Leeds United v Norwich City 24th January 2024 at Elland Road please log in to view this image Back for our second home game of the week for the rearranged game v Norwich under the lights. With the storms subsiding, hopefully all those travelling home at the weekend who faced disruptions, and those travelling to the game tonight, managed to keep safe. We made a short visit to the club shop and then to the Peacock now known as the Luke Ale Inn until the end of the season as a tribute to Luke Ayling. I’m not sure if he did make the game tonight as I never saw any specific applause for him. Team: Meslier, Ampadu, Rodon, Gray, Firpo, Summerville, James, Bamford, Kamara, Rutter, Gruev. Subs: Anthony for James (injured 45), Byram for Gray (injured 90+3), Cooper for Kamara (90+4), Joseph for Summerville (90+6). Subs not used: Klaesson, Poveda, Gelhardt, Shackleton, Piroe. Leeds won the game 1-0 Bamford (16). Attendance: 34,380, approx. 1,600 Norwich fans. Referee: Matthew Donohue. Booked: Firpo. As Gray headed the ball, which was picked up by Rutter, he landed awkwardly after being challenged by a Norwich player. Whilst he was still on the floor, play continued and strong play from Rutter saw him keep hold of the ball and pass it to James. James sent a fantastic ball into the box where Bamford on the left-hand side headed it into the net to give us an early lead. Gray came back onto the pitch after treatment but was made to wait by the referee as he’d been down for a long while. Norwich came forward and sent a low shot which Meslier saved easily. He looked to struggle with one clearance under challenge but managed to punch the ball away. Norwich should have equalised in the last minute of the half after the ball was crossed into the middle of our box, but their player luckily put the ball wide. As we went down the stairs, a man fell behind us just missing my daughter. He landed on his knee and was in a lot of pain, but the stewards were there very quickly and asked for first aiders to respond. I kept asking him if he was ok despite knowing he wasn’t but left him as he was in good hands. When I went back up for the second half it was good to see that he had recovered thankfully. James took a couple of bad challenges during the first half, so it wasn’t a surprise to see him not come on for the second half but replaced by Anthony. Norwich had a lot of possession and looked dangerous and with one attack they had men spare, but it was good to see Gruev telling his team mates to mark the one in space on the right wing. As someone said to me at the end of the game, it was like a game of cat and mouse as it looked like Norwich were getting the better of us. We soaked up a lot of pressure before Rutter stepped up the pace to get the ball, passed it to Summerville who saw his low shot saved easily by their keeper as it lacked power. Bamford won the ball on the wing and Rutter manager to keep it in before getting into the penalty area, past the defenders and the keeper saved with his feet. With Summerville offside the ball was intercepted by a Norwich player, but the ball reached Rutter who sent Summerville forward and he had a great shot saved by their keeper. Some great play between Bamford and Rutter in the penalty area saw the ball eventually reach Firpo on the edge of the box and once again their keeper made the save. With their keeper up at the South Stand as Norwich had an attack, Leeds won the ball and raced out of defence only for the referee to stop the game. A few minutes later he blew the whistle, but it meant another win and we had another three points. As well as James being injured, Gray went off injured in the final minutes going straight down the tunnel looking to be in a lot of pain and Rodon was also limping. With the FA Cup 4th round on Saturday, I would be inclined to rest the three of them, so they are fit for our trip to Bristol the following Friday. We can still put out a strong side so we can try and progress in the FA Cup against Plymouth. Their fans will be happy it’s a 3pm kick off as our league game at their place a couple of weeks later has a 12.30 kick off which means we will leave Leeds at 3.00am. The things we do to follow our team. See you Saturday, LUFC – Marching on Together! please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
