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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" during their top-flight fixture at the Etihad

Leeds made the worst possible start with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's lead before the interval

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors rallied after the interval following a change of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately following the restart

And with City visibly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and issue fresh directions in the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke stated

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is smart. If I approve? If it's within the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a solution"

Coach's Frustration

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

"If we don't educate our players in football what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we just try to exploit regulations and even do a fake injury in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Winner

Foden's stoppage-time winner condemned Leeds United to a sixth consecutive loss in seven Premier League fixtures to leave them 18th in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolves having notched less top-flight strikes this season

Tactical Changes

However, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness particularly around changes, was almost vindicated for a bold decision at the half-time that almost turned around their fortunes

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, said that his team were only capable to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his squad

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put two up top and changed the formation a bit," said Foden

"We really had difficulty to get hold of the match. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was crucial to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds

The most recent time Leeds suffered four straight successive Premier League matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their season ended with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "their overriding emotion is disappointment", their second period performance offered sufficient evidence to suggest they are able of arresting their current form and moving up the standings

"Displaying such a display should give us plenty of confidence. If we show such spirit and togetherness we have a great chance to earn the results," the manager added

"We had the confidence before the match, during the game and after the game. Or else you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone expected it to be a comfortable victory for Manchester City, but it has been far from comfortable in this second period"

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

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

"It appeared like it could be a massive turning point in Leeds United's season, but City discovered a bit of brilliance. They escaped with one this afternoon"