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

The visitors made the poorest beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage ahead of the interval

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors rallied following the interval after a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately following the restart

Furthermore with City clearly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive treatment, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and deliver new directions in the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everybody understands why he collapsed," Farke commented

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the spirit of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the governing bodies to determine a solution"

Manager's Frustration

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

"If we don't teach our players in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations and even do a fake injury in an attempt to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Phil Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven Premier League matches to place them 18th in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolves having scored less Premier League strikes this season

Tactical Adjustments

However, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of adventure especially around substitutions, was nearly vindicated for a courageous choice at the half-time that nearly reversed their situation

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, said that his team were only able to regroup following Guardiola's sideline meeting with his players

"At half-time we were in command. Second half they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair in attack and changed the formation a bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the match. We assembled on the edge of the field and changed a few things and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

The last time Leeds suffered four successive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign ended with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke said that "our main feeling is disappointment", their second-half display provided sufficient proof to indicate they are able of halting their present form and moving up the standings

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

"We possessed the belief before the game, throughout the game and after the game. Otherwise you can't respond with a showing like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Expert Analysis

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Celtic attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable victory for City, but it has been far from easy in this second period"

"Leeds can take a lot from this display with the way they have performed in this second half"

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often criticised for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the City defenders"

"It looked like it could be a huge turning point in Leeds United's season, but City found a measure of quality. They escaped with one this evening"