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Leeds manager Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their Premier League match at Etihad Stadium

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

Second Period Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, Leeds rallied following the interval after a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the resumption

And with City clearly having difficulty to cope with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the touchline and issue fresh directions during the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everybody 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 like it? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to determine a solution"

Coach's Disappointment

"I ask the fourth official at this moment if you want to do something. Our options are limited"

"Unless we educate our footballers in the game what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship and whatever and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in an attempt to do an extra team talk, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's stoppage-time winner sent Leeds to a sixth loss in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolves having scored less Premier League goals this term

Tactical Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness particularly around changes, was nearly rewarded for a courageous decision at the interval that almost reversed their fortunes

Talking to television pundits, Foden, stated that his side were only able to reorganize after Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"During the break we were in command. Second half they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put two in attack and altered the formation a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We really had difficulty to get hold of the match. 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 get things right"

Positive Aspects for Leeds

The last occasion Leeds suffered four straight consecutive top-flight games was in 2022-23, when their season ended with relegation

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke stated that "their main emotion is disappointment", their second-half display offered sufficient evidence to suggest they are capable of halting their present run and moving up the table

"To show such a performance should give us plenty of belief. If we demonstrate such determination and unity we have a great opportunity to win the results," Farke added

"We had the confidence prior to the game, throughout the fixture and after the encounter. Otherwise you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Pundit Analysis

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody anticipated it to be a straightforward win for Manchester City, but it has been far from easy in this second half"

"Leeds United can take a lot from this performance with the way they have played in this second half"

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often questioned for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the Manchester City defenders"

"It appeared like it might be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds United's campaign, but Manchester City discovered a measure of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"