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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has accused City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" in their top-flight match at the Etihad

Leeds got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden scoring within the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's advantage before the interval

Second Period Revival Denied

Nevertheless, Leeds fought back following the break following a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly struggling to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the sideline and issue new instructions in the two minutes play was halted for

"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke commented

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the spirit of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to find a solution"

Coach's Frustration

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

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

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's stoppage-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched less Premier League goals this term

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of adventure particularly around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a courageous choice at the interval that almost reversed their situation

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, stated that his team were only capable to reorganize following 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 put two up top and altered the formation a little bit," commented Phil Foden

"We really struggled to get hold of the game. We got together on the edge of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was crucial to get things right"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds

The last time Leeds United suffered four straight successive Premier League matches was in 2022-23, when their campaign concluded with demotion

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "our overriding emotion is frustration", their second-half performance provided enough evidence to suggest they are able of halting their present run and climbing up the standings

"Displaying such a performance should give us lots of belief. If we show such spirit and togetherness we have a great chance to earn the points," Farke continued

"We possessed the belief before the match, throughout the fixture and following the game. Or else you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have great unity and determination in the dressing room"

Expert Analysis

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

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

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

"It looked like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds United's campaign, but City found a bit of brilliance. They escaped with one this afternoon"