Lewis Rescue Act: United 2 Norwich 2
leedsunited.com
A glorious free-kick from Eddie Lewis rescued a valuable point for Leeds at home to Norwich - but it was a game they should have made sure of the win in the first half.
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell stuck with the same side that beat Crystal Palace the previous week, and who would blame him for keeping a winning side intact.
That meant Rob Hulse and Robbie Blake were given the opportunity to build on their 11 goals this season, whilst another striker on the same amount, David
Healy, was forced to make do with a place on the bench alongside another international, Eirik Bakke.
Also on the bench was the welcome sight of Matthew Kilgallon, the defender having recovered from a knee ligament injury and now being forced to bide his time before getting another chance to establish himself.
The Match
Norwich had the first real chance of the game after six minutes, a half clearance from skipper Paul Butler fell for Huckerby and he set Leon McKenzie on his way but fortunately the striker was forced out wide and Gary Kelly got back to block the shot and Neil Sullivan prevented it from going out for a corner.
Liam Miller has brought real attacking purpose to United's midfield and he had the Elland Road crowd on its feet applauding him after a flash of brilliance saw him dribble his way past Norwich defender Gary Doherty to set up a good attack for Leeds.
He played the ball out wide to Robbie Blake who tried three times to hit the target but each time saw his shot blocked before finally being a little too over-ambitious and losing the ball.
The move may have come to nothing but it sparked Leeds to life and they then began to play some of the best football seen at Elland Road this season.
They came close to an opener just after the quarter hour mark. Kelly's cross came in, Hulse went up for the scissor-kick and missed but Douglas met it on the half volley and had he got more power behind his shot then Green in the Norwich goal might have been severely tested, as it was he made a comfortable save.
Robbie Blake's footwork was a joy to behold; he was twisting and turning, playing great dummies and generally taking his man on at every occasion. The boy hails from Boro but in this form he could be mistaken for Brazilian.
And it was Blake who set Leeds on their way to the first goal with more terrorising of the Norwich defence on 20 minutes.
Toying with three defenders just inside the penalty box, he picked out Eddie Lewis ahead of him with a deft pass, the American then flicked the ball up and went for the shot but only managed to hit it as far as Hulse barely two yards further forward. Hulse found himself with just the keeper to beat from six yards out - and there was only one outcome as he helped himself to goal number 12 of the season.
Just after Craig Fleming was booked for a late challenge on Miller, Leeds came within a whisker of making it 2-0. Lewis took the free kick and delivered a great ball into the area where Hulse met it with a crashing header that Green only just managed to tip away at full stretch.
Hulse had a few more headers before the break but couldn't find the target with some difficult chances. It was a sign though that Leeds were well on top and at half time Kevin Blackwell could only have had one wish - get more goals.
Norwich came out after the break and set about getting at the Leeds defence with twice as much purpose as they had shown in the first half.
The first quarter hour of the second half saw them cause United no end of problems and they provided a taster of what was to come when Doherty's snap shot was only just tipped away by Sullivan.
They got their reward though on 57 minutes as they drew level with a goal that would have infuriated the defence.
Simon Charlton's cross from the left found Huckerby in acres of space inside the penalty area and at first it looked like Sullivan has saved Leeds again but the ball bounced awkwardly, hit Butler and the post and was bundled home by Andy Hughes from close range.
United's frustration at having conceded the goal showed when Derry was booked for a foul on Paul McVeigh. Five minutes later Stephen Crainey was followed him into the book for a foul on the same player.
Leeds were clearly unsettled and put themselves in more danger when Gregan's headed backpass to the keeper was short and put Sullivan in all kinds of trouble and McKenzie managed to get a foot to the ball first but fortunately couldn't direct it goalwards and Kelly cleared.
Shaun Gregan became the third United player to be booked when he sent McKenzie clattering to the ground. If it is confirmed as the defender's tenth booking of the season, he will now be suspended for two games.
Blackwell made his first chance on 69 minutes when Healy replaced Blake and the pressure was now on the Ulsterman to deliver another goal in his super-sub role.
United's task of winning the game became somewhat harder when Norwich stunned everyone by taking the lead on 75 minutes.
Somehow Huckerby was allowed to cross the ball under pressure from Kelly and Butler on the left of the penalty area, Gregan tried to cut it out but missed it and the ball fell for McVeigh who drilled it home just inside the left hand post.
Liam Miller made way with just over 10 minutes remaining and was replaced by Eirik Bakke. Huckerby was nearly through on goal after a long ball caught Leeds on the break but Kelly managed to get across and hold off the striker enough to clear the danger.
Healy had a chance to level things when Hulse's header fell nicely for him on the right of the six yard box but his drive only found the side netting.
With time fast running out it looked as if Leeds, well aware main promotion rivals Sheffield United were losing, had blown their big chance to make up further ground.
Eddie Lewis was to change that with a free-kick just short of 25-yards out from goal.
He lined it up and with the crowd well aware it could be their last chance to get something out of the game, placed it perfectly just inside the top right hand corner of the net. It set up a rip-roaring last four minutes of extra time but United couldn't find another goal and had to settle for a point, but it was a point that drew them ever nearer to Sheffield United and the second automatic promotion place.
leedsunited.com
A glorious free-kick from Eddie Lewis rescued a valuable point for Leeds at home to Norwich - but it was a game they should have made sure of the win in the first half.
