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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their Premier League fixture at Etihad Stadium

The visitors got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden scoring within the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's advantage ahead of the interval

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, Leeds fought back after the interval after a adjustment of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the resumption

And with City visibly struggling to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and issue fresh instructions during the 120 seconds play was halted for

"Everyone knows why he collapsed," Farke commented

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the authorities to determine a solution"

Coach's Frustration

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

"If we don't teach our players in football what to do in terms of fair play and fair play and everything and if we just try to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is allowed by the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds to a sixth loss in seven top-flight matches to leave them 18th in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored less top-flight goals this term

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure particularly around substitutions, was nearly vindicated for a courageous decision at the half-time that nearly turned around their situation

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, stated that his side were only able to regroup after Pep Guardiola's touchline meeting with his squad

"During the break we were in command. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot higher, they deployed two up top and changed the setup a bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the match. We got together on the edge of the pitch and changed a few things and it improved from there. That little break was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds United

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

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke said that "their overriding feeling is frustration", their second period performance offered enough proof to suggest they are able of arresting their present run and climbing back up the standings

"To show such a performance should provide us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such determination and togetherness we have a great opportunity to win the results," Farke continued

"We had the confidence prior to the match, throughout the game and after the game. Otherwise you can't come back with a showing like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Expert Analysis

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everyone expected it to be a straightforward win for Manchester City, but it has been anything but easy in this second half"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often questioned for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the Manchester City defenders"

"It appeared like it might be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds United's campaign, but City discovered a measure of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"