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

Leeds got off to the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's advantage before the interval

Second Period Comeback Thwarted

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

Furthermore with City visibly struggling to cope with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the touchline and deliver new instructions during the two minutes play was stopped for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke stated

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

Manager's Frustration

"I ask the assistant referee at this moment if you wish to do something. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we educate our footballers in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and fair play and whatever and if we simply try to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the rules I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League matches to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having scored fewer Premier League strikes this term

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness especially around changes, was almost rewarded for a courageous choice at the interval that nearly turned around their fortunes

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, said that his team were only capable to regroup after Pep Guardiola's sideline meeting with his squad

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed a pair up top and altered the setup a little bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. We got together on the edge of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to make corrections"

Positive Signs for Leeds

The most recent time Leeds United lost four straight successive top-flight games was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "our main emotion is disappointment", their second period performance offered enough evidence to indicate they are capable of halting their current run and moving back up the standings

"To show such a display should provide us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and togetherness we have a excellent chance to win the points," Farke continued

"We possessed the confidence before the game, throughout the fixture and following the encounter. Otherwise you can't come back with a showing like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Expert Analysis

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everyone anticipated 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 often questioned for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the Manchester City defenders"

"It appeared like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds' season, but Manchester City discovered a bit of brilliance. They got away with one this afternoon"