Leeds 0 Norwich 2: Howson and United fans display mutual respect
Yorkshire Post 15/4/15
THE celebrations were almost non-existent. A quick raising of the arms by goalscorer Jonny Howson towards the massed ranks of travelling Norwich City fans and that was it.
Considering just how much was at stake last night for the promotion-chasing Canaries, it was a remarkable show of restraint and one that spoke volumes for the affection the one-time Elland Road captain still holds for his old club.
It is clearly a feeling that is reciprocated, Howson being applauded from the field by the Gelderd End at the final whistle after peeling away from his elated team-mates at the other end to pay his own thanks.
Howson’s big moment came just before the hour, a crisp finish from 15 yards giving Marco Silvestri in the home goal no chance.
It paved the way for a victory that was confirmed in stoppage time by Graham Dorrans as Norwich retained possession of an automatic promotion place on a night when rivals Middlesbrough and Bournemouth both won.
For Leeds, meanwhile, it meant a fourth straight loss and another step towards the end of a season that surely cannot come soon enough.
Only then, it seems, can the club’s long-suffering supporters expect any semblance of clarity from their beloved club.
Top of the list of imponderables that need sorting will be head coach Neil Redfearn’s future, which since the enforced departure of assistant Steve Thompson before Easter has been shrouded in doubt.
It is to be hoped United come to their senses and retain the 49-year-old, who – together with Thompson – has held the Elland Road club together amid the chaos and consternation that has characterised much of this term.
Not that resolving Redfearn’s future will end the general sense of uncertainty that pervades LS11, not with owner Massimo Cellino now scheduled to fight two court cases in his native Italy during June.
The first is a long-standing court date of June 5, as the United owner – already banned by the Football League until May 3 after being found guilty in an earlier case – fights allegations he failed to pay VAT on a yacht called ‘Lucky 23’.
Eighteen days after that, Cellino will – following yesterday’s decision to postpone his trial into allegations he evaded tax on an imported Range Rover – be back in court.
Much, therefore, needs to be sorted surrounding United’s affairs before the focus will be able to return solely to football.
This is a shame, because under Redfearn there has been plenty of grounds for optimism thanks to an exciting crop of youngsters.
Last night, Lewis Cook was missing but his other fellow graduates again showed plenty of promise against a Norwich side that looks destined to return to the Premier League after just one season back in the Championship.
Alex Mowatt came the closest to getting Leeds back into a game in which the Canaries always looked the likelier winner.
He had a deflected shot five minutes from time when United trailed by just one goal that John Ruddy brilliantly turned away at full stretch.
The young midfielder also caused plenty of problems with his pinpoint set-piece delivery on a night when he again impressed.
Unfortunately for Leeds, so, too, did the visitors who really should have gone ahead on the half hour.
A blatant foul by Liam Cooper on Howson handed the Canaries a penalty that Graham Dorrans blazed wastefully against the crossbar.
It was symbolic of Norwich’s first half, a tendency to hurry play meaning decent opportunities were spurned.
From the next attack after the miss from the spot, Dorrans again made a hash of things by firing wastefully over after being found unmarked by Cameron Jerome.
The second half continued in much the same vein with Norwich dominating possession but unable to apply the finish.
Then, though, Howson stepped onto centre stage with a clinical shot past Silvestri after being found in plenty of space by Redmond.
United’s response was almost immediate, Martin needing to clear brilliantly inside his own six-yard box to prevent Scott Wootton capitalising on a deft through ball from Granddi Ngoyi.
Mowatt was then denied by Ruddy before Dorrans settled matters once and for all in the first minute of stoppage time by firing in from close range.
THE celebrations were almost non-existent. A quick raising of the arms by goalscorer Jonny Howson towards the massed ranks of travelling Norwich City fans and that was it.
Considering just how much was at stake last night for the promotion-chasing Canaries, it was a remarkable show of restraint and one that spoke volumes for the affection the one-time Elland Road captain still holds for his old club.
It is clearly a feeling that is reciprocated, Howson being applauded from the field by the Gelderd End at the final whistle after peeling away from his elated team-mates at the other end to pay his own thanks.
Howson’s big moment came just before the hour, a crisp finish from 15 yards giving Marco Silvestri in the home goal no chance.
It paved the way for a victory that was confirmed in stoppage time by Graham Dorrans as Norwich retained possession of an automatic promotion place on a night when rivals Middlesbrough and Bournemouth both won.
For Leeds, meanwhile, it meant a fourth straight loss and another step towards the end of a season that surely cannot come soon enough.
Only then, it seems, can the club’s long-suffering supporters expect any semblance of clarity from their beloved club.
Top of the list of imponderables that need sorting will be head coach Neil Redfearn’s future, which since the enforced departure of assistant Steve Thompson before Easter has been shrouded in doubt.
It is to be hoped United come to their senses and retain the 49-year-old, who – together with Thompson – has held the Elland Road club together amid the chaos and consternation that has characterised much of this term.
Not that resolving Redfearn’s future will end the general sense of uncertainty that pervades LS11, not with owner Massimo Cellino now scheduled to fight two court cases in his native Italy during June.
The first is a long-standing court date of June 5, as the United owner – already banned by the Football League until May 3 after being found guilty in an earlier case – fights allegations he failed to pay VAT on a yacht called ‘Lucky 23’.
Eighteen days after that, Cellino will – following yesterday’s decision to postpone his trial into allegations he evaded tax on an imported Range Rover – be back in court.
Much, therefore, needs to be sorted surrounding United’s affairs before the focus will be able to return solely to football.
This is a shame, because under Redfearn there has been plenty of grounds for optimism thanks to an exciting crop of youngsters.
Last night, Lewis Cook was missing but his other fellow graduates again showed plenty of promise against a Norwich side that looks destined to return to the Premier League after just one season back in the Championship.
Alex Mowatt came the closest to getting Leeds back into a game in which the Canaries always looked the likelier winner.
He had a deflected shot five minutes from time when United trailed by just one goal that John Ruddy brilliantly turned away at full stretch.
The young midfielder also caused plenty of problems with his pinpoint set-piece delivery on a night when he again impressed.
Unfortunately for Leeds, so, too, did the visitors who really should have gone ahead on the half hour.
A blatant foul by Liam Cooper on Howson handed the Canaries a penalty that Graham Dorrans blazed wastefully against the crossbar.
It was symbolic of Norwich’s first half, a tendency to hurry play meaning decent opportunities were spurned.
From the next attack after the miss from the spot, Dorrans again made a hash of things by firing wastefully over after being found unmarked by Cameron Jerome.
The second half continued in much the same vein with Norwich dominating possession but unable to apply the finish.
Then, though, Howson stepped onto centre stage with a clinical shot past Silvestri after being found in plenty of space by Redmond.
United’s response was almost immediate, Martin needing to clear brilliantly inside his own six-yard box to prevent Scott Wootton capitalising on a deft through ball from Granddi Ngoyi.
Mowatt was then denied by Ruddy before Dorrans settled matters once and for all in the first minute of stoppage time by firing in from close range.
