Paddy Davitt delivers his Leeds United verdict after Norwich City’s second half implosion.

1. Wagner 0-1 Farke

David Wagner and his Norwich City players had not read the script on Daniel Farke’s big return. Or maybe they did at half-time, given the epic contrast either side of the interval.

Shane Duffy scored from a cleverly executed Gabby Sara corner. The Brazilian then thumped home an incisive move sparked by Kenny McLean’s raking crossfield ball.

Leeds’ slick and dangerous front four had largely been repelled. Even Angus Gunn’s unfortunate first half injury exit appeared to have been navigated. But all bets were off once Duffy was only able to divert Dan James’ cross from the byline past George Long to spark the Leeds’ charge for the final 30 minutes.

Crysencio Summerville pounced twice but both goals were sourced in the complete abdication of individual and collective responsibility from Wagner’s team.

Sleeping at a corner when Summerville rifled home via a post and then shambolically disorganised at Sara’s own deep free kick, as Leeds launched a cavalry charge that ended with Sommerville slotting past Long.

All that intent, urgency and tempo in the best phase of the first half. Dragged down by another offering that poses far more questions than answers around Wagner.

One win in the last six league games is the type of regressive trend that very swiftly will push the German into the territory that swept away Dean Smith before him. The wildcard in that particular equation is the incoming sporting director Ben Knapper.

At the final whistle it was the other German in the opposition dug out who was afforded a rapturous reception as Wagner and his players departed to a smattering of boos. What a picture, what a contrast.

2. Painting by numbers

Narrow the focus to the last three games for Norwich, either side of the recent international break. At Swansea, with the score level in the second half and the Canaries exerting a measure of control, that was a game for the taking.

But when the heat came on in a frenetic final 10 minutes, or so, they caved. Likewise at Coventry City when Ben Gibson headed past Gunn in the 88th minute. A cruel twist for the defender and his team mates but a setback that carried an air of inevitability as Norwich retreated – in line with Wagner’s stated gameplan – to protect what they had. Now the unravelling from a position of strength against Farke’s Whites.

Three games where Wagner, his coaches and players have exhibited a lack of control and an absence of game management.

All the more maddening given the summer recruitment drive they embarked upon was designed to address such a deficiency, and populate the squad with characters who know what is required when there is a game to close out.

Add in Wagner’s selections, his rotation policy that sees players jettisoned from the starting line up to completely out of the squad for the following game, and an increasingly predictable policy in terms of substitutions and the faultlines under one win from six are visible with each passing Championship outing.

Wagner felt this performance was a step in the right direction. Bar the errors from his players for the second and third Leeds goals. 

No one disputes injuries to key figures such as Josh Sargent and Ashley Barnes have proven a challenge, but City fans would still expect better from the group available. Better leadership from the top, better leadership and nous on the park.  

3. Fitting Farke farewell

The reception as Norwich’s former double title-winning Championship boss almost snuck into the away area, prior to kick-off, was both loud and prolonged, in terms of the appreciation from the home support.

Farke reciprocated, and the reaction on his features suggested he was genuinely touched by the warmth of his first return to Carrow Road since he was jettisoned by Stuart Webber in that away dressing room at Brentford nearly two years ago.

That first half must have been an uncomfortable watch as his side were ruthlessly punished, but the tables were turned in a storming second half showing from a Leeds team without equal at this level - in terms of the quality and the potency of their front players.

Norwich contributed to their own downfall but Leeds meted out the punishment. Farke afforded himself a fist pump when Summerville drew the sides level.

At the final whistle he tellingly made his way to the home areas before taking the acclaim from the away support. The customary orchestrated leading of the celebrations, that was his Carrow Road trademark in a fomer life, was kept under wraps. Out of respect, as he confirmed in his post-match media, to a club and a fan base that was once ‘his home’.

Farke went on to admit how emotional his return had proved, and how much the fan reaction meant.

A strange day for him and many others. Farke is the past, but it was fitting that he was given the reception his achievements merit.

4. Sara steal

No wonder Sao Paulo’s top brass were recently lamenting the scale of the deal that allowed Norwich to snare Sara in the summer of 2022. The gist being the Brazilian’s former club’s financial issues at the time had forced their hand.

An initial £6m outlay looks a steal from the Canaries with each passing demonstration the 24-year-old is too good for the Championship.

A fourth goal and a fourth assist in 12 league appearances this season duly followed in a sparkling first half from a player who has the lot, as Wagner testified to prior to the international break.

Sara’s technical quality saw him drop a pre-planned corner into the right slot for Duffy to open the scoring from Norwich’s first corner. But the strike that doubled the hosts' advantage was breathtaking.

Sara showed for Onel Hernandez and then dragged the ball away from Glen Kamara before wriggling out of an encirclement of three other Leeds defenders to lash a rising shot past Ilan Meslier.

It was instinctive and it was turbo-charged from a player who you feel has so much more to offer in the right set up.

Prior to the international period there was two glancing headed goals that prompted Wagner to remark he has that British steel to the Brazilian bounce. Quite a combination.

Albeit Wagner did make a point in his post-match Leeds debrief of highlighting Sara's poor decision to deliver a late free kick to the back post that indirectly led to the Leeds winner. But there is no doubt he needs a better supporting cast list and, perhaps with the exception of Jon Rowe, the rest to climb onto the same level he has reached.