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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has accused City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" during their top-flight match at Etihad Stadium

The visitors made the worst possible start with Phil Foden scoring within the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' advantage before the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Denied

However, the visitors rallied following the interval after a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly struggling to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive treatment, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the touchline and issue new instructions in the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the authorities to find a solution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"If we don't educate our players in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we simply try to exploit regulations and actually do a simulated knock in order 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

Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven Premier League fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolves having notched fewer top-flight goals this season

Strategic Changes

However, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness especially around substitutions, was almost vindicated for a courageous decision at the interval that almost reversed their fortunes

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

"At half-time we were in command. Second half they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair in attack and altered the formation a little bit," said Foden

"We really struggled to get hold of the game. We got together on the side of the field and changed a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Positive Signs for Leeds

The last time Leeds United suffered four straight successive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their season concluded with relegation

However, while Farke stated that "their main feeling is disappointment", their second-half performance offered enough evidence to indicate they are capable of arresting their present form and climbing up the standings

"Displaying such a display should provide us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and togetherness we have a excellent chance to win the points," Farke added

"We had the confidence prior to the match, during the game and following the encounter. Otherwise you can't respond with a showing like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Expert Analysis

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everyone anticipated it to be a straightforward win for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second half"

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently questioned for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It looked like it could be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds' campaign, but Manchester City found a measure of brilliance. They escaped with one this afternoon"