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

The visitors made the worst possible start with Phil Foden scoring inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead ahead of the interval

Second Period Comeback Denied

However, the visitors fought back after the break after a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately after the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City visibly struggling to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and issue fresh directions in the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is smart. If I like it? If it's within the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to determine a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

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

"Unless we teach our footballers in the game what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we just try to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in an attempt to do an extra team talk, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time winner condemned Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to place them 18th in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched fewer Premier League strikes this season

Strategic Adjustments

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

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, said that his team were only able to regroup after Pep Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and changed the formation a little bit," said Foden

"We really had difficulty to gain control of the match. We got together on the edge of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That little break was vital to get things right"

Positive Aspects for Leeds

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

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke stated that "their main emotion is frustration", their second-half display provided enough evidence to indicate they are able of halting their current run and climbing back up the table

"To show such a display should give us lots of confidence. If we show such spirit and unity we have a excellent opportunity to earn the points," the manager added

"We possessed the belief prior to the match, throughout the game and following the encounter. Or else you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have strong unity and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everyone expected it to be a straightforward 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 manner they have performed in this second half"

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often questioned for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It appeared like it could be a huge turning point in Leeds' campaign, but City found a measure of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"