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

The visitors made the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second Period Revival Thwarted

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

And with City clearly struggling to cope with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver new instructions in the two minutes play was stopped for

"Everyone understands why he went down," Farke stated

"This isn't 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 up to the authorities to determine a solution"

Coach'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 sportsmanship and fair play and whatever and if we just try to bend the rules and even do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is allowed by the rules I can't complain"

Late Winner

Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolves having scored fewer Premier League strikes this season

Strategic Changes

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness especially around substitutions, was nearly vindicated for a bold choice at the half-time that nearly turned around their fortunes

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, stated that his team were only capable to regroup following Guardiola's touchline conference with his players

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they emerged, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed a pair in attack and changed the setup a bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. We assembled on the side of the field and changed a few things and it got better from there. That little break was crucial to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

The last occasion Leeds United suffered four straight consecutive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign ended with demotion

However, while Farke stated that "our overriding emotion is frustration", their second period display provided sufficient evidence to suggest they are capable of arresting their present form and climbing back up the table

"To show such a performance should provide us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a great opportunity to win the results," the manager continued

"We had the confidence before the match, during the fixture and following the game. Otherwise you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Expert Analysis

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone expected it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second half"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently questioned for not being as responsive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the Manchester City defenders"

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