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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" during their top-flight fixture at Etihad Stadium

Leeds got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' advantage ahead of the interval

Second-Half Revival Denied

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

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly struggling to cope with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and issue new directions during the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke commented

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

Coach's Disappointment

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

"Unless we teach our footballers in football what to do in regards of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is allowed by the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven Premier League matches to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having scored less top-flight goals this season

Strategic Changes

However, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness especially around substitutions, was almost vindicated for a courageous decision at the half-time that nearly reversed their situation

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, stated that his side were only able to regroup after Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"During the break we were in command. Second half they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put two in attack and altered the setup a little bit," said Foden

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

Encouraging Signs for Leeds United

The last time Leeds United lost four straight successive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with relegation

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke said that "their overriding feeling is frustration", their second-half display offered sufficient evidence to indicate they are able of arresting their present form and moving up the table

"To show such a performance should provide us plenty of belief. If we show such determination and togetherness we have a excellent opportunity to win the results," the manager added

"We had the belief prior to the match, during the fixture and after the game. Or else you can't respond with a showing like that. We have great unity and determination in the locker room"

Expert Opinion

Speaking on radio analysis, former Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody 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 performance with the way they have performed in this second period"

"Following that were Daniel Farke's changes, who is frequently questioned for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the City defenders"

"It appeared like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds' campaign, but City discovered a measure of brilliance. They escaped with one this afternoon"