- Manor Solomon and Dan James found the back of the net for the hosts
- The win takes Daniel Farke’s side above Sheffield United in the league table
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Manor Solomon struck after only 31 seconds at fortress Elland Road as Leeds United returned to the top of The Championship at Sheffield United’s expense.
It didn’t take Norwich long to discover why Daniel Farke’s side have been unbeaten at home since September.
Brendan Aaronson and Jayden Bogle opened up the visitors and Dan James fizzed in a low cross that Solomon converted from close range despite the attentions of Jack Stacey.
It was the Tottenham loanee’s fifth goal of the season to delight his manager Farke, who was formerly in charge of The Canaries.
Dan James added a deserved second goal just past the hour as Leeds stretched their unbeaten run to 11 matches and stopped their mid-table visitors from registering a shot on target.
Monday’s trip to promotion rivals Burnley is now huge for the Yorkshiremen and they warmed up last night by turning on the style.
Manor Solomon scored inside the first minute as Leeds beat Norwich 2-0 on Wednesday
The victory takes Daniel Farke’s side above Sheffield United at the top of the league table
Joel Piroe’s deflected shot was stopped by Scotland international Angus Gunn and the Canaries ‘keeper also came out swiftly to deny Brendan Aaronson.
The excellent Bogle almost caught out Gunn with a dipping effort from an acute angle.
Norwich, without star man Borja Sainz serving a six-match ban for spitting, were forced to start teenage midfielder Oscar Schwartau up front.
Despite periods of possession, they lacked punch in front of goal with Onel Hernandez dragging their best chance wide after a neat lay-off by Schwartau.
Ao Tanaka was taken off by Farke after he’d escaped a second yellow card for bringing down Emiliano Marcondes – opposition manager Johannes Thorup described it as a ‘big call’ and sought out the referee after full-time – and with a full contingent Leeds sealed their victory after 65 minutes.
Norwich’s Kellen Fisher cleared straight to Solomon instead of letting the ball run out for a goal-kick and the Israeli’s deft cross to the far post was sidefooted home by James.
Former Man United winger Dan James doubled the hosts’ tally during the second-half
The only sour note on an otherwise perfect night for the home side was midfielder Joe Rothwell being rightly cautioned for diving by eagle-eyed referee Matthew Donohue.
Goalscorer Solomon said: ‘I knew I had to be switched on from the start. When DJ is ready to cross, I have to get into the box from the other side.
‘We weren’t at our absolute best, but the most important thing was to get the three points. I’m feeling in good form. I have been at the club six months and know what the manager wants.’
Beaten boss Thorup admitted: ‘It’s fair to say we didn’t get off to the best start! After that, I was actually pleased with our defensive performance but it was a difficult scenario.’
