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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" in their top-flight fixture at Etihad Stadium

The visitors got off to the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's advantage ahead of the interval

Second Period Revival Thwarted

However, Leeds rallied after the break following a change of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately after the restart

Furthermore with City visibly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive attention, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and issue fresh directions during the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everybody understands why he collapsed," Farke commented

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the authorities to find a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

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

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations and actually 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 within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Winner

Phil Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having scored fewer Premier League goals this term

Strategic Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of adventure especially around substitutions, was nearly vindicated for a courageous decision at the half-time that almost reversed their fortunes

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, said that his team were only able to regroup following Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot higher, they deployed two up top and changed the formation a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold 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 vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds United suffered four successive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their season concluded with demotion

However, while Farke said that "our overriding emotion is frustration", their second-half performance provided enough evidence to indicate they are able of arresting their current form and moving up the standings

"To show such a display should provide us lots of belief. If we demonstrate such determination and unity we have a great chance to earn the results," the manager continued

"We possessed the confidence prior to the game, throughout the game and after the game. Otherwise you can't come back with a performance like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

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

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often criticised for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It looked like it might be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds United's season, but Manchester City found a bit of brilliance. They escaped with one this afternoon"