Leeds vs Norwich: Mario Vrancic double helps Canaries soar back to Championship summit

Leeds United 1-3 Norwich City: Daniel Farke’s side secured a landmark victory in their quest for promotion

Norwich return to the top on goal difference (Getty)

It had been 56 days since Norwich were last top of the Championship, although to some it may have felt far longer. But they'd done it. Leeds had been firmly shaken from their perch, for the Canaries to take hold. The image of Tim Krul and a group of yellow shirts bounding over to the away supporters, two clenched fists raised in the air, captured the importance of such a landmark victory in the quest for promotion.

This was the biggest game of both clubs’ season, and the result arguably more significant than any other game in English football that day. A huge test of endurance – as both are partial to a late comeback – and resilience. It was the division’s edition of Manchester City v Liverpool – oh, except the combined costs of both squads here aren’t even close to a tenth of either Premier League club.

These are two teams that have more in common than they might admit. Attacking football? Tick. Topped the table? Tick. Heaps of first-team injuries? Tick. You could go on. But this game won’t define the better side, as they’ve both shown this season they can comfortably dominate their opponents.

That's what Leeds set out to do, and despite a flurry of chances, and the general feeling they would run the game, it was Norwich that struck twice in the first half. They drew first blood early on, too, through a Mario Vrancic free-kick just five minutes in. His shot deflected up off the wall, floating past Kiko Casilla, who was making his home debut after arriving from Real Madrid. This will be a game to put behind him.

Leeds were constantly driving forwards in search of an equaliser, but were constantly turned away by a formidable Canary defence. It was only after Norwich’s second that Kemar Roofe managed to slalom his way in on goal, before being stopped by Tim Krul, who had few testing saves to make.

That aforementioned second goal came from the visitors' in-form striker Teemu Pukki, in another moment where fortune fell in Norwich's favour, and they were readily efficient. Shooting from the edge of the box, Vrancic's low driven effort pin-balled between defenders, landing at the feet of Pukki to tap easily home. The Finn has now been involved in 17 goals in his last 15 games.

At two up, had this been either team, you wouldn’t have ruled the other out by any means – not only because they’ve both have been so effective late on, but because Norwich have more recently been susceptible to losing their lead against big sides like Derby and Sheffield United.

Teemu Pukki scored Norwich’s second (Action Images)

Marcelo Bielsa had been pacing the touchline in his typical manner; hands clasped behind his back, deep in thought. Eager to put things in reverse, he rang the changes at half-time as he introduced Barry Douglas and Jack Clarke – the latter of whom came on when Leeds came from two goals down to beat Aston Villa over Christmas. A repeat was obviously the desire.

But there was a lack of both fluency and space for the hosts that continued for most of the half, and that, in combination with Norwich’s high pressing, kept a firm lid on the momentum needed for a Leeds comeback. It forced them to backtrack into their own half, and make perilous mistakes in possession. Norwich took advantage, and often came close to a third, Max Aarons poking wide to the right of goal. Emi Buendia was a sustaining threat for the visitors, weaving through a cluster of white and finding space on the break.

The bubbling tension was palpable, and brought heat to a bitterly cold evening where tempuratures had hit freezing in West Yorkshire. Yellow cards came in abundance for both sides, including United strikers Roofe and Tyler Roberts, who were snapping at heels in desperation. It was a game for Roberts to impress, being his first start since October. But the young striker was for the most part a blunt instrument.

Though the home advantage had been clear to begin with – from the thousands of white and blue scarves swinging in unison before kick-off, to the chorus of boos whenever Norwich won the ball back – things turned slowly sour as the crowd morphed from a wall of support into a toxic bowl of flailing arms. The frustration had got to them.

Tensions flared in the top of the table clash (CameraSport via Getty Images)

Then came the final blow, after Leeds lost possession, again. Jamal Lewis, who’d been allowed the space to roam down the left, flicked the ball over an incoming sliding tackle for Vrancic to smash home his second, and Norwich's third.

As a good chunk of the crowd streamed towards the exit, the last dregs of Leeds' hope drained out with it. Passes were still misplaced, possession was still being lost in their own half. Though substitute Patrick Bamford would head home in stoppage time, it was far too late this time. An untimely moment for the striker's first goal at Elland Road.

In August, the reverse fixture saw Leeds go to Norwich and thump them 3-0. But the visitors here were a different side now, far more mature and comfortable on the ball. Five months later, the Canaries were having their sweet revenge. While Leeds flapped, the Canaries flew.