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

Leeds got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead before the interval

Second Period Comeback Denied

Nevertheless, Leeds fought back after the interval after a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away following the resumption

And with Manchester City visibly struggling to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive treatment, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and deliver fresh instructions in the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everyone knows why he collapsed," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is smart. If I approve? If it's in line with the spirit of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I questioned the assistant referee at this point if you wish to take action. Our hands are tied"

"If we don't teach our players in the game what to do in regards of fair play and fair play and everything and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the regulations I can't complain"

Late Winner

Phil Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth loss in seven Premier League matches to leave them 18th in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched less Premier League strikes this term

Strategic Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of adventure especially around substitutions, was almost rewarded for a courageous choice at the half-time that almost turned around their situation

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, stated that his side were only able to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"During the break we were in command. Second half they came out, harried us a lot higher, they deployed a pair up top and changed the setup a bit," commented Foden

"We really struggled to get hold of the match. We assembled on the edge of the field and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That little break was crucial to get things right"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds United

The last time Leeds lost four consecutive top-flight games was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with relegation

However, while Farke stated that "our main emotion is frustration", their second period display provided sufficient proof to suggest they are able of arresting their present form and moving back up the table

"Displaying such a performance should give us plenty of confidence. If we show such spirit and unity we have a great opportunity to earn the points," the manager added

"We had the confidence before the match, during the fixture and after the game. Or else you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

Commenting on radio analysis, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everyone expected it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second half"

"Leeds can take a lot from this display with the way they have performed in this second half"

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

"It appeared like it could be a huge turning point in Leeds' season, but Manchester City found a measure of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"