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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" in their top-flight fixture at the Etihad

The visitors got off to the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead before the interval

Second-Half Comeback Denied

Nevertheless, the visitors rallied following the break following a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away following the resumption

Furthermore with City clearly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and issue fresh directions during the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke stated

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is smart. If I like it? If it's in line with the spirit of fair play? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to determine a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

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

"If we don't educate our footballers in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we just try to exploit regulations and actually do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is allowed by the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's injury-time winner sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven Premier League matches to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched fewer top-flight goals this term

Tactical Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness particularly around changes, was almost rewarded for a bold choice at the interval that nearly reversed their fortunes

Speaking to television pundits, Foden, stated that his team were only able to regroup after Guardiola's touchline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair in attack and altered the setup a bit," said Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the game. We assembled on the side of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

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

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke stated that "our overriding emotion is disappointment", their second-half performance provided enough proof to indicate they are able of halting their present form and moving back up the table

"Displaying such a display should provide us lots of confidence. If we show such determination and unity we have a great opportunity to win the results," the manager continued

"We had the belief prior to the match, throughout the fixture and after the game. Or else you can't respond with a performance like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Analysis

Speaking on radio analysis, former Celtic attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable victory for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second period"

"Leeds can take a lot from this display with the manner 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 was introduced and roughed up the City defenders"

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