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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" in their top-flight match at Etihad Stadium

The visitors got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead before the interval

Second Period Comeback Thwarted

However, the visitors rallied after the interval after a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the restart

Furthermore with City clearly struggling to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and issue fresh directions during the two minutes play was halted for

"Everyone understands why he went down," Farke commented

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the regulations. 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 reserve to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

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

"If we don't educate our footballers in the game what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply try to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an extra team talk, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is allowed by the regulations I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolves having notched less top-flight strikes this season

Strategic Adjustments

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure especially around substitutions, was nearly vindicated for a courageous choice at the half-time that almost reversed their fortunes

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, stated that his team were only capable to regroup following Pep Guardiola's touchline meeting with his squad

"At half-time we were in command. Second half they came out, harried us a lot higher, they put a pair up top and changed the formation a little bit," commented Foden

"We really struggled to gain control 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"

Positive Signs for Leeds United

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

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "our main emotion is disappointment", their second period display provided enough proof to indicate they are able of halting their present form and moving back up the table

"To show such a performance should provide us lots of confidence. If we show such spirit and unity we have a excellent chance to win the points," the manager continued

"We had the belief before the game, throughout the game and after the encounter. Otherwise you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody expected it to be a straightforward victory for Manchester City, but it has been anything but easy in this second period"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is frequently criticised for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the Manchester City defenders"

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