Report: Leeds United 1-0 Norwich City

Sky Bet Championship

Leeds United 1 (Bamford 16’)

Norwich City 0

Leeds: Meslier (GK), Firpo, Ampadu (C), Kamara (Cooper 90’), Bamford, Summerville (Joseph 90’), Rodon, James (Anthony 45’), Gray (Byram 90’), Rutter, Gruev. Subs not used: Klaesson (GK), Piroe, Shackleton, Poveda, Gelhardt.

Norwich: Gunn (GK), Stacey, Gibson (Fassnacht 72’), Sainz (Hernandez 59’), Sargent (Idah 79’), McLean (C), Duffy, Nunez, Rowe (Barnes 79’), Giannoulis. Subs not used: Long (GK), Gibbs, McCallum, Sorensen, Fisher. 

Referee: Matthew Donohue

Booked: Firpo (Leeds) Gibson, Giannoulis (Norwich)

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 34,380

Leeds United claimed a big three points at home to Norwich City, after Patrick Bamford scored his fourth in five matches with a first half header. 

Daniel Farke’s side began on top in the game and had the first opening, albeit in spectacular style. Continuing his impressive recent form, Junior Firpo got down the wing and crossed into the box, which saw Bamford attempt a bicycle kick, going wide of the goal. 

With the Whites piling on the early pressure and taking the game to the visitors in search of an opener, that’s exactly what came. 

A sustained team move saw the ball come out to Dan James on the right wing. He looked up and whipped in a pinpoint delivery to Bamford at the back-post, who had work to do, but superbly guided his header back across goal into the bottom corner. 

Norwich then had a couple of efforts on goal themselves. Illan Meslier had saved well from opposition captain Kenny McLean, before the ‘keeper was then alert again, this time denying Jonathan Rowe. 

The match was approaching half-time when the next chance for Leeds came, again it was from Bamford. The striker linked up well with Crysencio Summerville and curled a right-footed effort on goal, flying past the post.

The Canaries then went close to levelling, in stoppage time. Gabriel Sara was open at the back post, but scuffed his effort, seeing the ball go narrowly past the post. That meant the Whites went in a goal ahead at the interval. 

HALF TIME: Leeds United 1-0 Norwich City 

Leeds made a change at the break, with James replaced by Jaidon Anthony. The winger was instantly involved and causing problems, which saw Dimitris Giannoulis pick up a yellow card for an early foul on him. 

David Wagner also went to his bench early in the second 45 minutes. He opted for a change in an attacking area, bringing on Onel Hernandez, replacing Borja Sainz. 

The Canaries had a long spell of the ball and were aiming to frustrate Leeds, searching for a route to goal. When Farke’s side did get the ball back though, an opening came for Summerville, but Angus Gunn saved well between the posts. 

Another opportunity arrived shortly after. Firpo won the ball high up and it fell to Bamford, who played in Anthony, but as the winger looked to slot the ball home his effort was blocked well and cleared. 

With the atmosphere continuing to ramp up inside Elland Road, Leeds had another chance. It was solely created by Georginio Rutter who showed clever feet, tricking his way into the box and smashing low on goal, only to see Gunn save well with his feet. 

Despite a number of chances, Leeds couldn’t find a second goal and in stoppage time, they had to stand firm to a number of balls into the box from the visitors.

Joe Rodon was on hand on more than one occasion to head clear and in doing so, helped his side to claim an important three points under the midweek lights. 

Farke’s side are back in action this coming weekend, taking on Plymouth Argyle at Elland Road in the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round.  

FULL TIME: Leeds United 1-0 Norwich City