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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 top-flight match at Etihad Stadium

Leeds made the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead before the half-time break

Second Period Comeback Denied

However, the visitors rallied following the interval after a change of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the restart

Furthermore with City clearly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and issue new directions during the 120 seconds play was halted for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the spirit of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the authorities to determine a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

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

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply try to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the rules I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's injury-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored less top-flight strikes this term

Strategic Adjustments

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of adventure particularly around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a courageous decision at the half-time that nearly turned around their situation

Speaking to television pundits, Foden, said that his team were only capable to regroup after Pep Guardiola's sideline meeting with his squad

"At half-time we were in control. Second half they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and changed the formation a little bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. 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 make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

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

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "our overriding feeling is disappointment", their second period display provided sufficient proof to suggest they are able of halting their present form and moving up the table

"To show such a performance should give us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such determination and togetherness we have a excellent chance to earn the points," Farke continued

"We had the confidence before the game, during the game and after the game. Otherwise you can't come back with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Expert Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone anticipated it to be a straightforward win for City, but it has been far from easy in this second half"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often questioned for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the Manchester City defenders"

"It appeared like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds United's campaign, but Manchester City found a bit of brilliance. They escaped with one this evening"