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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their top-flight match at Etihad Stadium

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

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

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

Furthermore with City clearly struggling to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver fresh instructions during the two minutes play was halted for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a solution"

Manager's Frustration

"I questioned the fourth official at this point if you wish to take action. Our options are limited"

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in terms of fair play and fair play and everything and if we just try to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is allowed by the regulations I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League matches to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched fewer Premier League strikes this term

Tactical Changes

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure especially around changes, was almost rewarded for a courageous decision at the interval that almost reversed their situation

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

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they emerged, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they put two up top and changed the setup a bit," said Phil Foden

"We really struggled to gain control of the game. We got together on the side of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds United lost four straight consecutive top-flight games was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with demotion

However, while Farke said that "our overriding feeling is disappointment", their second-half performance offered sufficient proof to indicate they are capable of arresting their current form and moving back up the table

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

"We had the belief before the match, throughout the game and following the encounter. Otherwise you can't come back with a showing like that. We have strong unity and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everyone expected it to be a comfortable victory for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second half"

"Leeds can take a lot from this performance with the way they have performed in this second half"

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often criticised for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the City defenders"

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