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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has accused City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" in their Premier League match at the Etihad

The visitors made the poorest beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's lead before the interval

Second Period Comeback Denied

Nevertheless, Leeds fought back following the interval after a adjustment of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately after the resumption

Furthermore with City visibly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive attention, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and deliver fresh directions in the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke stated

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the spirit of fair play? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to find a solution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"If we don't teach our players in football what to do in terms of fair play and fair play and everything and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations and even do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I like personally. But if it is allowed by the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time winner condemned Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolves having notched fewer top-flight strikes this term

Tactical Changes

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of boldness particularly around changes, was almost rewarded for a bold decision at the interval that almost turned around their fortunes

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, said that his team were only capable to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his squad

"During the break we were in command. Second half they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put two up top and altered the setup a bit," said Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the game. We assembled on the side of the pitch and changed a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to get things right"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds

The most recent time Leeds United lost four successive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign ended with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke said that "their main emotion is disappointment", their second-half performance offered enough evidence to suggest they are able of halting their present run and climbing up the table

"Displaying such a display should provide us plenty of confidence. If we show such spirit and togetherness we have a excellent chance to earn the results," Farke continued

"We possessed the belief prior to the match, throughout the fixture and following the game. Or else you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Expert Opinion

Commenting on radio analysis, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone expected it to be a straightforward victory for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second half"

"Leeds can take a lot from this display with the manner they have performed in this second period"

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

"It appeared like it could be a massive turning point in Leeds United's campaign, but Manchester City found a measure of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"