Leeds United 1-3 Norwich City: Canaries top after Elland Road victory
- Published
Only Billy Sharp and Tammy Abraham (both with 19) have scored more Championship goals than Teemu Pukki (18) this season
Norwich City produced a superb away performance to beat Leeds United and leapfrog their opponents to go top of the Championship.
Sheffield United's home win over Bolton earlier on Saturday had seen the Canaries slip out of the top two, but Daniel Farke's side ended the day above second-placed Leeds on goal difference.
The first two Norwich goals at Elland Road came during a pulsating first half, firstly a deflected Mario Vrancic free-kick and then Teemu Pukki's close-range finish.
Vrancic made it 3-0 about 12 minutes before full-time, meeting a left-wing cross and firing another deflected shot through the legs of goalkeeper Kiko Casilla.
Substitute Patrick Bamford headed in a stoppage-time consolation for the home side, but Norwich's victory means the top seven in the Championship are separated by only 10 points.
Leeds gave everything in pursuit of a goal, sending 15 first-half attempts towards Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul, but they could not find a way past a resolute Norwich defence and were punished for any minor lapses at the other end.
Pontus Jansson's clumsy foul on the edge of the hosts' area provided Vrancic with the chance to beat Casilla left-footed from 25 yards, albeit aided by a flick off Adam Forshaw.
And, after Leeds midfielder Forshaw was caught in possession 40 yards from his own goal, it looked as though the moment had passed for Norwich to get a shot away.
But Vrancic's effort from the edge of the box was blocked kindly into the path of Pukki, who slotted the ball into an unguarded net.
It was the Finn's 22nd goal for club and country this season.
Leeds, who have taken more points from losing positions than any other team in the second tier this season, threw on exciting teenage winger Jack Clarke, left-back Barry Douglas and fit-again striker Bamford as they sought a way back into the match.
However, the visitors saw off further Leeds pressure and Vrancic's clincher ensured Norwich would move to the Championship summit for the first time in 2019.
Leeds go to fifth-placed Middlesbrough for their next league match on Saturday, 9 February, while Norwich host bottom club Ipswich in an East Anglian derby the following day.
Norwich City manager Daniel Farke told BBC Radio Norfolk:
"The lads delivered in a difficult and complicated game, so I'm really thrilled.
"We had to be brave in order to show we could press whenever we could. There were of course periods where we had to sit in and be brave as well.
"I've got the feeling we could've scored one or two more, but I'm even more pleased how we controlled the second half.
"Such an away win as this is outstanding and the consistency the lads are delivering is also great. It's important we enjoy these kind of results and enjoy it."
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa: "We still need too many chances to score and we need to be much more clinical than we were tonight. We did not make our possession count.
"We have now lost the previous defensive solidity and that is down to me, not the players. I feel deeply responsible.
"We made the changes at half-time to try and make better use of the wide areas. It did not work and you have to give credit to Norwich for the quality they showed."