Norwich 1 Leeds United 1: Doukara ensures doughty work by Leeds is rewarded
Yorkshire Post 22/10/14LEEDS UNITED showed great resilience to add to Norwich City’s frustrations by ensuring the high-fliers have now gone five home games without a win.
The Canaries were unable to build on a headed goal just before the hour mark from captain Russell Martin.
Leeds were back on level terms inside four minutes thanks to a well taken effort from Souleymane Doukara and the visitors then put up the barricades to ensure they went home with a hard-earned point.
Both sides went into the game with an indifferent run of results behind them and it showed in the early stages, with goalmouth action in short supply.
But the Canaries gradually began to get a foothold in the game and almost took the lead after 14 minutes when Cameron Jerome just failed to get the required touch on an excellent cross from Josh Murphy, who was making his first league start.
From then on Norwich totally dominated the half, with Leeds struggling to get past the halfway line.
Their only break came midway through when referee Mark Clattenburg halted the game after complaints from Jerome, who appeared to be upset by something said by Leeds defender Giuseppe Bellusci.
After talking with both managers the official let the Italian off with a warning although he was swiftly brandishing a yellow card at Jerome when he clattered into the Leeds man.
When play resumed, Kyle Lafferty was just wide with a snap shot, and Nathan Redmond brought a good save out of Marco Silvestri. But Norwich ended up drawing a blank in the first half for the ninth game in succession.
They quickly resumed the attack after the break and finally got the goal they deserved after 59 minutes when Redmond’s corner was headed home by Martin.
Having defended so well it was a real sucker punch for Leeds, but they were back level after 63 minutes after making full use of virtually their first incisive attack of the game.
It ended with Adryan deftly slipping the ball through to Doukara who moved into the area before beating John Ruddy with a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
The goal game out of the blue and gave Leeds renewed vigour at the back and they defended superbly for the rest of the game to keep Norwich at bay.
The Football Association seems likely to look into claims that Bellusci aimed a racial slur at Norwich striker Jerome.
Referee Clattenburg spoke with both benches immediately after the off-the-ball clash and will submit a report to the FA later today, detailing the incident and Jerome’s claims.
United head coach Darko Milanic declined to comment at full-time, saying he would speak with Bellusci during the coach journey home to Yorkshire, but Norwich manager Neil Adams confirmed Jerome’s allegations of racism shortly after the final whistle.
He said the players were spoken to at half-time with representatives of each of the clubs.
