeds can derive a lot from this display with the manner they have performed in this second half"

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often questioned for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It looked like it could be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds' campaign, but Manchester City discovered a measure of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"