City’s FA Cup journey of 2026 ended on Sunday as Leeds eased to a 3-0 fifth-round victory at Elland Road.
Goals from Sean Longstaff and Gabriel Gudmundsson had the tie effectively wrapped up before half-time, with Joel Piroe adding a late third so kill of any prospect of a late City comeback.
Philippe Clement was, for once, critical of men, citing their lack of “bravery” in a passive opening 45 minutes, after which goalkeeper Dan Grimshaw was withdrawn with (another) soft tissue injury.
For a team that had won nine of their previous 11 fixtures across all competitions, this felt like a small step backwards. If I can beall technical about it for a second, City managed just 0.73 Xg across the 90+ minutes and never really looked like mounting the serious challenge we’d all hoped for.
On the passive first half
Clement’s frustration centred on the first half, which was rather too comfortable for the hosts. Norwich sat deep, offered little on the ball, and allowed Leeds to dictate, despite a controlled opening 15.
The opener arrived in the 33rd minute. Gudmundsson delivered a cross from the left, and Longstaff met it with a swift turn and clean volley into the bottom corner. Ten minutes later, it was 2-0, Sam Field failing to clear a low Dan James delivery and Gudmundsson arriving at the right time to side-foot home.
Leeds could have had more. A Lukas Nmecha effort was chalked off by VAR for a handball in the build-up, and Wilfried Gnonto headed in only to be flagged offside. City were second to everything and created almost nothing before the break. Ali Ahmed’s effort in the 35th minute was Norwich’s first effort on goal.
Clement’s post-match assessment made clear he expected more from his side, given their good league form, and even taking into account the current injury crisis. The word “bravery” (or absence of it) cropped up several times, especially when referring to the first half. He admitted to being happier with the second half showing.
On Grimshaw’s injury
The half-time withdrawal of Grimshaw was a disappointment… mainly for Grimshaw. He started the game as part of Clement’s cup rotation, but was replaced by Vladan Kovacevic at halftime after picking that muscle problem.
Kovacevic performed well in the second period, including tipping a dipping Piroe effort onto the crossbar on 71 minutes, and offered a reminder (to some) why he is the firm number one. In a congested run of league fixtures, losing any keeper is a concern, but potentially offers an opportunity to Louie Moulden.
Piroe’s goal came on 85 minutes, finishing a quick counter-attack to send Leeds into the quarter-finals for the first time since 2003. It was the nail in City’s coffin, but they had created more in the second half. Anis Ben Slimane hit the side-netting when he should have scored but chances that fell to Liam Gibbs and Jack Stacey never looked like going in.
On a brighter note, it was Kenny McLean’s 300th appearance for the club, and he marked it with a typically gutsy and battling performance in the engine room alongside Sam Field.
City must now turn their full attention back to the Championship, with Sheffield United the visitors to Carrow Road on Wednesday night. After nine wins from 11, one chastening cup defeat hardly triggers a crisis, but Clement will expect a response.
Hopefully, having emerged with a clean bill of health, Grimshaw aside, will help them slip back into the groove that has served them so well so far in 2026.
