Sporting Life 19/2/11
GRAYSON LEADS THE SOMMA LOVING
Leeds manager Simon Grayson believes Davide Somma is too good to be labelled a 'super-sub' after the South African striker stepped off the bench to rescue a point for Leeds in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Norwich.
Somma replaced Leeds midfielder Neil Kilkenny in the 74th minute with his side trailing 2-1 and slammed home a fine volley with his first touch 60 seconds later for his 12th goal in 22 appearances this season, 11 of his outings as substitute.
Leeds had taken a 16th-minute lead through Luciano Becchio's header, but npower Championship promotion rivals Norwich hit back with Henri Lansbury lashing home an equaliser in first-half stoppage time.
Wes Hoolahan fired the Canaries into a 69th-minute lead, but Somma had the final say.
Somma has also been an unused substitute eight times this season and Grayson said: "He's a great lad. He's never once complained, he understood when I left him out last weekend, he understood today.
"He's got a fantastic attitude, he works ever so hard and is a massive team player and I wouldn't say he's best coming off the bench because he scores for us when he starts as well.
"He appreciates what we've done for him in terms of bringing him to this football club, of what he can be and what we've made him.
"But he's a great lad to work with and I'm sure he'll only get better.
"I don't know his goals ratio to minutes he's spent on the pitch, but it can't be far away from a goal a game now.
"That's a fantastic effort for him. He went to Lincoln last season and got a lot of goals there too and that's why he signed a long-term contract for us earlier this season."
Grayson said both sides deserved great credit for providing a fine advert for Championship football and could both soon be playing in the top flight.
He added: "We're hopeful of getting there. We had two fantastic games in League One as well last season and a great game this season down at Carrow Road.
"Both mine and Paul (Lambert's) philosophies are to try and play in the right manner, get hard-working lads who can also play and hopefully we can fulfil that ambition of getting Norwich and Leeds back in the Premier League.
"We've seen their following today. They have a vast amount of supporters, averaging 25,000 I think and we've had nearly 32,000 today.
"(We are) two clubs who have been in the Premier League, who will soon be back in there."
Norwich boss Paul Lambert felt the draw had been a fair result and was delighted with his side's display.
Lambert said: "The lads have been brilliant for me. This is a hard place to come, there's no doubt, with the crowd they've got behind their back.
"But I thought we gave as good as we got. I don't really bother with the table at the minute because I know how many games there are left, but what we've done is make it exciting for everyone connected.
"I'm absolutely over the moon with the 18 months I've been here.
"It's been a huge rise after the disappointment of being relegated (from the Championship). What we've done is terrific."
Norwich were in danger of being swept away in the first half by Leeds who twice hit the woodwork before the visitors responded after snatching a first-half equaliser.
Lambert added: "Leeds did that to Arsenal. They're a really good side and their fans are terrific.
"You know you're going to have to withstand a storm, but all credit to my team, they were brilliant again."
BBC 19/2/11
Leeds 2 - 2 Norwich
Second-half replacement Davide Somma earned Leeds a share of the points against promotion rivals Norwich.
Leeds came into the game with just one loss in 18 games and looked on course to extend that when Luciano Becchio headed in on 16 minutes.
Henri Lansbury's third goal in as many games drew Norwich level in first-half injury time, and Wes Hoolahan shot them in front on 69 minutes.
But substitute Somma had instant impact volleying in from Becchio's knock-down.
Becchio and Leeds skipper Jonny Howson both hit the woodwork in the first half, as did Norwich's top goalscorer Grant Holt, as a crowd of over 31,000 were treated to an action-packed game at Elland Road.
Howson shot inches wide on four minutes with Becchio heading Robert Snodgrass's free-kick onto the post as the home side began full of enthusiasm, taking a deserved lead on 16 minutes.
Max Gradel's cross from the left was flicked on by Snodgrass and Becchio eased past defender Adam Drury to head home his 15th goal of the season at the far post.
