Daniel Farke hails ‘great performance’ as Norwich go top with win at Leeds

Posted Sunday, February 03, 2019 by PA

Norwich boss Daniel Farke praised his players for delivering the goods after their 3-1 win at Sky Bet Championship promotion rivals Leeds.

Mario Vrancic gave the visitors a dream start when he scored with a deflected free-kick after five minutes.

Teemu Pukki doubled their lead from close range after a Vrancic shot deflected into his path in the 36th minute.

Max Aarons should have made it 3-0 when the ball fell his way after some pinball in the Leeds box but it was game over when Vrancic finished smartly after a good counter-attack with 12 minutes left.

Patrick Bamford headed home from a corner one minute into stoppage time to pull a consolation goal back, but Norwich still leapfrogged their hosts into top spot.

Farke said: “It was a well-deserved win and a great performance at a difficult place. The lads delivered.

“We knew we wanted to win this game and that showed on the pitch. It fills me with unbelievable joy to be part of this group. It was a great performance and great atmosphere.

“Our possession and pressing was not as good in the first half, we spoke at half-time about stepping that up and we controlled the game with and without the ball in the second half.

“The attitude was brilliant. We found the right mix to calm down at half-time and keep motivation and we fulfilled our plan unbelievably well.

“We had to be brave and to press the ball whenever we could. We had to defend our own box well and control the ball.

“It is important for the confidence to be able to perform at this level in such a game. Our support today was magnificent, you could always hear our supporters sing.”

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa was left concerned by his side’s lack of cutting edge.

“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,” he said.

“We have now lost the previous defensive solidity and that is down to me, not the players. I feel deeply responsible.

“We need to be better in possession. We lost the ball at key times in the first two goals we conceded and it has cost us defeat tonight.

“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.

“They defended well and their quality was a big factor in the outcome.

“We have to keep this defeat in perspective and maintain our focus. We have another big game next weekend at Middlesborough and we will prepare thoroughly for that.”