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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 Premier League fixture at the Etihad

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

Second Period Comeback Thwarted

However, Leeds rallied after the interval following a change of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly struggling to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and issue fresh instructions during the 120 seconds play was halted for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke commented

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is smart. If I like it? If it's in line with the sense of fair play? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the authorities to find a solution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"If we don't educate our players in the game what to do in terms of fair play and fair play and everything and if we just attempt to bend the rules and even do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is allowed by the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League matches to place them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having scored fewer Premier League goals this term

Strategic Adjustments

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

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, said that his team were only able to regroup following Pep Guardiola's sideline meeting with his squad

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they emerged, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed two in attack and changed the setup a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We really had difficulty to get hold of the match. We got together on the edge of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

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

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "our overriding feeling is frustration", their second period performance offered enough proof to suggest they are capable of arresting their current run and moving back up the table

"To show such a display should give us plenty of belief. If we demonstrate such determination and togetherness we have a great chance to win the results," the manager continued

"We possessed the belief prior to the match, throughout the fixture and after the encounter. Otherwise you can't respond with a showing like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Analysis

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

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

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

"It appeared like it might be a massive turning point in Leeds' campaign, but City discovered a measure of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"