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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" during their Premier League fixture at the Etihad

Leeds made the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage before the half-time break

Second Period Comeback Thwarted

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

Furthermore with City visibly struggling to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and issue fresh directions in the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke stated

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

Manager's Disappointment

"I ask the assistant referee at this moment if you wish to do something. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we educate our footballers in the game what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship and everything and if we just attempt to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's injury-time winner condemned Leeds to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored less top-flight strikes this term

Strategic Adjustments

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

Speaking to television pundits, Foden, stated that his team were only capable to regroup following Pep Guardiola's touchline conference with his squad

"During the break we were in command. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed two in attack and changed the formation a little bit," commented Phil Foden

"We really struggled to gain control of the game. We got together on the side of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was vital to get things right"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds United

The last occasion Leeds lost four consecutive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign ended with relegation

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "their main feeling is disappointment", their second period performance offered sufficient proof to suggest they are capable of halting their current form and climbing back up the table

"Displaying such a performance should provide us lots of confidence. If we show such spirit and togetherness we have a excellent opportunity to earn the results," the manager continued

"We had the belief before the match, during the game and after the encounter. Otherwise you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Expert Analysis

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone anticipated it to be a straightforward victory for City, but it has been far from comfortable in this second period"

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's changes, who is often criticised for not being as responsive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It looked like it could be a massive turning point in Leeds' campaign, but City discovered a measure of brilliance. They escaped with one this evening"