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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" during their top-flight match at the Etihad

Leeds made the worst possible start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage ahead of the interval

Second-Half Revival Thwarted

Nevertheless, Leeds rallied following the interval following a change of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately following the resumption

And with City visibly having difficulty to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the touchline and deliver fresh directions during the 120 seconds play was halted for

"Everyone understands why he went down," Farke commented

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I approve? If it's in line with the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to find a solution"

Manager's Frustration

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

"If we don't teach our footballers in the game what to do in regards of fair play and fair play and whatever and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is allowed by the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Phil Foden's stoppage-time winner condemned Leeds to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight matches to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched fewer Premier League goals this term

Strategic Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of boldness particularly around changes, was almost rewarded for a bold choice at the interval that almost reversed their situation

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

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they emerged, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed two in attack and changed the formation a bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. We assembled on the edge of the field and adjusted a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds United

The last occasion Leeds United lost four straight successive Premier League games was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign concluded with relegation

However, while Farke said that "their main emotion is disappointment", their second-half display provided sufficient evidence to suggest they are able of halting their current form and climbing back up the table

"Displaying such a performance should give us plenty of belief. If we demonstrate such determination and unity we have a great chance to earn the results," the manager added

"We possessed the belief prior to the match, throughout the game and following the game. Or else you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

Commenting on radio analysis, ex- Celtic attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable victory for City, but it has been far from easy in this second period"

"Leeds can take a lot from this performance with the way they have performed in this second half"

"Following that were Daniel Farke's changes, who is often criticised for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the Manchester City centre-backs"

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