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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" in their top-flight fixture at Etihad Stadium

Leeds got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage before the half-time break

Second Period Revival Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors rallied following the interval after a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately following the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to cope with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive treatment, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and issue fresh directions during the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke commented

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I approve? If it's within the sense of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to determine a solution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I ask the fourth official at this moment if you wish to do something. Our hands are tied"

"If we don't educate our footballers in the game what to do in regards of fair play and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in an attempt 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 Winner

Foden's injury-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched fewer top-flight goals this season

Tactical Adjustments

However, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of adventure particularly around changes, was almost vindicated for a courageous choice at the interval that nearly reversed their fortunes

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

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they emerged, pressed us a lot higher, they put two up top and altered the formation a little bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the match. We got together on the edge of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The last occasion Leeds suffered four successive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign concluded with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "their main emotion is disappointment", their second-half display provided enough proof to indicate they are able of halting their current run and climbing back up the table

"Displaying such a performance should give us lots of belief. If we demonstrate such determination and unity we have a excellent opportunity to win the points," the manager continued

"We possessed the belief before the game, throughout the game and after the game. Otherwise you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scottish club forward Chris Sutton said: "Everyone expected 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 display with the manner they have performed in this second period"

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often 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 huge pivotal moment in Leeds United's campaign, but Manchester City discovered a measure of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"