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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" during their Premier League fixture at Etihad Stadium

Leeds made the worst possible start with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' advantage ahead of the interval

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

However, the visitors rallied following the break after a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately after the restart

And with Manchester City clearly struggling to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive attention, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the sideline and issue fresh instructions during the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke stated

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the sense of fair play? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the authorities to determine a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

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

"Unless we educate our players in the game what to do in regards of fair play and sportsmanship and everything and if we just try to exploit regulations and even do a fake injury in an attempt to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's stoppage-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven Premier League fixtures to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched fewer Premier League goals this season

Strategic Changes

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of adventure especially around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a bold choice at the interval that nearly reversed their fortunes

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, said that his team were only capable to regroup following Guardiola's touchline meeting with his squad

"During the break we were in command. After halftime they emerged, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they deployed two in attack and altered the formation a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We really had difficulty to get hold of the game. We assembled on the edge of the field and adjusted a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was vital to get things right"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds lost four consecutive top-flight matches was in 2022-23, when their campaign concluded with relegation

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke said that "their overriding emotion is frustration", their second period performance provided enough proof to suggest they are able of arresting their current form and moving up the table

"Displaying such a display should give us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate 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 fixture and after the encounter. Otherwise you can't come back with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Expert Analysis

Commenting on radio analysis, former Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everyone expected it to be a straightforward victory for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second period"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently criticised for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the City defenders"

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