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

Leeds got off to the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' lead before the interval

Second Period Revival Thwarted

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

Furthermore with City clearly struggling to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the sideline and issue new instructions during the two minutes play was stopped for

"Everyone understands why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the rules. 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 authorities to determine a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

"I ask the fourth official at this moment if you want to take action. Our options are limited"

"If we don't educate our players in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we simply try to exploit regulations and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is within the rules I can't complain"

Late Winner

Phil Foden's injury-time winner condemned Leeds United to a sixth consecutive loss in seven top-flight fixtures to place them 18th in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolves having scored fewer Premier League strikes this term

Tactical Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of adventure particularly around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a courageous decision at the half-time that nearly reversed their fortunes

Speaking to television pundits, Foden, stated that his team were only capable to reorganize following Guardiola's sideline meeting with his squad

"During the break we were in command. Second half they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair in attack and changed the formation a little bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the match. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and changed a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds United lost four straight successive top-flight games was in the 2022-23 season, when their season concluded with demotion

However, while Farke said that "our main feeling is disappointment", their second period display offered enough evidence to indicate they are able of halting their present run and moving back up the standings

"Displaying such a display should provide us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such determination and togetherness we have a great opportunity to win the results," Farke continued

"We possessed the confidence prior to the match, throughout the fixture and following the game. Or else you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

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

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

"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 City defenders"

"It looked like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds United's season, but City discovered a bit of quality. They got away with one this evening"