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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" in their Premier League match at Etihad Stadium

Leeds got off to the worst possible start with Phil Foden scoring within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage ahead of the interval

Second-Half Revival Thwarted

However, Leeds rallied after the interval after a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately following the restart

And with City clearly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the sideline and deliver new directions during the two minutes play was stopped for

"Everyone knows why he collapsed," Farke commented

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is clever. 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 solution"

Manager's Disappointment

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

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we simply try to exploit regulations 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 regulations I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive loss in seven top-flight matches to place them 18th in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored less top-flight strikes this term

Tactical Changes

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of boldness especially around changes, was almost vindicated for a courageous choice at the interval that nearly reversed their fortunes

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, stated that his side were only able to regroup following Pep Guardiola's sideline meeting with his players

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and altered the setup a little bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the game. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds United lost four consecutive Premier League matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign concluded with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "our main feeling is frustration", their second period display offered sufficient evidence to suggest they are capable of halting their present run and climbing up the standings

"To show such a display should provide us lots of confidence. If we show 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 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"

Pundit Analysis

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody anticipated it to be a straightforward win for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second period"

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

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

"It looked like it might be a massive turning point in Leeds' campaign, but Manchester City found a bit of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"