David Fox drew a fine save from Kasper Schmeichel with a 25-yard shot as Norwich sought a foothold in the game, but the woodwork soon came to their aid for a second time, as Howson drew a good save from John Ruddy and then hit the post with the rebound.
Just before half-time, Norwich got on level terms when Holt knocked down Andrew Crofts' cross and Lansbury applied the finishing touches.
The game continued at the same lively pace after the break, with Leeds having the best move of the game on 55 minutes.
George McCartney, Gradel and Snodgrass all combined to put Howson clear, but his low drive was deflected just wide.
Norwich were not out of it, however, with Holt flicking the ball onto the post, and two minutes later his side took the lead.
Crofts played in Hoolahan and the midfielder's low right-footed shot was deflected into the net by Eric Lichaj.
On 74 minutes striker Somma came on for midfielder Neil Kilkenny and within a minute he had volleyed his side back on level terms with his first touch.
Another replacement, Billy Paynter, almost snatched the win for Leeds right at the death but John Ruddy's full-stretch save earned his side a deserved point.
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Leeds manager Simon Grayson on Davide Somma:
"He's got a fantastic attitude, he works ever so hard and is a massive team player and I wouldn't say he's best coming off the bench because he scores for us when he starts as well.
"He appreciates what we've done for him in terms of bringing him to this football club, of what he can be and what we've made him.
"But he's a great lad to work with and I'm sure he'll only get better.
"I don't know his goals ratio to minutes he's spent on the pitch, but it can't be far away from a goal a game now."
Norwich manager Paul Lambert:
"This is a hard place to come, there's no doubt, with the crowd they've got behind their back.
"But I thought we gave as good as we got. I don't really bother with the table at the minute because I know how many games there are left, but what we've done is make it exciting for everyone connected.
"I'm absolutely over the moon with the 18 months I've been here.
"It's been a huge rise after the disappointment of being relegated (from the Championship). What we've done is terrific."
GRAYSON LEADS THE SOMMA LOVING
Leeds manager Simon Grayson believes Davide Somma is too good to be labelled a 'super-sub' after the South African striker stepped off the bench to rescue a point for Leeds in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Norwich.
Somma replaced Leeds midfielder Neil Kilkenny in the 74th minute with his side trailing 2-1 and slammed home a fine volley with his first touch 60 seconds later for his 12th goal in 22 appearances this season, 11 of his outings as substitute.
Leeds had taken a 16th-minute lead through Luciano Becchio's header, but npower Championship promotion rivals Norwich hit back with Henri Lansbury lashing home an equaliser in first-half stoppage time.
Wes Hoolahan fired the Canaries into a 69th-minute lead, but Somma had the final say.
Somma has also been an unused substitute eight times this season and Grayson said: "He's a great lad. He's never once complained, he understood when I left him out last weekend, he understood today.
"He's got a fantastic attitude, he works ever so hard and is a massive team player and I wouldn't say he's best coming off the bench because he scores for us when he starts as well.
"He appreciates what we've done for him in terms of bringing him to this football club, of what he can be and what we've made him.
"But he's a great lad to work with and I'm sure he'll only get better.
"I don't know his goals ratio to minutes he's spent on the pitch, but it can't be far away from a goal a game now.
"That's a fantastic effort for him. He went to Lincoln last season and got a lot of goals there too and that's why he signed a long-term contract for us earlier this season."
Grayson said both sides deserved great credit for providing a fine advert for Championship football and could both soon be playing in the top flight.
He added: "We're hopeful of getting there. We had two fantastic games in League One as well last season and a great game this season down at Carrow Road.
"Both mine and Paul (Lambert's) philosophies are to try and play in the right manner, get hard-working lads who can also play and hopefully we can fulfil that ambition of getting Norwich and Leeds back in the Premier League.
"We've seen their following today. They have a vast amount of supporters, averaging 25,000 I think and we've had nearly 32,000 today.
