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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" during their Premier League match at Etihad Stadium

Leeds got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage before the interval

Second Period Revival Thwarted

However, Leeds rallied following the break following a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the resumption

Furthermore with City clearly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and issue fresh instructions during the 120 seconds play was halted for

"Everyone understands why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the authorities to determine a resolution"

Coach's Disappointment

"I ask the assistant referee at this moment if you wish to do something. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we teach our players in the game what to do in regards of fair play and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just attempt to exploit regulations and actually do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored less top-flight strikes this term

Tactical Changes

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness particularly around changes, was nearly vindicated for a courageous decision at the half-time that nearly turned around their fortunes

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, stated that his team were only able to reorganize following Guardiola's touchline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they put two up top and altered the formation a little bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the game. We assembled on the edge of the field and adjusted a few things and it improved from there. That little break was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds suffered four successive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their season concluded with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke said that "their overriding feeling is frustration", their second-half display provided enough evidence to indicate they are able of halting their current form and moving back up the standings

"To show such a display should provide us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such determination and togetherness we have a great opportunity to win the results," Farke added

"We possessed the belief prior to the game, throughout the fixture and following the encounter. Otherwise you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have great unity and determination in the locker room"

Expert Opinion

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

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

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

"It looked like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds United's season, but City discovered a measure of quality. They got away with one this evening"