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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has accused City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" during their top-flight match at Etihad Stadium

Leeds got off to the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' lead ahead of the interval

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors fought back after the break after a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City visibly struggling to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the touchline and deliver fresh instructions during the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everybody knows why he went down," 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 clever. If I approve? If it's in line with the sense of fair play? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to find a resolution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"If we don't teach our players in the game what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and whatever and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in order to do an extra team talk, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is within the rules I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Phil Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched fewer Premier League strikes this season

Tactical Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of boldness especially around changes, was nearly rewarded for a bold decision at the interval that nearly reversed their situation

Talking to television pundits, Foden, said that his side were only capable to regroup after Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed two in attack and altered the setup a bit," said Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

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

Nevertheless, while Farke stated that "their main feeling is disappointment", their second-half display provided sufficient proof to suggest they are able of halting their present run and climbing back up the table

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

"We possessed the belief before the match, throughout the game and after the encounter. Otherwise you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Scottish club forward Chris Sutton said: "Everyone expected it to be a straightforward victory for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second period"

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often criticised for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It appeared like it might be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds United's season, but City found a bit of quality. They got away with one this evening"