"(We are) two clubs who have been in the Premier League, who will soon be back in there."
Norwich boss Paul Lambert felt the draw had been a fair result and was delighted with his side's display.
Lambert said: "The lads have been brilliant for me. This is a hard place to come, there's no doubt, with the crowd they've got behind their back.
"But I thought we gave as good as we got. I don't really bother with the table at the minute because I know how many games there are left, but what we've done is make it exciting for everyone connected.
"I'm absolutely over the moon with the 18 months I've been here.
"It's been a huge rise after the disappointment of being relegated (from the Championship). What we've done is terrific."
Norwich were in danger of being swept away in the first half by Leeds who twice hit the woodwork before the visitors responded after snatching a first-half equaliser.
Lambert added: "Leeds did that to Arsenal. They're a really good side and their fans are terrific.
"You know you're going to have to withstand a storm, but all credit to my team, they were brilliant again."
BBC 19/2/11
Leeds 2 - 2 Norwich
Second-half replacement Davide Somma earned Leeds a share of the points against promotion rivals Norwich.
Leeds came into the game with just one loss in 18 games and looked on course to extend that when Luciano Becchio headed in on 16 minutes.
Henri Lansbury's third goal in as many games drew Norwich level in first-half injury time, and Wes Hoolahan shot them in front on 69 minutes.
But substitute Somma had instant impact volleying in from Becchio's knock-down.
Becchio and Leeds skipper Jonny Howson both hit the woodwork in the first half, as did Norwich's top goalscorer Grant Holt, as a crowd of over 31,000 were treated to an action-packed game at Elland Road.
Howson shot inches wide on four minutes with Becchio heading Robert Snodgrass's free-kick onto the post as the home side began full of enthusiasm, taking a deserved lead on 16 minutes.
Max Gradel's cross from the left was flicked on by Snodgrass and Becchio eased past defender Adam Drury to head home his 15th goal of the season at the far post.
David Fox drew a fine save from Kasper Schmeichel with a 25-yard shot as Norwich sought a foothold in the game, but the woodwork soon came to their aid for a second time, as Howson drew a good save from John Ruddy and then hit the post with the rebound.
Just before half-time, Norwich got on level terms when Holt knocked down Andrew Crofts' cross and Lansbury applied the finishing touches.
The game continued at the same lively pace after the break, with Leeds having the best move of the game on 55 minutes.
George McCartney, Gradel and Snodgrass all combined to put Howson clear, but his low drive was deflected just wide.
Norwich were not out of it, however, with Holt flicking the ball onto the post, and two minutes later his side took the lead.
Crofts played in Hoolahan and the midfielder's low right-footed shot was deflected into the net by Eric Lichaj.
On 74 minutes striker Somma came on for midfielder Neil Kilkenny and within a minute he had volleyed his side back on level terms with his first touch.
Another replacement, Billy Paynter, almost snatched the win for Leeds right at the death but John Ruddy's full-stretch save earned his side a deserved point.
________________________________________
Leeds manager Simon Grayson on Davide Somma:
"He's got a fantastic attitude, he works ever so hard and is a massive team player and I wouldn't say he's best coming off the bench because he scores for us when he starts as well.
"He appreciates what we've done for him in terms of bringing him to this football club, of what he can be and what we've made him.
"But he's a great lad to work with and I'm sure he'll only get better.
"I don't know his goals ratio to minutes he's spent on the pitch, but it can't be far away from a goal a game now."
Norwich manager Paul Lambert:
"This is a hard place to come, there's no doubt, with the crowd they've got behind their back.
"But I thought we gave as good as we got. I don't really bother with the table at the minute because I know how many games there are left, but what we've done is make it exciting for everyone connected.
"I'm absolutely over the moon with the 18 months I've been here.
"It's been a huge rise after the disappointment of being relegated (from the Championship). What we've done is terrific."