UK Edition
Leeds United blown off course as Norwich go top of Championship table
Leeds United 1 Norwich City 3
Hope had begun to turn into expectation, but underneath the excitement of Leeds United’s promotion push there has always been a strong dose of Yorkshire pessimism and Norwich reminded us why.
While the mood before kick-off had been jovial – all jokes about Huddersfield’s impending relegation and the immense satisfaction that, while nobody in the Championship likes them, no one at Leeds cares – there is always the fear things will go wrong.
Norwich’s jubilant away following serenaded their hosts with songs about “Leeds falling apart again” and that is a genuine concern after four defeats in their last six Championship games.
It was a performance that deservedly took Norwich back to the top of the Championship. By the end, they had not only humbled Leeds, they had crushed them.
“It was a big game, a spotlight game,” said Norwich manager Daniel Farke, who has secured a new club record with 13 away wins this season. “It was an extremely difficult challenge, away from home against the leaders and to deliver with such a good performance, with such a young side, I’m full of compliments for my team.
“It’s nice to be top of the league, but it’s not like we have won it. We are enjoying ourselves, even in a spicy atmosphere like this.”
Having dominated the early exchanges, a swerving shot from Matuesz Klich flying wide before a tamer effort from Jack Harrison was saved comfortably by Tim Krul, Leeds conceded.
Onel Hernandez’s dribbling skills drew the foul and from the resulting free kick Mario Vrancic found the top corner, with the assistance of a small deflection.
Vrancic celebrated by holding a finger to his lips to silence the raucous home crowd. They were not quiet for long but Leeds could not find an equaliser, Ezgjan Alioski catching a volley superbly only for the ball to rocket wide.
The home team were on top, but Norwich scored another. A mistake by Adam Forshaw lost possession and when Vrancic’s shot was blocked, it spun kindly for Teemu Pukki to roll in his 22nd goal of the season.
Leeds almost pulled a goal back immediately, Kemar Roofe slaloming his way into the area before forcing a good save from Krul, but Norwich never looked like allowing them back into the game after that.
Bielsa made a double substitution at half time, but Norwich began to enjoy themselves, pressing their hosts, using Leeds’ own methods against them, eventually scoring a third goal through the excellent Vrancic. Patrick Bamford’s late goal was barely consolation.
Instead of clapping and cheering, the sound of collective disgruntlement had returned to the old stadium. Anxiety and frustration are creeping back.
“We are still in a good position,” said their wily Argentinian coach, Marcelo Bielsa. “We have difficulties to overcome, to lose four out of six is something we cannot ignore.
“Our conversion rate of chances to goals is worse than a team at the bottom of the table but we still have good players. We will come through this.”
Match details
Leeds United (4-1-4-1): Casilla 5; Ayling 4, Cooper 5, Jansson 5, Alioski 6; Forshaw 5; Roberts 5 (Bamford 63), Klich 7, Harrison 6 (Clarke 46), Hernandez 5 (Douglas 46); Roofe 5.
Subs not used: Peacock-Farrell, Philips, Shackleton, Gotts.
Booked: Roberts, Roofe, Alioski.
Norwich City (4-2-3-1): Krul 6; Aarons 7, Zimmerman 7, Godfrey 7, Lewis 7; Vrancic 8, Trybull 7 (Tettey 84); Buendia (McLean 85), Stiepermann 7, Hernandez 7; Pukki 8 (Rhodes 87).
Subs not used: Hanley, Srbeny, McGovern.
Booked: Krul, Stiepermann.
Referee: Stuart Atwell (Birmingham).