Leeds United put in a dominant performance at Elland Road, brushing aside Norwich City 3-0 in the FA Cup fifth round to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2003.
Sean Longstaff, returning to the starting line-up, got Leeds up and running with a brilliant opening goal in the 32nd minute, before Gabriel Gudmundsson struck just before the interval to double the lead.
From there, Daniel Farke’s side remained firmly in control, rarely allowing Norwich any real momentum, and Joel Piroe rounded off the victory with his first goal of the season to seal an impressive 3-0 win.
Longstaff’s goal has garnered widespread praise, with Alan Shearer feeling stunned by what he saw at Elland Road. However, Glenn Murray has indicated that it was nothing more than a fluke.
The Sean Longstaff goal has been played down
The former Premier League striker lavished praise on the Leeds performance against Norwich and feels players such as Wilfried Gnonto and Gabriel Gudmundsson did really well.
He highlighted the quality of Sean Longstaff and his goal. However, he indicated that it was nothing more than a fluke, as the midfielder himself may not be able to recreate that moment again.
Murray said on Match of the Day: “Everything down the left-hand side, Leeds were dominant.
“Gnonto, Longstaff and Gudmundsson all connected really well. Longstaff doesn’t get picked up, but this finish is so good.
“The way that he brings it down, I honestly think if he did this another 99 times, he couldn’t squeeze it in that little corridor. It’s exceptional.”
He has put a strong claim to start in the Premier League again
Longstaff’s display has made a strong argument for him to return to the starting line-up in the Premier League, but it leaves Daniel Farke with a tricky selection dilemma.
Ethan Ampadu is virtually undroppable in midfield, while Anton Stach’s physicality and threat from set pieces make him a key figure in the side.
That could put Ilia Gruev’s place under the most pressure if Longstaff is to be brought back into the starting eleven for next Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace.
Sean Longstaff – Leeds United Performance Stats| Competition | Matches | Goals | Assists | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 17 | 1 | 2 | 946 |
| FA Cup | 3 | 1 | 0 | 207 |
| EFL Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 |
| Total | 21 | 2 | 2 | 1,243 |
The Bulgarian was always likely to face competition for his spot if Longstaff delivered a strong performance against Norwich City in the FA Cup, and that scenario now seems to be unfolding.
Farke will have some important decisions to make over the next few days before confirming his midfield for the visit to Selhurst Park this weekend.
