Norwich City gained a valuable point in their 1-1 draw with Leeds United, navigating a tense clash to extend their unbeaten Carrow Road run.

Josh Sargent’s penalty was cancelled out by a second-half strike from Largie Ramazani, but the overall feeling in NR1 was a positive one after yet another encouraging result under Johannes Hoff Thorup’s leadership.

City fans will be familiar with United boss Daniel Farke’s love of possession, but he was made to wait for it on a gloomy Norfolk evening. When the visitors finally gained a foothold on the ball they wasted it, Willy Gnonto’s centre nowhere near finding a team-mate.

Instead it was Norwich dominating early proceedings, enjoying the lion’s share of territory and probing dangerously.

The problem was the failure to turn that into chances, and Leeds looked the likelier to open the scoring. Gnonto sprung the offside trap well to go through on goal, but handled on his way to a one-on-one with Angus Gunn.

When the hosts did create their first opening, it was a big one. Excellent work from Ante Crnac found Sargent in the box, and his feint fooled Joe Rodon into giving away a spot kick. There was a multi-minute wait while injured Whites midfielder Ilia Gruev received treatment, but the American made no mistake.

Leeds’ response was firm, however, and they almost had an equaliser within two minutes. Again it was Gnonto at the heart of the action, this time firing against the near post after cutting in unchallenged.

The away presence continued to grow from there, and an increasingly nervy Norwich defence retreated deeper inside their own half. Early substitute Joe Rothwell had a good chance to make the most when he took a free-kick just outside the D, but he curled straight into the wall.

City then came close to doubling their lead against the run of play, a swift attack ending with Illan Meslier’s reflex save from Joe Rodon’s goalward flick. Nothing came of the ensuing set-pieces, the game settling into a holding pattern for a rare few minutes of quietude.

But that period didn’t last long, a rapid counter giving Marcelino Nunez the chance to add his name to the scoresheet. By the time the balled had reached the Chilean, though, a series of deflections and poor touches had turned it into a tough one. Borja Sainz was next to take aim, but he drove well wide.

The scoreline looked good to the home fans going into half time, but on the brink of it they were dealt a significant blow. Jose Cordoba stayed down well after the whistle, meaning a defensive reshuffle that saw Jack Stacey introduced and those fans concerned.

But the reorganised backline avoided much testing in its first 10 minutes, the attackers doing most of the work in a positive return to the floodlit pitch. Ramazani’s long-range miscue was as close as Leeds came, their push for an equaliser reviving only as the game edged toward its final third.

When they did wake up it was with a purpose, one slick move the difference between a seemingly comfortable home lead and the scores being level. Gnonto received the ball from Pascal Struijk, turning and finding Ramazani to finish with aplomb. Farke will have approved, with more than a hint of his Championship-winning City sides about the goal.

Thereafter the initiative was Leeds’, their push forward a sign that a point wasn’t enough. Both Brenden Aaronson and Jayden Bogle will feel they could have done better with their chances, but neither found the target.

After riding that storm, Norwich were able to take control again. It resulted in no clear-cut openings, but they were able to see out a point that many supporters would have taken prior to kick-off.

With that result they’ve proven they can mix it with the division’s big hitters. Thorup won’t rest on his laurels, however, and the task now is to capitalise as Hull visit on Saturday.

NORWICH CITY:


Substitutes:

12. Long (GK)

3. Stacey (on for Cordoba, 45)

5. Hanley

18. Forson (on for Nunez, 80)

21. Gordon (on for Crnac, 71)

29. Schwartau (on for Slimane, 71)

40. Hills

41. Forsyth

44. Myles

Head Coach: Johannes Hoff Thorup

Bookings: Sargent (30), Doyle (38)

Goals: Sargent (pen, 15)

LEEDS UNITED:


Substitutes:

28. Darlow (GK)

8. Rothwell (on for Gruev, 20)

9. Bamford (on for Joseph, 70)

10. Piroe (on for Ramazani, 70)

25. Byram (on for Firpo, 83)

30. Gelhardt (on for Gnonto, 83)

37. Debayo

42. Chambers

50. Crew

Manager: Daniel Farke

Bookings: Struijk (8), Rothwell (23), Bogle (47), Farke (85)

Goals: Ramazani (60)

KEY MOMENTS

15 - GOAL NORWICH (Sargent, pen): Excellent work from Crnac finds Sargent

17 - Gnonto cuts in and shoots with his left foot, but his shot comes crashing off the near post.

31 - Gnonto takes aim from 25 yards, but sees his shot deflected wide.

33 - Rothwell's free-kick rebounds off the wall to Gnonto, whose shot is collected by Gunn.

35 - Meslier does well to tip wide after Rodon flicks Doyle's cross towards his own goal.

Half time: Norwich City 1-0 Leeds United

51 - The ball breaks for Ramazani after a Leeds free-kick and he fires well over.

57 - The ball breaks for Rothwell to half-volley, but his well-hit shot is straight at Gunn.

59 - Nunez's corner finds Crnac, his header flying comfortably over from six yards.

60 - GOAL LEEDS (Ramazani): Gnonto receives on the edge of the box and turns McLean, settinf Ramazani up to fire into the far corner.

66 - Gnonto slips the ball to Aaronson inside the box, but he slices well over and wide.

70 - Gnonto lays off for Bogle, who narrowly misses the top corner from 15 yards.

Full time: Norwich City 1-1 Leeds United

PLAYER RATINGS

Gunn 8, Fisher 8, Duffy 6, Cordoba 7, Doyle 7, McLean 5, Nunez 7, Slimane 6, Crnac 7, Sargent 9, Sainz 7. Subs: Stacey 6, Schwartau 5, Gordon 6, Forson 6.

MATCH STATISTICS

Possession: 46pc-54pc

Shots: 7-14

On target: 1-3

Corners: 9-6

Fouls: 12-18

Added time: 7 mins/4 mins

Attendance: 26,261 (1,691 Leeds)

Referee: Stephen Martin