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Leeds manager Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" during their top-flight fixture at Etihad Stadium

The visitors got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's lead ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Revival Denied

Nevertheless, Leeds fought back after the interval following a change of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away following the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City visibly having difficulty to cope with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the sideline and issue new instructions during the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke commented

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the regulations. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

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

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we just try to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the regulations I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven top-flight fixtures to place them 18th in the division, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched fewer Premier League strikes this term

Strategic Changes

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness particularly around substitutions, was almost rewarded for a courageous choice at the half-time that nearly turned around their situation

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, stated that his team were only capable to regroup following Guardiola's touchline meeting with his squad

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed two in attack and altered the setup a little bit," said Phil Foden

"We really had difficulty to gain control of the match. We got together on the side of the field and changed a few things and it got better from there. That little break was vital to get things right"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

The last occasion Leeds lost four straight successive Premier League matches was in 2022-23, when their campaign concluded with relegation

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "their overriding feeling is frustration", their second-half performance offered sufficient evidence to indicate they are capable of halting their current run and climbing back up the standings

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

"We had the confidence before the game, throughout 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 locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on radio analysis, ex- Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone expected it to be a comfortable victory for Manchester City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second period"

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

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

"It looked like it might be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds' campaign, but Manchester City discovered a bit of brilliance. They got away with one this afternoon"