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Leeds manager Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" in their Premier League fixture at the Etihad

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

Second Period Comeback Denied

However, the visitors rallied after the break after a adjustment of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away following the resumption

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly struggling to cope with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the sideline and deliver new instructions during the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everybody understands why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is smart. 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 up to the authorities to find a solution"

Coach's Disappointment

"I ask the fourth official at this point if you want to do something. Our options are limited"

"If we don't teach our players in the game what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we just attempt to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the regulations I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven Premier League matches to leave them 18th in the division, with only last-placed Wolves having scored fewer top-flight strikes this season

Tactical Changes

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

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, said that his side were only able to reorganize after Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"At half-time we were in command. Second half they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and altered the formation a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the game. We got together on the side of the pitch and changed a few things and it got better from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

The last occasion Leeds suffered four straight successive Premier League matches was in 2022-23, when their season ended with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke said that "our overriding emotion is disappointment", their second-half display provided enough evidence to indicate they are capable of arresting their present run and climbing up the table

"Displaying such a performance should give us lots of belief. If we demonstrate such determination and unity we have a great chance to earn the points," Farke added

"We possessed the belief prior to the match, during the game and after the game. Otherwise you cannot respond with a showing like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second period"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often criticised for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the Manchester City defenders"

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