Leeds 2-0 Norwich: Manor Solomon's strike after 31 seconds helps secure win — Mail 22/1/25
Leeds 2-0 Norwich: Manor Solomon's strike after 31 seconds helps secure win at Elland Road - as Daniel Farke's side go top of the Championship
Manor Solomon and Dan James found the back of the net for
the hosts
The win takes Daniel Farke's side above Sheffield United in
the league table
By JOE BERNSTEIN
Manor Solomon struck after only 31 seconds at fortress
Elland Road as Leeds United returned to the top of The Championship at
Sheffield United’s expense.
It didn’t take Norwich long to discover why Daniel Farke’s
side have been unbeaten at home since September.
Brendan Aaronson and Jayden Bogle opened up the visitors and
Dan James fizzed in a low cross that Solomon converted from close range despite
the attentions of Jack Stacey.
It was the Tottenham loanee’s fifth goal of the season to
delight his manager Farke, who was formerly in charge of The Canaries.
Dan James added a deserved second goal just past the hour as
Leeds stretched their unbeaten run to 11 matches and stopped their mid-table
visitors from registering a shot on target.
Monday’s trip to promotion rivals Burnley is now huge for
the Yorkshiremen and they warmed up last night by turning on the style.
Joel Piroe’s deflected shot was stopped by Scotland
international Angus Gunn and the Canaries ‘keeper also came out swiftly to deny
Brendan Aaronson.
The excellent Bogle almost caught out Gunn with a dipping
effort from an acute angle.
Norwich, without star man Borja Sainz serving a six-match
ban for spitting, were forced to start teenage midfielder Oscar Schwartau up
front.
Despite periods of possession, they lacked punch in front of
goal with Onel Hernandez dragging their best chance wide after a neat lay-off
by Schwartau.
Ao Tanaka was taken off by Farke after he’d escaped a second
yellow card for bringing down Emiliano Marcondes – opposition manager Johannes
Thorup described it as a ‘big call’ and sought out the referee after full-time
- and with a full contingent Leeds sealed their victory after 65 minutes.
Norwich’s Kellen Fisher cleared straight to Solomon instead
of letting the ball run out for a goal-kick and the Israeli’s deft cross to the
far post was sidefooted home by James.
The only sour note on an otherwise perfect night for the
home side was midfielder Joe Rothwell being rightly cautioned for diving by
eagle-eyed referee Matthew Donohue.
Goalscorer Solomon said: ‘I knew I had to be switched on
from the start. When DJ is ready to cross, I have to get into the box from the
other side.
‘We weren’t at our absolute best, but the most important
thing was to get the three points. I’m feeling in good form. I have been at the
club six months and know what the manager wants.’