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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" during their Premier League match at the Etihad

Leeds got off to the worst possible start with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's lead ahead of the interval

Second Period Revival Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors rallied after the break after a adjustment of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away following the resumption

And with City clearly struggling to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and issue new 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 went down it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is smart. If I like it? If it's within the sense of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to determine a solution"

Manager's Disappointment

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

"If we don't educate our footballers in the game what to do in terms of fair play and fair play and whatever and if we just try to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the regulations I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's stoppage-time winner condemned Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven top-flight fixtures to leave them 18th in the division, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched fewer Premier League goals this season

Strategic Changes

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure especially around changes, was almost rewarded for a courageous decision at the interval that almost turned around their fortunes

Talking to television pundits, Foden, said that his team were only able to reorganize following Guardiola's sideline meeting with his squad

"During the break we were in control. Second half they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put two in attack and changed the setup a bit," said Foden

"We really struggled to gain control of the match. We got together on the side of the field and adjusted a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

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

However, while Farke stated that "our overriding feeling is disappointment", their second-half display offered sufficient proof to indicate they are capable of arresting their current form and moving back up the table

"To show such a display should provide us lots of belief. If we show such determination and unity we have a excellent opportunity to earn the results," the manager added

"We possessed the belief prior to the match, during the game and following the game. Otherwise you can't come back with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on radio analysis, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody anticipated it to be a comfortable win for Manchester City, but it has been far from comfortable in this second period"

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

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

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