Norwich City 1 Leeds United 1 – a Championship affair. Scrappy, end to end stuff with little style and a lot of referee meddling.
Leeds United did a demolition job on Norwich City at the end of last season to gain a Championship play-off final place they lost to Southampton FC. With the improving performances over the last few matches Leeds went into this match a close favourite. However, Leeds had lost Ampadu till January and Solomon for a few weeks. So, whilst it was an unchanged first team, the bench was light on experience.
It was a messy watch with neither team able to hold onto possession. The referee did his level best to unstable the match with no one knowing whether a foul would be given or not, yellow card given for an innocuous foul and but other industrial fouls going unpunished. Norwich looked to beat Leeds with pace on the counter attack with the overload, with Leeds reliant on Gnonto’s speculative shots.
It was a poor start by Leeds – a yellow card, chances missed, and a goal down. It worsened with Gruev taken off injured. With Tanaka and Rothwell in the middle Leeds were playing a makeshift midfield. The problems were compounded when the referee kept issuing cards – five in the first half and even Farke yellow carded late on. What looked a clear penalty decision with Gnonto decked in the second half earned him a yellow card.
Norwich attacked in waves but never really threatened Meslier but it was a penalty kick on 12 minutes that decided the first half – – Rodon leaving a foot out. Meslier guessed right but the ball crept under him. That was the end of Leeds’ clean sheet record.
It was a Championship game in so many ways – both teams in the other’s penalty box but neither team holding possession, plenty corners but a lack of clever set pieces,
On the hour Leeds finally showed some quality with patient passing in front of the Norwich, and in the blink of an eye Gnonto threaded a pass to a charging Ramazani who scored from an acute angle to bring the score level.
Tanaka has proven a fine addition with his ability to pick up loose balls and thread them forward. Gnonto is an improving Leeds player who was untouchable in this match and unlucky not to score. Despite his crosses Leeds again lacked firepower with the final ball, Joseph having a quiet game.
Man of the match – Willy Gnonto with his dribbling through the Norwich City defence.
