Match-winner Rodrigo lifts lid on dressing room feeling after Norwich City victory - YEP 31/10/21
Leeds United striker Rodrigo believed victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road felt like more than just three points to the Whites dressing room.
By Joe Urquhart
Marcelo Bielsa's outfit toppled the Canaries on Sunday
afternoon in Premier League action thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 win in Norfolk.
United secured only their second three-point haul of the
campaign and earned a first victory away from home against City.
Leeds weren't at their free-flowing best against their
relegation-threatened hosts but bagged two goals in a frantic five-minute
second half spell to take all the spoils.
Brazilian winger Raphinha opened the scoring after the
half-time interval with a fine solo run into the box, finishing off low past
goalkeeper Tim Krul after gliding past three defenders to find the back of the
net.
The Canaries, though, restored parity just 120 seconds later
through Andrew Omobamidele's glancing a header off the underside of the
crossbar.
Leeds then lifted themselves back in front once more through
Rodrigo as the Spaniard saw his well-hit shot from distance sneak under the
outstretched hand of Krul and into the bottom corner.
Daniel Farke's men pushed on again but it was Leeds who
controlled the affair thereafter to send the travelling fans back to West
Yorkshire happy.
Rodrigo made it two goals in two games after last week's
converted penalty against Wolves and was left brimming at the full-time whistle
post-match.
"It was a very important goal. I think we needed
victory," the match-winner reflected at full-time.
"We haven't started the season well, but it's true that
we deserve more than we have now. I'm happy with my goal but more so for the
win.
"We are a team that tries to command the game, we have
this style. Sometimes because of this style, we concede something to the
opponent.
"We dominated the game and deserved the win and the
team was congratulated for it. It is more than three points; we played against
a team who is having a bad moment, like us.
"It is a really important result and we are now looking
forward to the next game [against Leicester City]."
Asked about the belief in the dressing room amid a number of
senior injuries, Rodrigo added: "It's true we had some injuries in the
last games. We still have some important players out like Pat [Bamford] and
Luke [Ayling].
"But this is the strength of the squad. We all prepare
for everything. We are really happy for the win today."
