Leeds v Norwich: FA Cup fifth round – live
Key events
“No opportunity to be on the sidelines, but it is what it is,” Farke says of his touchline ban. “We prepared in the normal way. Hopefully the boys can deliver.”
As if that wasn’t enough subplots, the Leeds manager Daniel Farke – who of course made his name in this country with Norwich – is serving a one-match touchline ban this evening.
Here is Will Unwin’s report from last weekend, when Pep Guardiola called on football fans to “respect religion and diversity” after booing during a break in play for Muslim players to break their Ramadan fast:
Jamie Jackson
Two days ago, Leeds United asked for respect for the pause to allow players observing Ramadan to break their fast during the FA Cup fourth-round tie against Norwich City:
“Leeds United Football Club are asking for respect to be shown during this Sunday’s FA Cup fifth round tie with Norwich City, when play will be paused to allow players observing Ramadan to break their fast, including our own striker, Joël Piroe.
“At an appropriate time following sunset in Leeds at 5:56pm, which will be around the 75th minute of our clash with the Canaries, the referee will call a halt to proceedings for a brief period allowing players from both sides to take on fluids and energy supplements in line with agreed protocol.
“A pause also took place during our Premier League fixture with Manchester City last weekend, which led to booing from some supporters which was disappointing and unexpected. Having taken time to reflect, there were also several mitigating circumstances which led to this:
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This was the first time a game at Elland Road has ever been paused to allow players observing Ramadan to break their fast and in hindsight we should have been more proactive with our communications in advance of the Manchester City fixture to explain to supporters that this was going to happen, there was a clear lack of awareness by some attending the fixture.”
Teams
I make it nine changes for Leeds from the Premier League defeat by Sunderland. But just one for Norwich, with Vladan Kovacevic replaced by Daniel Grimshaw in goal.
Leeds: Lucas Perri, Bornauw, Bijol, Gudmundsson, James, Ampadu, Longstaff, Gnonto, Piroe, Tanaka, Nmecha. Substitutes: Darlow, Byram, Bogle, Justin, Struijk, Gruev, Stach, Buonanotte, Aaronson.
Norwich: Grimshaw, Fisher, McConville, Cordoba, Chrisene, Field, McLean, Gibbs, Maghoma, Ahmed, Kvistgaarden. Substitutes: Kovacevic, Stacey, Medic, Darling, Wright, Springett, Forson, Ben Slimane, Mundle-Smith.
Referee: Darren England
I’m sure Leeds fans will be devastated to see Sunderland knocked out after the midweek Premier League encounter when the Black Cats’ timewasting antics were, judging by the BTL comments here, rather noticeable.
Breaking news: Sunderland are OUT! Beaten 1-0 by Port Vale, the bottom club in League One. Port Vale are through to the quarter-finals! Dominic Booth has the remarkable story here:
Preamble
This has all the makings of an FA Cup classic. To be fair, it also has the makings of a dour 0-0 draw decided by an error-strewn yet entertainingly comical penalty shootout. In that sense it’s like any other football match – we literally don’t know what is going to happen, until it’s actually happened.
This is seventh FA Cup meeting between these clubs, with the most recent tie coming back in 1977, five years after Leeds’s only trophy in 1971-72. Win today and Daniel Farke’s side are into the quarter-finals for the first time since 2002-03. But after a frustrating home defeat by Sunderland in midweek, and the Whites battling Tottenham and Nottingham Forest to stay clear of the relegation zone, some fans may prefer to concentrate on the Premier League.
Norwich are on a good run in the Championship, with four wins from their last five. They were second-bottom when Philippe Clement was appointed last November and have since climbed to 17th, not entirely out of the woods but in far better shape: adding a deep FA Cup run might be just the ticket. Team news and more coming up.
Kick-off: 4.30pm
