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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has accused City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" during their top-flight fixture at Etihad Stadium

The visitors made the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage before the interval

Second-Half Comeback Denied

However, Leeds fought back after the break following a adjustment of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the restart

And with Manchester City visibly struggling to cope with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive treatment, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and deliver fresh directions during the two minutes play was stopped for

"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke stated

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is smart. If I like it? If it's within the spirit of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to find a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

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

"Unless we educate our footballers in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we just try to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an extra team talk, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the rules I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolves having notched less top-flight strikes this term

Tactical Adjustments

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

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, stated that his team were only able to reorganize after Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in control. Second half they emerged, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they deployed two in attack and changed the setup a little bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. We assembled on the side of the pitch and adjusted a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds

The last occasion Leeds United lost four successive top-flight games was in the 2022-23 season, when their season ended with relegation

However, while Farke stated that "our main emotion is disappointment", their second period performance offered enough proof to indicate they are capable of halting their present run and moving up the table

"To show such a performance should provide us plenty of confidence. If we show such spirit and unity we have a excellent opportunity to win the points," Farke added

"We had the confidence before the match, during the fixture and after the game. Otherwise you can't come back with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

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

"Leeds can derive a lot from this performance with the manner they have performed in this second period"

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often questioned for not being as responsive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the City defenders"

"It appeared like it could be a massive turning point in Leeds United's season, but City found a bit of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"