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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" during their top-flight match at the Etihad

The visitors made the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Revival Denied

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

And with City visibly struggling to cope with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and deliver fresh instructions in the 120 seconds play was halted for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the governing bodies to determine a solution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"If we don't teach our players in football what to do in regards of sportsmanship and fair play 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 within the regulations I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Phil Foden's injury-time winner condemned Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven top-flight matches to place them 18th in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched less top-flight goals this term

Tactical Adjustments

However, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness particularly around substitutions, was almost rewarded for a bold decision at the interval that almost turned around their fortunes

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, stated that his side were only able to regroup following Guardiola's touchline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot higher, they deployed a pair in attack and changed the formation a bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the match. We got together on the edge of the field and adjusted a few things and it improved from there. That little break was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

The most recent occasion Leeds United suffered four straight consecutive Premier League matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their season ended with demotion

Nevertheless, while Daniel 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 up the standings

"Displaying such a display should provide us lots of belief. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a great opportunity to win the points," the manager continued

"We possessed the belief prior to the game, throughout the fixture and after the encounter. Or else you cannot respond with a showing like that. We have great unity and determination in the locker room"

Expert Opinion

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable win for Manchester 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 performed in this second half"

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

"It looked like it could be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds United's campaign, but City discovered a measure of quality. They escaped with one this evening"