Writer: Dazza71 
Date:Sunday February 20 2011
Time: 9:05AM
Elland Road
19/02/11 3pm
Attendance: 31,601
Leeds United and Norwich City shared the points in an enthralling clash at Elland Road.
Leeds stuck with the same side that won 2-0 at Bristol City last weekend with Luciano Becchio supported by Johnny Howson.
The game was in danger after heavy snowfall in the morning but once the ground staff at Elland Road did a fantastic job to make sure the game went ahead.
Leeds started the game strongly, Howson powered into the Norwich area before his left foot shot went narrowly wide of the post and then minutes later Becchio went even closer as his close range header came back off the post.
Wilbraham had the visitors first sight of goal but he dragged his effort wide of the post.
Becchio eventually gave Leeds the lead on sixteen minutes when a flick header by Snodgrass was bundled over the line by Becchio at the far post.
Grant Holt almost got Norwich back into the game minutes later but his header rebounded off the post and to safety.
Schmeichel was then forced into an acrobatic save to turn a long distance shot from David Fox round the post.
Howson then had three chances to put Leeds further ahead, his first shot was blocked, his second hit the underside of the bar and that was followed by an overhead kick that went just wide of the post.
Fox again tried his luck from distance for Norwich but this time his effort went just wide of the post.
Norwich got back on level terms in injury time in the first half when Lichaj could only half clear a cross and the ball fell to Lansbury who drilled the ball past Schmeichel.
It was a disappointing end to a first half that Leeds had dominated for long periods.
Robert Snodgrass had a good chance to restore Leeds lead early in the second half but he lifted his free kick over the bar.
McCartney then had a shot from the edge of the area for Leeds but it was straight at Ruddy in the Norwich goal.
Gradel also had a couple of chances but the Norwich back line was holding firm.
Norwich almost took the lead when Holt hit the woodwork for the second time in the afternoon.
The visitors were soon in the lead when Hoolahan found himself in acres of space on the right and his shot beat the despairing Lichaj on the Leeds goal line.
Snodgrass tried to get Leeds quickly back into the game but his shot was a comfortable save for Ruddy.
Simon Grayson made his first substitution of the game with just over fifteen minutes remaining and it paid off immediately.
Davide Somma, who has scored four goals in his last four games, replaced Neil Kilkenny and with his first touch he drilled a right foot volley past Ruddy from the edge of the area to bring the sides level.
The game was end to end and Somma almost got on the end of a good cross but the faintest touch from a defenders head cleared the danger.
Grayson made his second substitution of the afternoon in stoppage time and it almost paid dividends.
Billy Paynter replaced the hard working Becchio and in his first involvement his shot from close range was just pushed round the post by Ruddy.
The referee soon ended the proceedings in what was a great game to watch and both sides got a deserved standing ovation at the end of the game.
Team
Schmeichel, Lichaj, O`Brien, Bruce, McCartney, Howson, Gradel, Johnson, Kilkenny (Somma 74), Becchio (Paynter 90), Snodgrass
Subs not used
Higgs, Bromby, Parker, Sam, McCormack
Norwich
Ruddy, Martin, Ward, Whitbread, Drury (Tierney 90), Crofts, Hoolahan, Fox, Holt, Lansbury (Surman 73), Wilbraham
Subs not used
Steer, Smith, Jackson, McNamee
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