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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their top-flight fixture at the Etihad

The visitors made the worst possible start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second Period Revival Denied

Nevertheless, Leeds fought back following the break following a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the resumption

And with Manchester City visibly struggling to deal with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and issue new instructions during the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everyone understands why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is smart. If I approve? If it's in line with the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Coach's Disappointment

"I questioned the assistant referee at this point if you want to take action. Our options are limited"

"If we don't educate our footballers in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we just try to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like personally. But if it is allowed by the regulations I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive loss in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having scored less Premier League goals this season

Tactical Changes

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of boldness especially around substitutions, was almost rewarded for a courageous choice at the half-time that almost turned around their situation

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, said that his side were only capable to regroup following Guardiola's sideline conference with his squad

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

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the game. We got together on the edge of the field and adjusted a few things and it improved from there. That little break was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds

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

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "their main emotion is disappointment", their second-half display provided enough proof to suggest they are able of halting their present form and climbing back up the standings

"Displaying such a display should provide us lots of confidence. If we show such determination and unity we have a great opportunity to earn the points," the manager continued

"We possessed the belief before the match, during the fixture and following the encounter. Or else you can't come back with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Analysis

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

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

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