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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" during their top-flight fixture at Etihad Stadium

Leeds made the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead ahead of the interval

Second Period Revival Thwarted

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

And with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to cope with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the sideline and deliver new instructions in the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke commented

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within 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 keep to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"If we don't educate our footballers in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just attempt to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the regulations I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal condemned Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolves having notched less top-flight goals this term

Tactical Changes

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of adventure particularly around changes, was nearly vindicated for a bold decision at the interval that almost turned around their situation

Talking to television pundits, Foden, said that his side were only capable to regroup following Pep Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"During the break we were in control. Second half they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they put two up top and altered the formation a bit," said Phil Foden

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

Encouraging Signs for Leeds

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

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "our overriding emotion is frustration", their second-half performance offered sufficient evidence to indicate they are capable of halting their current run and climbing up the table

"To show such a display should provide us plenty of belief. If we demonstrate such spirit and togetherness we have a excellent opportunity to win the results," the manager added

"We had the belief before the match, throughout the game and after the game. Or else you cannot respond with a showing like that. We have great unity and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody anticipated it to be a comfortable win for Manchester City, but it has been far from comfortable in this second half"

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

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

"It looked like it could be a huge turning point in Leeds United's campaign, but Manchester City found a bit of quality. They got away with one this evening"