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell stuck with the same side that beat Crystal Palace the previous week, and who would blame him for keeping a winning side intact.
That meant Rob Hulse and Robbie Blake were given the opportunity to build on their 11 goals this season, whilst another striker on the same amount, David
Healy, was forced to make do with a place on the bench alongside another international, Eirik Bakke.Also on the bench was the welcome sight of Matthew Kilgallon, the defender having recovered from a knee ligament injury and now being forced to bide his time before getting another chance to establish himself.
The Match
Norwich had the first real chance of the game after six minutes, a half clearance from skipper Paul Butler fell for Huckerby and he set Leon McKenzie on his way but fortunately the striker was forced out wide and Gary Kelly got back to block the shot and Neil Sullivan prevented it from going out for a corner.
Liam Miller has brought real attacking purpose to United's midfield and he had the Elland Road crowd on its feet applauding him after a flash of brilliance saw him dribble his way past Norwich defender Gary Doherty to set up a good attack for Leeds.
He played the ball out wide to Robbie Blake who tried three times to hit the target but each time saw his shot blocked before finally being a little too over-ambitious and losing the ball.
The move may have come to nothing but it sparked Leeds to life and they then began to play some of the best football seen at Elland Road this season.
They came close to an opener just after the quarter hour mark. Kelly's cross came in, Hulse went up for the scissor-kick and missed but Douglas met it on the half volley and had he got more power behind his shot then Green in the Norwich goal might have been severely tested, as it was he made a comfortable save.
Robbie Blake's footwork was a joy to behold; he was twisting and turning, playing great dummies and generally taking his man on at every occasion. The boy hails from Boro but in this form he could be mistaken for Brazilian.
And it was Blake who set Leeds on their way to the first goal with more terrorising of the Norwich defence on 20 minutes.
Toying with three defenders just inside the penalty box, he picked out Eddie Lewis ahead of him with a deft pass, the American then flicked the ball up and went for the shot but only managed to hit it as far as Hulse barely two yards further forward. Hulse found himself with just the keeper to beat from six yards out - and there was only one outcome as he helped himself to goal number 12 of the season.
Just after Craig Fleming was booked for a late challenge on Miller, Leeds came within a whisker of making it 2-0. Lewis took the free kick and delivered a great ball into the area where Hulse met it with a crashing header that Green only just managed to tip away at full stretch.
Hulse had a few more headers before the break but couldn't find the target with some difficult chances. It was a sign though that Leeds were well on top and at half time Kevin Blackwell could only have had one wish - get more goals.
Norwich came out after the break and set about getting at the Leeds defence with twice as much purpose as they had shown in the first half.
The first quarter hour of the second half saw them cause United no end of problems and they provided a taster of what was to come when Doherty's snap shot was only just tipped away by Sullivan.
They got their reward though on 57 minutes as they drew level with a goal that would have infuriated the defence.
Simon Charlton's cross from the left found Huckerby in acres of space inside the penalty area and at first it looked like Sullivan has saved Leeds again but the ball bounced awkwardly, hit Butler and the post and was bundled home by Andy Hughes from close range.
United's frustration at having conceded the goal showed when Derry was booked for a foul on Paul McVeigh. Five minutes later Stephen Crainey was followed him into the book for a foul on the same player.
Leeds were clearly unsettled and put themselves in more danger when Gregan's headed backpass to the keeper was short and put Sullivan in all kinds of trouble and McKenzie managed to get a foot to the ball first but fortunately couldn't direct it goalwards and Kelly cleared.
Shaun Gregan became the third United player to be booked when he sent McKenzie clattering to the ground. If it is confirmed as the defender's tenth booking of the season, he will now be suspended for two games.
Blackwell made his first chance on 69 minutes when Healy replaced Blake and the pressure was now on the Ulsterman to deliver another goal in his super-sub role.
United's task of winning the game became somewhat harder when Norwich stunned everyone by taking the lead on 75 minutes.
Somehow Huckerby was allowed to cross the ball under pressure from Kelly and Butler on the left of the penalty area, Gregan tried to cut it out but missed it and the ball fell for McVeigh who drilled it home just inside the left hand post.
Liam Miller made way with just over 10 minutes remaining and was replaced by Eirik Bakke. Huckerby was nearly through on goal after a long ball caught Leeds on the break but Kelly managed to get across and hold off the striker enough to clear the danger.
Healy had a chance to level things when Hulse's header fell nicely for him on the right of the six yard box but his drive only found the side netting.
With time fast running out it looked as if Leeds, well aware main promotion rivals Sheffield United were losing, had blown their big chance to make up further ground.
Eddie Lewis was to change that with a free-kick just short of 25-yards out from goal.
He lined it up and with the crowd well aware it could be their last chance to get something out of the game, placed it perfectly just inside the top right hand corner of the net. It set up a rip-roaring last four minutes of extra time but United couldn't find another goal and had to settle for a point, but it was a point that drew them ever nearer to Sheffield United and the second automatic promotion place.