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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their Premier League match at the Etihad

Leeds got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's lead ahead of the interval

Second Period Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors rallied after the interval following a adjustment of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately after the resumption

And with City clearly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the touchline and issue new instructions in the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke stated

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is clever. If I approve? If it's within the spirit of fair play? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the governing bodies to determine a solution"

Coach's Frustration

"I ask the fourth official at this point if you want to take action. Our options are limited"

"If we don't teach our footballers in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we just attempt to bend the rules and even do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an extra team talk, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the regulations I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal condemned Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven top-flight matches to leave them 18th in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored fewer Premier League goals this season

Strategic Adjustments

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness particularly around changes, was nearly vindicated for a courageous decision at the interval that nearly turned around their fortunes

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, said that his team were only able to reorganize following Guardiola's sideline meeting with his squad

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot higher, they deployed two up top and changed the formation a little bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the game. We assembled on the edge of the field and adjusted a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Positive Signs for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds lost four straight consecutive top-flight games was in the 2022-23 season, when their season concluded with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke said that "our main feeling is frustration", their second-half performance provided enough evidence to indicate they are capable of arresting their current run and climbing back up the table

"Displaying such a performance should provide us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such determination and unity we have a excellent chance to earn the points," Farke added

"We possessed the confidence prior to the game, throughout the fixture and after the encounter. Or else you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have strong unity and determination in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scottish club attacker 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 United can derive a lot from this display with the way they have played in this second half"

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often questioned for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the City defenders"

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