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

The visitors made the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second Period Revival Denied

However, Leeds fought back after the interval after a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the resumption

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down 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 understands why he collapsed," Farke commented

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is smart. If I like it? If it's in line with the spirit of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to determine a resolution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"Unless we educate our players in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just try to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is allowed by the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal condemned Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having scored fewer top-flight goals this term

Tactical Adjustments

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

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, said that his side were only capable to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's touchline conference with his squad

"At half-time we were in control. Second half they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed a pair in attack and altered the setup a bit," said Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the match. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That little break was vital to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds

The most recent time Leeds lost four successive Premier League games was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign ended with relegation

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke stated that "their overriding feeling is disappointment", their second-half display provided enough proof to suggest they are able of halting their present form and climbing up the standings

"Displaying such a display should provide us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a excellent chance to earn the results," the manager continued

"We possessed the belief prior to the game, throughout the game and following the game. Or else you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Expert Opinion

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

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently criticised for not being as responsive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It looked like it might be a massive turning point in Leeds' season, but City found a measure of brilliance. They escaped with one this afternoon"