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

The visitors got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage ahead of the interval

Second Period Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors fought back after the interval after a change of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly struggling to deal with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and deliver fresh instructions during the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke commented

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the regulations. It is smart. If I like it? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

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

"Unless we teach our players in football what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship and whatever and if we simply try to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in order to do an extra team talk, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is allowed by the rules I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's stoppage-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to leave them 18th in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched fewer top-flight goals this term

Tactical Changes

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of boldness particularly around substitutions, was almost rewarded for a courageous choice at the interval that nearly reversed their situation

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

"At half-time we were in command. Second half they emerged, harried us a lot higher, they deployed a pair in attack and altered the formation a little bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the match. We got together on the side of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Positive Signs for Leeds

The last occasion Leeds lost four consecutive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their season concluded with relegation

However, while Farke stated that "our main feeling is disappointment", their second period performance offered enough evidence to indicate they are able of arresting their present run and moving back up the standings

"To show such a display should give us lots of belief. If we demonstrate such spirit and togetherness we have a great chance to win the results," the manager added

"We had the belief before the game, during the fixture and after the encounter. Otherwise you can't respond with a showing like that. We have great unity and determination in the locker room"

Expert Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Celtic attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everyone expected it to be a comfortable win for Manchester City, but it has been far from comfortable in this second period"

"Leeds United can derive a lot from this display with the manner they have played in this second half"

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

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