Leeds United quick sub swap, touchline cheerleader, off-camera moments and Norwich man's bad day — YEP 25/1/24
Leeds United remain perfect in 2024 with five wins from five outings but their latest victims Norwich City did not make it easy.
By Graham Smyth
There was a long and uncomfortable spell in the second half
in which the Canaries were totally dominant in possession, which is not
something we've seen often in Leeds games this season. Daniel Farke was
delighted with how his players coped, however, and how they kept the visitors
from creating any real danger during that period. He felt the win was deserved
and on the balance of chances it would be hard to disagree. Here's the YEP
take.
Good day
Archie Gray
The youngster's performance was summed up by the second half
counter attack he got back to stop. He kept his head, stayed on his feet, won
the ball and then calmly eased past a challenge. Yet another
mature-beyond-his-years display that was sadly cut short by that late, late
injury. Took a painful kick, having once again shown himself too quick-footed
for an opponent, and limped off and Leeds will hope and pray that the initial
assessment of cautious optimism holds true.
Patrick Bamford
Another start, another goal. That's four in his last five
outings and it was a peach of a finish too, a perfectly-placed header. Thanks
to the Chelsea philosophy, Bamford has a fair few ex clubs, teams he played for
on loan and Norwich City is one of those. It very much looked like he enjoyed
scoring that one against them. He might have had another one or two, as well,
but thanks to his and his team's defensive efforts the header proved to be the
winner.
Bad day
Jaidon Anthony
The winger started so brightly, showing feet that were too
quick for his markers. The first one he bypassed with ease and the second he
baited into a foul on the touchline. But from then on, despite playing an
important role in the defensive effort, he had some struggles on the ball.
Played in by Bamford, he could easily have made it 2-0 but his first touch was
poor and didn't allow him to get a clean strike off. The slip that led to
Norwich's counter wasn't his fault, but he did then go and give them a needless
free-kick in a dangerous area. On both occasions his team-mates bailed him out.
Borja Sainz
Coming out second best in a physical battle with another
player is never going to be enjoyable, but when the opposition player in
question is 17, five years your junior, it must be doubly unpleasant. Sainz was
unable to get any real joy out of the teenager, other than a ball in behind
that he raced onto. Apart from that he was pretty well handled and couldn't
ruffle the apprentice right-back's feathers at all.
Off-camera
Summerville flicking the ball over the head of kitman Paul
en route to some shooting practice at the end of the warm-up.
Farke imploring his men to calm down after a rushed first
few minutes and some sloppy play.
Substitute Jaidon Anthony applauding Archie Gray as he
recovered from a whack in the ribs and a tussle with Borja Sainz that resulted
in a Norwich free-kick, to win a battle of strength with the same player on the
touchline.
Wagner motioning that Daniel James dived on the touchline as
the winger went down without contact from Josh Sargent.
Rob Price, Rishi Dhand and Farke having a conflab in the
technical area to discuss the situation involving James and his knock, while
Jaidon Anthony looked on in case he had to get ready. Chris Domogalla had a
word with James to let him know how long was left to half-time.
All manner of wild gesticulating from both benches in
stoppage time as Norwich sent their keeper up to attack and claimed for fouls
and protested stoppages. Leeds were all over the fourth official when it came
to the absence of the full-time whistle, deep in time added on. The Whites also
changed their minds over a planned swap, sending Sam Byram on for Gray, instead
of Crysencio Summerville as first intended, following the teenager's injury.
