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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 Premier League fixture at Etihad Stadium

Leeds made the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' advantage before the half-time break

Second Period Revival Denied

However, the visitors fought back after the interval after a adjustment of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the resumption

And with Manchester City clearly struggling to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the touchline and issue new directions in the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everybody understands why he collapsed," Farke stated

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is smart. If I like it? If it's in line with the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to find a solution"

Manager's Frustration

"I questioned the fourth official at this moment if you wish to take action. Our hands are tied"

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

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolves having notched less top-flight goals this season

Strategic Adjustments

However, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of boldness especially around changes, was nearly rewarded for a courageous decision at the half-time that nearly reversed their situation

Speaking to television pundits, Foden, stated that his side were only able to reorganize following Guardiola's touchline conference with his squad

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and changed the formation a little bit," commented 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 brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

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

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "our main emotion is frustration", their second-half performance provided sufficient evidence to indicate they are capable of halting their current run and climbing up the standings

"Displaying such a display should give us lots of confidence. If we show such determination and togetherness we have a great chance to win the results," the manager continued

"We possessed the confidence prior to the game, throughout the game and after the encounter. Or else you can't come back with a showing like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

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

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's changes, who is often questioned for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the Manchester City defenders"

"It appeared like it could be a huge turning point in Leeds United's campaign, but City discovered a measure of brilliance. They escaped with one this evening"