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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" during their top-flight fixture at Etihad Stadium

The visitors made the poorest beginning with Phil Foden scoring within the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second Period Comeback Denied

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

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to cope with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the sideline and issue fresh instructions during the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everyone understands why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I approve? If it's in line with the spirit of fair play? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the authorities to determine a resolution"

Manager's Frustration

"I questioned the assistant referee at this point if you wish to take action. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just try 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 within the rules I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven top-flight matches to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolves having notched less Premier League strikes this season

Tactical Changes

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness especially around changes, was almost vindicated for a courageous decision at the interval that nearly reversed their fortunes

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, said that his team were only capable to regroup following Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his squad

"At half-time we were in command. Second half they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and altered the setup a bit," said Phil Foden

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

Positive Aspects for Leeds

The last time Leeds suffered four successive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign concluded with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke said that "their overriding feeling is disappointment", their second-half display offered enough evidence to suggest they are capable of halting their current run and climbing up the table

"To show such a display should provide us plenty of belief. If we demonstrate such determination and unity we have a excellent chance to win the results," Farke added

"We possessed the confidence prior to the match, during the game and following the encounter. Or else you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on radio analysis, former Scottish club forward Chris Sutton said: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable victory for Manchester City, but it has been far from easy in this second half"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often criticised for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the Manchester City centre-backs"

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