Norwich City's unbeaten start to the year ended with Leeds striker Patrick Bamford inflicting a 1-0 Championship defeat on his former loan club at Elland Road on Wednesday night.
Daniel Farke's Whites maintained their push for the top two, and dented the Canaries' play-off bid.
The unmarked Bamford headed home Dan James' cross in the 16th minute, and despite an improved display in possession from David Wagner's side after the interval, the visitors failed to work Illan Meslier.
It took until the eighth minute for any sign of danger, Kenny McLean’s low ball in evading Shane Duffy after a Norwich free-kick had broken down.
It was a game that lacked quality early on, with few signs of the sides’ respective fourth and eighth Championship standings. Mistakes were plentiful and excitement rare, but Bamford changed that in the 16th minute.
James was allowed time to stand up a cross from the corner of the box, and the former Norwich loanee made no mistake with his free header.
What followed was what felt like hours of Leeds possession for the travelling support; the kind they’d grown used to when Farke was at the Carrow Road helm. All of City’s early sting was taken out of the game, and growing frustration took its place.
The Norfolk side finally created their first real chance when Marcelino Nunez’ pass was diverted into Josh Sargent’s path, but his shot was blocked before Jack Stacey’s cross was turned behind.
The resulting corner fell to McLean after Meslier’s punch, and his head-in-hands reaction told the story as he lifted over.
Some trademark Jonathan Rowe brilliance found him in space to shoot as the hot streak continued, but he uncharacteristically fired into Meslier’s grateful arms.
Leeds bit back late in the half, with a punchy passing move allowing Bamford to fire goalward from the corner of the box. He couldn’t capitalise, however, struggling to find the requisite bend on his weaker right foot.
Sara then had a golden chance to equalise on the brink of half time, but defied belief as he scuffed wide from close range.
That looked like being the sliding doors moment when substitute Jaidon Anthony spun Ben Gibson and found Crysencio Summerville 15 yards out, but the tricky winger fired over Angus Gunn’s crossbar.
What followed was the away team’s first real period of dominance, with patient possession play mirroring that of their opposition midway through the opening period. But they struggled to carve out real opportunities, Rowe’s pass to Sainz poorly weighted and Sargent unable to meet Stacey’s cross.
Wagner hoped Onel Hernandez would be the impetus for change when he replaced Sainz in the 59th minute, but it was the mercurial Georginio Rutter that brought that spell to an end.
The £36million man dispossessed Rowe brilliantly to find Summerville on the edge of the box, but he failed to recreate the stunning long-range curler that equalised earlier this season at Carrow Road.
Sara reminded fans of City’s potency from corners when he found Nunez in space from a corner, his low shot cleared by a crowd of Leeds players before Anthony had the chance to seal the game for the hosts.
Rowe’s sloppy pass allowed Bamford to tee the United number 12 up, but McLean’s excellent defensive work ensured his shot looped over and away from danger.
Norwich continued to press for an equaliser, with centre-back Gibson replaced by winger Christian Fassnacht and Rowe pushed into a number 10 role. Their chasing the game left them open to counters, however, and Bamford was next to be given the chance to seal it.
The 30-year-old benefitted from Summerville’s hard work to seize on his cutback, but rushed his shot and miscued significantly.
Hernandez looked like he’d finally made the desired impact when breaking away on the counter in the 82nd minute but, much like City’s hopes of a point, the attack fizzled out when it reached fellow substitute Adam Idah.
LEEDS UNITED:
Substitutes:
12. Klaesson (GK)
6. Cooper (on for Kamara, 90+5)
7. Piroe
12. Anthony (on for James, 45)
17. Shackleton
25. Byram (on for Gray, 90+4)
27. Poveda
30. Gelhardt
49. Joseph (on for Summerville, 90+7)
Manager: Daniel Farke
Bookings: Firpo (69)
Goals: Bamford (16)
NORWICH CITY:
Substitutes:
12. Long (GK)
8. Gibbs
10. Barnes (on for Rowe, 79)
11. Idah (on for Sargent, 79)
15. McCallum
16. Fassnacht (on for Gibson, 72)
19. Sorensen
25. Hernandez (on for Sainz, 59)
35. Fisher
Head Coach: David Wagner
Bookings: Hughes (31, coach), Gibson (44), Giannoulis (47)
Goals:
KEY MOMENTS
8 – McLean fizzes a cross into the box, just evading Duffy
15 – A good passing move ends in Bamford’s overhead kick, but he scuffs wide.
16 – GOAL LEEDS (Bamford): James is allowed space and time to cross for Bamford, who powers a header into the bottom corner.
35 – Nunez’ pass to Rowe is blocked into the path of Sargent, who sees his shot blocked from the edge of the box.
36 – Meslier punches a corner straight to McLean, but he lifts his half-volley way over from 10 yards.
38 – Rowe and Sara exchange passes before the former has a shot from the edge of the box saved and held by Meslier.
45+2 – Leeds work room for Bamford on the edge of the box, but his shot lacks the bend to trouble Gunn.
45+5 – Stacey’s cross finds Sara unmarked at the back post, but he scuffs wide.
Half time: Leeds United 1-0 Norwich City
64 – Sara’s clever corner finds Nunez in space on the edge of the box, but his shot is cleared by a crowd of Leeds bodies.
66 – Rowe’s sloppy pass gives Bamford the chance to play Anthony through on goal, but excellent defensive work from McLean denies him.
74 – Summerville cuts back for Bamford in the box and he rushes his shot to scuff well wide.
82 – Norwich charge forward on the counter and Hernandez finds Idah, but he’s indecisive and loses the ball to Gray.
87 – Firpo has room to shoot from the edge of the box, but Gunn parries his effort.
Full time: Leeds United 1-0 Norwich City
PLAYER RATINGS
Gunn 6, Stacey 7, Duffy 6, Gibson 5, Giannoulis 6, Nunez 6, McLean 7, Rowe 5, Sara 5, Sainz 5, Sargent 5. Subs: Hernandez 5, Fassnacht 5, Barnes 5, Idah 4.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 52%-48%
Shots: 12-5
On target: 4-1
Corners: 4-2
Fouls: 13-8
Added time: 4 mins/3 mins
REFEREE: Matthew Donohue
ATTENDANCE: 34,380
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