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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" in their Premier League fixture at the Etihad

Leeds made the worst possible start with Phil Foden scoring within the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's lead ahead of the interval

Second-Half Revival Thwarted

Nevertheless, Leeds fought back following the interval following a change of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the resumption

And with Manchester City clearly struggling to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and issue new instructions during the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everyone knows why he collapsed," Farke commented

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is smart. If I approve? If it's in line with the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a solution"

Coach's Frustration

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

"Unless we educate our footballers in the game what to do in terms of fair play and fair play and everything and if we just try to exploit regulations and even do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is allowed by the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal condemned Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched fewer Premier League goals this season

Strategic Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of adventure particularly around changes, was nearly rewarded for a courageous choice at the half-time that almost reversed their fortunes

Speaking to television pundits, Phil Foden, stated that his team were only capable to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"During the break we were in command. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair in attack and altered the setup a bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the match. We got together on the edge of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent occasion Leeds United lost four successive Premier League matches was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with relegation

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke stated that "their overriding feeling is disappointment", their second-half performance offered enough proof to suggest they are capable of halting their present form and climbing up the standings

"To show such a display should give us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such determination and unity we have a great opportunity to win the points," Farke added

"We possessed the confidence prior to the game, during the fixture and after the encounter. Otherwise you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Pundit Analysis

Commenting on radio analysis, former Celtic forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone expected it to be a straightforward win for Manchester City, but it has been far from easy in this second period"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often criticised for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the City defenders"

"It looked like it might be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds United's season, but City found a bit of quality. They escaped with one this evening"