Norwich's Borja Sainz and Leeds' Willy Gnonto fight for the ball during the Championship play-off semi-final
Norwich and Leeds fought out a tense, cagey, goalless draw in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final.
Neither side fashioned many scoring chances at Carrow Road and the place in the Wembley final on 26 May will be decided in the second leg at Elland Road on Thursday.
Both teams limped into the play-offs, with Norwich winning just two of their final seven league games to scrape into sixth while Leeds managed just two wins in eight to blow their chances of going up automatically.
That poor form was reflected in a cautious approach by both sides with the Canaries’ Gabriel Sara and Leeds’ Sam Byram fluffing the two best chances in a game of few scoring opportunities.
Leeds’ poor form forced manager Daniel Farke into an unexpected change with Archie Gray replacing striker Joel Piroe, meaning a forward role for Georginio Rutter, while Jonathan Rowe boosted Norwich with his first start since January following injury problems.
With a glut of attacking talent on display, neither side seriously tested the opposition goalkeeper, with a safety-first approach evident.
Georginio Rutter and Kenny McLean contest the ball in the Championship play-off first leg
In a nervous opening, Dimitris Giannoulis almost blindsided Sam Byram as the Leeds defender tried to head back to keeper Illam Meslier, and at the other end Rutter air-kicked a good chance.
Josh Sargent headed a fine Jack Stacey cross wide under pressure from Joe Rodon, and at the other end Junior Firpo had the ball in the net only for Rutter to have been spotted in an offside position earlier in the move.
Crysencio Summerville was unusually quiet for Leeds but he had a snap-shot turned round the post by Angus Gunn after latching on to Shane Duffy’s poor headed clearance.
Both sides lost major attacking threats as Rowe was taken off after an hour, Sargent was replaced after picking up an ankle injury and the ineffective Summerville was also substituted.
Sara fired wide after the Canaries fashioned a rare clear-cut chance, and full-back Byram took a wild swipe which totally missed the ball when he was also presented with a good shooting chance.
Post-match reaction
Norwich manager David Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk:
“It’s a result I can totally live with. My team worked really hard, started on the front foot and were brave to get the crowd behind us.
“I know how good this result can be in the play-offs, so it’s game on. Both teams neutralised each other, especially offensively, and I was fine with how focussed and concentrated the players were.
“The cards are still on the table and we’ll play for it. Nobody expected this semi-final to be decided after the first leg.
“I haven’t spoken with him [Josh Sargent] or the medical department but he wasn’t able to carry on. He has problems with his ankle but he’s a tough guy and I don’t think it’s a big issue for Thursday.”
Leeds manager Daniel Farke told BBC Radio Leeds:
“In a semi-final over two legs, to get an away draw and a clean sheet, especially at a difficult ground, is always a good and solid result. I’m happy with the performance and the result.
“The last games in the regular season were not that great in terms of results and conceding goals after many clean sheets during the season. We wanted to be rock-solid today and didn’t allow them one chance.
“The longer the game went, the more control we had over the game, so we gained more confidence, especially in the second half, when we had lots of pressure and they defended really well.
“The momentum was more and more on our side and it looked like the goal was coming but you also have to make sure you’re not over-motivated and leave spaces for counter-attacks.
“For our chances, the decision-making in and around the box could have been better.”
