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

Leeds made the worst possible start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead ahead of the interval

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

However, the visitors rallied after the break following a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the resumption

Furthermore with City clearly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and issue new directions in the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everyone understands why he went down," Farke stated

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is clever. If I approve? If it's in line with the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to determine a resolution"

Manager's Frustration

"I questioned the assistant referee at this point if you want 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 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 talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is allowed by the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Winner

Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched fewer top-flight strikes this season

Strategic Adjustments

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness especially around substitutions, was nearly vindicated for a bold choice at the interval that almost reversed their fortunes

Talking to television pundits, Foden, said that his side were only able to regroup after Guardiola's touchline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and altered the formation a little bit," said Foden

"We really struggled to gain control of the game. We assembled on the side of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

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

However, while Daniel Farke said that "our overriding feeling is disappointment", their second period display offered enough evidence to indicate they are capable of halting their current form and moving back up the table

"To show such a display should give us lots of confidence. If we show such spirit and unity we have a excellent opportunity to win the points," Farke added

"We possessed the confidence prior to the game, throughout the game and after the game. Otherwise you can't respond with a performance like that. We have strong unity and determination in the locker room"

Expert Analysis

Speaking on radio analysis, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone expected it to be a comfortable win for Manchester City, but it has been far from easy in this second period"

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's changes, 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 City discovered a bit of brilliance. They escaped with one this afternoon"