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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has accused City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" during their top-flight match at the Etihad

Leeds got off to the poorest beginning 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 fought back following the break following a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately after the resumption

Furthermore with Manchester City visibly having difficulty to deal with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the touchline and deliver new instructions during the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everyone understands why he went down," Farke stated

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a resolution"

Manager's Frustration

"I questioned the assistant referee at this moment if you want to do something. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we teach our footballers in football what to do in regards of fair play and fair play and whatever and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is within the rules I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven Premier League matches to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored fewer Premier League strikes this season

Tactical Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of adventure particularly around changes, was nearly vindicated for a bold choice at the interval that almost reversed their fortunes

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, stated that his team were only able to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his squad

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they put a pair in attack and changed the formation a little bit," commented Phil Foden

"We really had difficulty to gain control of the game. We assembled on the edge of the field and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That little break was crucial to get things right"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds United suffered four straight successive top-flight games was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign concluded with demotion

However, while Farke said that "our overriding emotion is disappointment", their second-half performance provided sufficient proof to suggest they are able of halting their present run and moving back up the standings

"To show such a performance should provide us plenty of belief. If we demonstrate such determination and togetherness we have a excellent opportunity to earn the points," the manager added

"We had the belief before the game, during the game and after the game. Otherwise you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everybody anticipated it to be a straightforward victory for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second period"

"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 was introduced and roughed up the City centre-backs"

"It looked like it could be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds' season, but City found a measure of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"