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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has accused City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their top-flight fixture at Etihad Stadium

The visitors made the worst possible start with Phil Foden scoring inside the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage before the interval

Second Period Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors fought back after the break following a adjustment of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City visibly struggling to cope with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the sideline and issue new instructions during the 120 seconds play was halted for

"Everyone understands why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to determine a resolution"

Coach's Disappointment

"I ask the assistant referee at this point if you wish to do something. Our options are limited"

"If we don't educate our footballers in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just try to exploit regulations and even do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolves having scored less top-flight strikes this term

Tactical Changes

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure particularly around changes, was almost rewarded for a courageous choice at the interval that almost turned around their situation

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

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair up top and altered the formation a little bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. We got together on the edge of the pitch and adjusted a few things and it improved from there. That little break was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The last occasion Leeds United suffered four straight consecutive Premier League matches was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with demotion

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke stated that "our overriding feeling is frustration", their second-half performance provided sufficient evidence to indicate they are capable of halting their present form and climbing back up the table

"To show such a display should give us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a excellent chance to earn the results," the manager added

"We possessed the belief prior to the match, during the fixture and after the encounter. Otherwise you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

Commenting on radio analysis, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everyone 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 way they have played in this second period"

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently criticised for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the Manchester City defenders"

"It looked like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds United's season, but City found a measure of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"