Leeds United could only manage a 1-1 draw at Carrow Road on Tuesday night as Daniel Farke’s injury-hit side came from behind to pick up a point against Norwich City.
Prior to the game, Daniel Farke confirmed that as many as five Leeds players would miss Tuesday’s trip to Norwich. Ethan Ampadu is set to be sidelined until the new year after suffering a knee injury on Saturday.
Joining the Wales star in missing the trip south was Max Wober, Manor Solomon, Dan James and Isaac Schmidt. Farke handed a first start to Ao Tanaka in midfield, with Ilia Gruev going off injured early on.
It saw Joe Rothwell come on and make his first meaningful contribution in the Championship since his arrival at Elland Road on loan from Bournemouth. A new-look midfield and it saw them stutter somewhat.
Norwich took the lead before the 20th minute when Joe Rodon committed a foul and Josh Sargent scored the resulting penalty, a spot kick that perhaps Illan Meslier should have done better to keep out.
Ao Tanaka earns praise from Tony Dorigo during first half
The 25-year-old midfielder came on on Saturday inside the first half after Ampadu’s injury and with the Leeds skipper sidelined, the Japan star was handed his first Leeds start at Carrow Road on Tuesday night.
He looked tidy in possession and often produced a moment of genius, whipping a gorgeous cross into the box on 39 minutes, but no attacker was on the end of it. But it is a moment that impressed Dorigo.
Indeed, during his role as co-commentator on LUTV’s live coverage of the game, Dorigo praised Tanaka for his ball into the box: “That ball was in superb from Tanaka, a shame that no-one was on the end of it.”
Jermaine Beckford also praises Tanaka during first 45 at Norwich
Tanaka kept the ball ticking even though he is more of an attack-minded midfielder than the likes of Ampadu and Gruev. With Rothwell coming on, Tanaka was tasked with playing the sitting midfield role.
His technical ability was on full show and Beckford was impressed with the new arrival at Elland Road in what was a difficult fixture to make his first start, coming against Farke’s old side away from home.
He said: “How good is Tanaka! Composed and technically gifted.”
He lasted the entire 90 minutes which included a combined 11 minutes of injury time at the end of both halves. A fair result but also a sign that Tanaka is more than capable of impressing for Leeds this season.
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