Leeds United’s outside chance of a play-off place was ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw with Norwich City on Saturday.
Leeds had been a comfortable looking presence in the top six from November through to early April before a run of just one win in six has seen them falter at the last.
The damage was done here by the 44th minute with City taking a 0-3 lead before being pegged back to 3-3 by the end of the second half.
Alan Irvine kept faith with the side that had so comfortably beaten Brighton, last time out and it paid dividends with the seemingly rejuvenated Steven Naismith, scoring the Sky Sports Championship goal of the day on 28 minutes.
The Scot was given far too much time on the edge of the Leeds box before firing a terrific 25 yarder into the top corner of Rob Green’s goal.
That goal seemed to make the home side visibly wilt as the crowd also sagged under the pressure. Oliveira missed a fine chance to make it 0-2 but did then get the second on 34 minutes.
Alex Pritchard sent Josh Murphy away as the offside trap was sprung and his low cross was converted by Oliveira – if you play FIFA, I believe it’s known as a ‘sweaty’ goal.
The Admiral then missed another glorious chance for a third, firing wide of the post when it seemed easier to score, before getting his second and City’s third on 44 minutes when he bent a lovely low curler inside the far post.
The Stadium had turned by this time and plenty of home fans had gone for a half time pint when Chris Wood pulled one back in first half injury time. The Norwich players had gone to sleep and weren’t back in position.
It was a ‘gimme’ for Leeds and a chance that they shouldn’t have had.
HT 1-3
It was then game on in just the 48th minute when City conceded a second from a corner, after a goal mouth scramble. Pritchard blocked a goal bound effort on the line but couldn’t get it away before Kyle Bartley bundled it in.
The visiting fans were nervous now as the home side knew they had to get at least two more. A big ask? It was with City still a potent counter attacking threat.
Ivo Pinto fired tamely straight at Green when well placed and then Oliveira had a shot blocked (should’ve scored) by the ex-City keeper after more good work by Murphy.
Leeds did get back on terms in the 78th minute when Hernandez pinged a sweet free kick over the wall and past Ruddy and the Canary nation feared the worst.
It got even worse in the 89th minute when Naismith was shown a straight red for a clumsy tackle on Vieira. It wasn’t ‘nasty’ as such, just very clumsy and ended an otherwise excellent day for the hit and miss midfielder.
That will end his season and one wonders if he will survive the summer cull? On this evidence, you’d keep him but he’s played like this only a handful of times in eighteen months.
The referee added six minutes of stoppage time but the home side couldn’t fine a winner.
FT 3-3
This was a game that summed up City’s season in 90 minutes. Devastating going forwards but leaking like a rusty tramp steamer at the back.
What could of been if we could just defend eh?
OTBC
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