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Leeds United show grit, overcome Norwich City on penalties in EFL Cup Round Four

THAT was the Leeds United we all love to watch: never-say-die at it's finest. A tremendous effort from Monk's men sees Leeds United put one over on Norwich and march into the EFL Cup quarter finals.

By Jack Dudley
How sweet that was. All Leeds aren't we?
How sweet that was. All Leeds aren't we?
Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Take a bow, lads. Twice Leeds were behind, twice Leeds came back from the dead.

It was a performance that will leave everybody even remotely attached to the club feeling elated. The character, discipline and heart the men in white showed tonight was something we haven't seen from a Leeds side in a long while.

If belief in the players and recent performances wasn't on the up before kick off, it will be now.

Garry Monk looks to reinforcements to carry Leeds

Although Monk has been quoted many times in this competition stating that he is taking it seriously, the manager again made wholesale changes for Tuesday night's tie with the Canaries.

Marco Silvestri took the green shirt for the evening, as Luke Ayling, Pontus Jansson and Charlie Taylor made way for Lewie Coyle, Liam Cooper and the returning Gaetano Berardi, respectively.

In midfield, there were starts for Matt Grimes and Alex Mowatt as Ronaldo Vieira and Kemar Roofe retained their places.

Monk elected to start with Souleymane Doukara and Marcus Antonsson up front as Hadi Sacko and Chris Wood took their spots on the bench.

While the team sheet initially caused a bit of a stir (and plenty of negative criticism on social media), Monk couldn't necessarily risk using the same starting eleven for every single game. It's a long season.

Leeds required to weather early storm

Kick-off for Tuesday's game for a minute-long applause in honour of the late Gary Sprake - for whom Monk was keen to get a victory.

Once proceedings got underway, it didn't take long for Silvestri to be called into action as Steven Naismith forced the Italian into a smart stop with mere seconds on the watch. Norwich controlled the opening thirty-five minutes, and minus one or two rare ventures into the away sides half for Leeds, the pressure eventually told as it was the visitors who struck first.

It was a classic counter attack as a Leeds corner was cleared, sending Norwich bursting up the other end. A simple cross from the left found an unmarked Alex Pritchard at the back post, and he made no mistake as his cushioned diving header nestled into the corner of Silvestri's net.

Leeds attempted to get a foothold in the game as the away side tried to force the issue, but Norwich were all too comfortable in midfield. Promising youngster Josh Murphy partially tested Silvestri with a low drive, before Republic of Ireland international Robbie Brady forced the Leeds keeper to tip his effort over the bar.

Canaries forward Nelson Oliveira then went close before Leeds managed to win a corner of their own.

Kyle Bartley thought he'd levelled the scores in the 39th minute following the delivery, bundling in from close range. Referee Andy Woolmer seemed to award the goal before potential consultation with his assistant lead to it being disallowed.

Leeds, determined not to feel hard done by, managed to make another chance count before the break. Kemar Roofe got the better of his marker and delivered a floated ball to the industrious Doukara at the back post.

Doukara then had the awareness to spot an unmarked Antonsson who had a tap-in to even things up at the break.

Leeds keen to make amends

The proverbial "hairdryer" might have made an appearance in the Leeds dressing room at half-time.

A sub-par performance for much of the first period was quickly erased from the memory as Leeds came out with purpose. Roofe was beginning to give the Norwich right-back a headache, and some teasing runs were starting to tell. Leeds earned a corner the Doukara met firmly, drawing a goal-line save from John Ruddy.

Leeds were looking the more likely with every passing minute, and with the firepower and creativity available to Monk on the bench, the win was there for the taking.

Norwich then had a brief spell that kept Silvestri on his toes, but it wasn't anything the Leeds defence couldn't handle.

With the game entering a slight lull, Monk decided to bring on Chris Wood for Antonsson.

Not long after his introduction, Wood was proving a nuisance in the box as a Doukara cross just escaped the Kiwi. The ball found its way to Mowatt, who had the goal gaping.

When it was harder to miss than score, the youngster somehow managed to hook the ball back across the face of the goal and out for a goal kick. One of those he'll be seeing when he closes his eyes this evening.

With Leeds in the ascendancy, it was reaching a point where it looked as though it could have been one of those nights.

In a bid to add the last injection of pace and midfield bite, Monk deployed Kalvin Phillips and Hadi Sacko for Mowatt and Doukara.

But with nothing coming from it, Leeds looked to be heading for extra time. As the final minutes ticked by, Lewie Coyle went down awkwardly and was forced to retire from the game. With all three substitutions used, Leeds had to finish full-time with 10 men.

A late Phillips free-kick was deflected onto the roof of the net as Leeds couldn't capitalise on their second-half dominance and extra time beckoned.

Monk's men forced to dig deep

As the extra period got underway, Leeds appeared to have lost their fire. Perhaps the prospect of another 30 minutes a man light was a bit too daunting. Norwich began to swing the pendulum in their favour, and came close through goal scorer Pritchard.

A succession of corners was slowly making the Leeds defence creak. A half-cleared delivery was returned into the box to find an unmarked Oliveira who couldn't miss.

Norwich were in front and just had to see the game out.

Some last-ditch words of wisdom from Monk were ringing in the players ears as they trudged back out for the final 15 minutes.

But determined to not let the game run away from them, Leeds began to shine.

Dogged tackling from Phillips in the middle of the park saw the midfielder go to ground twice in succession and win possession. The ball broke to Grimes who spotted the run of Sacko and he slipped the winger in beautifully.

Following a trademark venture into the box, Sacko put a driven ball across the box that missed everyone... except Chris Wood, who was there to tap home at the back post.

It was no less than Leeds deserved, and had the home side had their full quota on the pitch, matters may have been ended before penalties came calling.

Not unchartered territory for Leeds

It was deja vu for the Whites, as memories of round one at Fleetwood Town came flooding back.

This one was going the distance.

As the Leeds players gathered on the pitch, dead on their feet, the names of the brave volunteers were listed.

Norwich were to take first, and Graham Dorrans made no mistake.

Chris Wood levelled matters, as the ever-reliable man from the spot squeezed his effort under Ruddy.

Norwich then missed their next two efforts, Silvestri standing his ground and diving smartly to keep both shots out. Roofe scored for Leeds, followed by a tame effort from Phillips that was saved.

Leeds still had the advantage until an awful spot-kick from Grimes sailed over the bar to erase the deficit.

Silvestri though, wasn't to be beaten and saved his best effort till last, diving to his left to deny Robbie Brady.

Ronaldo Vieira had Leeds' fate in his hands and duly delivered as he sent Ruddy and Norwich packing and Leeds through to only their second League Cup quarter-final in 20 years.

Incredible resolve from Monk's men

Such was the sheer effort and determination from the Leeds players, especially after going down to 10 men after losing Lewie Coyle, that any outcome from the tie would have been acceptable.

The relentless work rate from the entire team on Tuesday evening was admirable; to have lost this game would have been harsh, but great praise and positivity would have oozed from within.

To go behind twice, in extra time at that, to come back twice, even after going down a man, and to then win the game in a penalty shootout showed nerve, guts, passion, and pure desire.

That's something we haven't seen such a display of at Elland Road for some time.

Get some rest, lads. My word have you earned it. MOT

(Editor's note: we'll have full coverage of the EFL Cup Quarterfinal Draw on Wednesday night. Three more matches to be played, and some fun opponents to be had. Let's get Arsenal or Liverpool at Elland Road, shall we?)

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