Manor Solomon fired the quickest goal in the Championship this season as Leeds beat Norwich 2-0 at Elland Road to regain top spot.
The Tottenham loanee struck after just 31 seconds against the injury-hit Canaries and Dan James’ second-half effort sealed Leeds’ 12th home league win of the season.
Daniel Farke is unbeaten now in six games as Leeds boss against his former club, while his side extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 11 matches to move one point above overnight leaders Sheffield United.
Solomon struck a third-minute opener in Sunday’s home win against derby rivals Sheffield Wednesday and gave Leeds an even earlier lead against Norwich.
Brenden Aaronson combined neatly with Jayden Bogle on the right touchline before sending James scampering clear and Solomon despatched the Wales winger’s fine low cross into the roof of the net.
Credit to depleted Norwich, who did well to deny Leeds further chances until the 19th minute when Shane Duffy’s excellent tackle thwarted Joel Piroe inside the box.
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Leeds United’s Manor Solomon fires the home side into a fast 1-0 lead against Norwich, scoring after 31 seconds.
Canaries boss Johannes Thorup has had only 15 senior players available to face the Championship’s top two in the space of four days – they lost 2-0 at Bramall Lane on Saturday – and has been forced to supplement his squad with academy players.
But after their early setback, Norwich posed a few problems of their own. Kellen Fisher volleyed over and Jack Stacey’s dangerous cross just eluded Lewis Dobbin at the far post.
For all Leeds’ possession and patient probing, they had only Bogle’s angled volley, turned away by Angus Gunn at his near post before the break, to show for their first-half dominance.
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Leeds United winger Dan James cooly converts to double the scoreline for the home side against Norwich City.
Gunn saved well at his near post again to keep out Piroe’s low effort early in the second half, but Leeds continued to lack accuracy in the final third.
Home frustration was eased in the 65th minute however, with Norwich punished for a poor headed clearance.
Solomon clipped the ball to the far post and James volleyed his seventh league goal of the season into the opposite corner.
Bogle’s well-struck effort from outside the box was blocked by Gunn, who then kept out substitute Largie Ramazani’s goalbound curling effort, before Piroe headed Joe Rothwell’s corner narrowly wide.
Norwich, beaten 4-0 in the play-offs on their last visit to Elland Road in May, offered little threat in the second period, but stuck resolutely to their task to avoid a similar scoreline.
The managers
Leeds’ Daniel Farke:
“It was perhaps not our most exciting game, or most shining performance. But we were dominant in our defending behaviour.
“We didn’t give away one opportunity to our opponent, nothing.
“We scored an early goal and sometimes, after so many good wins here at home, last game we scored early, this time we scored in the first minute, and sometimes you think it’s going to be a nice, easy evening.
“If we score first we usually win the game and perhaps you take one step less, one or two per cent less concentrating. We were not good on the details today.”
Norwich’s Johannes Hoff Thorup:
“It was a difficult one. Of course, we didn’t get off to the best start, it’s fair to say.
“But after that I think we saw some courage out there and some good character, good personality.
“We tried to get back into the game. We struggled to create chances and even though we were only 1-0 behind, we had to defend a lot.”
“The structure is not right. We don’t cover enough space and we don’t have enough lines in our pressing.
“It’s a top team, Leeds, and they find those tight spaces and get in behind you.”
