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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" during their Premier League match at Etihad Stadium

The visitors made the poorest start with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead before the interval

Second Period Comeback Thwarted

However, the visitors fought back after the interval after a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away following the resumption

And with City visibly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and issue new directions in the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everyone understands why he collapsed," Farke stated

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to determine a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

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

"If we don't teach our footballers in the game what to do in terms of fair play and fair play and whatever and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and even do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight matches to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched fewer Premier League strikes this season

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure especially around substitutions, was nearly vindicated for a courageous decision at the interval that nearly turned around their fortunes

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, stated that his team were only capable to reorganize following Pep Guardiola's sideline meeting with his squad

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed a pair up top and altered the setup a little bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the game. We assembled on the edge of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to get things right"

Positive Aspects for Leeds

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

However, while Farke stated that "their main feeling is frustration", their second period performance offered sufficient proof to indicate they are capable of halting their present form and climbing up the standings

"To show such a performance should provide us lots of belief. If we show such spirit and unity we have a excellent chance to win the results," Farke added

"We possessed the confidence before the game, throughout the fixture and following the encounter. Or else you can't respond with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Expert Analysis

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everybody expected it to be a straightforward victory for Manchester City, but it has been anything but easy in this second period"

"Leeds United can derive a lot from this display with the manner they have played in this second half"

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

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