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

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

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, Leeds rallied after the break after a change of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the restart

Furthermore with City clearly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive 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 knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the sense of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will reserve 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 do something. Our hands are tied"

"If we don't teach our footballers in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and whatever and if we just attempt to bend the rules and even do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Phil Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched less Premier League goals this term

Tactical Adjustments

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness especially around substitutions, was almost vindicated for a courageous decision at the interval that nearly reversed their situation

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, stated that his team were only able to reorganize following Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"During the break we were in control. Second half they came out, harried us a lot higher, they deployed two in attack and changed the formation a bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. We assembled on the side of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was crucial to get things right"

Positive Signs for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds United lost four straight successive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their season concluded with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke said that "our main emotion is disappointment", their second period display provided sufficient proof to suggest they are able of arresting their current form and moving up the table

"To show such a display should give us plenty of confidence. If we show such spirit and togetherness we have a excellent opportunity to win the results," Farke added

"We had the confidence before the game, throughout the game and following the game. Or else you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Expert Analysis

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Scottish club forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody expected it to be a straightforward win for 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 period"

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often questioned for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the Manchester City defenders"

"It appeared like it could be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds' campaign, but City found a measure of brilliance. They got away with one this afternoon"