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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has accused City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their Premier League fixture at Etihad Stadium

The visitors made the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead ahead of the interval

Second Period Comeback Thwarted

However, the visitors rallied following the break following a adjustment of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away after the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City visibly having difficulty to deal with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the touchline and issue new directions during the two minutes play was halted for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke commented

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is clever. If I approve? If it's within the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the authorities to determine a solution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"Unless we teach our footballers in football what to do in regards of fair play and fair play and whatever and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

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

Strategic Changes

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

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, stated that his team were only able to reorganize following Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"During the break we were in control. Second half they emerged, harried us a lot higher, they deployed two in attack and altered the formation a little bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the game. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That little break was vital to make corrections"

Positive Signs for Leeds

The last occasion Leeds United lost four straight consecutive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their season concluded with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "our overriding feeling is frustration", their second-half performance provided enough proof to indicate they are able of halting their current form and moving up the standings

"Displaying such a performance should give us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a excellent chance to earn the points," the manager added

"We possessed the confidence prior to the game, during the game and following the game. Otherwise you can't respond with a showing like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Analysis

Speaking on radio analysis, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody anticipated it to be a straightforward victory for City, but it has been far from easy in this second half"

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently questioned for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the City defenders"

"It looked like it could be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds United's season, but City found a measure of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"