On-song Pat keeps Leeds in the chase
POINTS equal pressure and Leeds were rewarded for moving this match forward as they closed the gap on secondplaced Ipswich.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke is a veteran of two Championship promotion campaigns with Norwich and knows the value of getting points on the board.
With both Leeds and his old club in FA Cup action this weekend, the decision to play last night rather than leave it until later in the season paid off.
There is no doubt stuttering Ipswich will be looking over their shoulder anxiously, not only at Southampton in third but a Leeds side picking up momentum after their fifth win on the bounce.
Once again Farke had Patrick Bamford to thank, his striker finding 2024 very much to his liking after not scoring this season before the turn of the year. Leeds were not at their fluent best, but nobody will remember such details if they end up back in the Premier League.
Leeds like to set the tempo at Elland Road and they certainly snapped out of the blocks, with slick early one-twos between Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter causing problems. Bamford’s brimming confidence was clear to see when he attempted an acrobatic finish to Junior Firpo’s cross, his effort flying wide.
But Norwich failed to heed the warning and on 16 minutes Bamford claimed his fourth goal in five outings to reward Leeds’ early initiative.
Archie Gray won an aerial duel in the build-up, while taking a hefty whack in the ribs which left him grounded.
That allowed Rutter to shift the ball to Dan James on the right and he had time to measure a perfect cross for Bamford, who had stepped off Shane Duffy. The striker’s header was firm and into the bottom corner.
Gray was everywhere and it is easy to forget he is still only 17. He willingly pushed forward from right-back to support James and acted as the winger’s eyes and ears when Norwich had the ball, unafraid to bark an instruction.
Norwich’s frustration showed when coach Andrew Hughes, a former Leeds midfielder, was booked for claiming James had dived. But the visitors did end the first-half stronger, Jonathan Rowe firing straight at Illan Meslier and Gabriel Sara scuffing a back post effort with the goal gaping.
Leeds re-emerged looking like they wanted to put the game to bed and Summerville fired over after fine work by half-time substitute Jaidon Anthony.
But as the hour mark passed, and with Norwich starting to boss possession, grumbles started to emanate from the home support.
The tension of a lengthy Norwich keep-ball session was broken when Junior Firpo won a crunching tackle, but Summerville’s eventual shot was tame.
Anthony could not get his effort away quickly enough and was thwarted by Kenny McLean’s slide tackle after Bamford teed him up in a great position.
And it was almost two when Rutter stepped in from the touchline and forced Angus Gunn into a stop with his foot. Leeds saw the game out though.