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

The visitors made the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage ahead of the interval

Second-Half Revival Thwarted

Nevertheless, Leeds fought back after the break after a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately after the resumption

Furthermore with Manchester City visibly struggling to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive treatment, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and deliver fresh directions during the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke stated

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the rules. It is smart. If I like it? If it's within the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to determine a solution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I ask the assistant referee at this moment if you wish to take action. Our options are limited"

"Unless we teach our footballers in the game what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the rules I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's injury-time winner condemned Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolves having scored less top-flight strikes this term

Tactical Adjustments

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure especially around changes, was almost rewarded for a courageous decision at the interval that almost reversed their fortunes

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, said that his team were only able to regroup after Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they put a pair up top and changed the formation a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. We assembled on the side of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent occasion Leeds United lost four straight successive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their campaign concluded with relegation

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke stated that "their main feeling is frustration", their second-half performance provided enough proof to suggest they are capable of halting their current run and moving back up the standings

"To show such a performance should provide us plenty of belief. If we show such spirit and unity we have a great chance to earn the results," the manager added

"We had the belief before the game, throughout the game and after the encounter. Otherwise you can't respond with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scottish club forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone anticipated it to be a straightforward win for Manchester City, but it has been anything but easy in this second period"

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

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

"It appeared like it could be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds' campaign, but Manchester City discovered a measure of brilliance. They escaped with one this afternoon"