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

The visitors made the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead ahead of the interval

Second Period Comeback Denied

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

Furthermore with City clearly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the touchline and deliver fresh instructions during the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everybody understands 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 clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the spirit of fair play? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a solution"

Manager's Frustration

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

"Unless we educate our footballers in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we simply try to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like personally. But if it is allowed by the rules I can't complain"

Late Winner

Foden's stoppage-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolves having scored fewer top-flight goals this season

Strategic Changes

However, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of adventure particularly around substitutions, was nearly vindicated for a courageous decision at the interval that almost turned around their situation

Speaking to television pundits, Foden, said that his side were only capable to regroup after Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"During the break we were in command. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put two in attack and altered the setup a little bit," said Foden

"We really had difficulty to get hold of the game. We got together on the edge of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds

The last occasion Leeds United suffered four successive top-flight games was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with demotion

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke stated that "their overriding feeling is disappointment", their second-half display provided enough evidence to indicate they are able of halting their present run and climbing up the table

"Displaying such a display should give us plenty of belief. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a excellent opportunity to win the results," Farke continued

"We had the belief prior to the match, throughout the game and after the game. Otherwise you can't respond with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

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

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often questioned for not being as responsive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It looked like it could be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds United's campaign, but City found a measure of brilliance. They escaped with one this afternoon"