Leeds United's 0-0 draw at Norwich City in an edgy Championship play-off semi-final didn't deliver buckets of drama but - as is so often the case - some officiating was under the spotlight.
The team on BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast have had their say.
Have a listen to the clip below or take in the full show here.
Image source, PA MediaThe latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast reflects on Leeds United's 0-0 draw at Norwich in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final on Sunday.
Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix said: "Going into it, because of previous games, I thought 0-0 would be a great result and I predicted 1-1 for some reason.
"As it got closer to the end of the game, I was happy with 0-0, but we could have easily won it. Norwich started off quite strong and I thought we grew into it.
"I wonder whether [Daniel] Farke was going for a 0-0 because we didn't play with a proper number nine really. I thought maybe we were setting out to be more solid than we've been. Getting a clean sheet was great for the future, but the game itself sort of petered out."
Commentator Adam Pope added: "I felt some major decisions didn't go Leeds' way and I've never seen Farke so animated [after the match]. For him to come out and say he's had 12 letters of apology during the season [for incorrect decisions from officials] - that's a lot of big mistakes."
Image source, Getty ImagesA man has been charged and a second bailed following an incident involving a Leeds United supporter outside Carrow Road after the play-off semi-final first leg against Norwich City on Sunday.
The incident happened shortly after 14:00 BST when the victim reported being punched outside the stadium.
"An object is also believed to have been thrown at the victim, who suffered a cut to his chin," a Norfolk police spokesperson said on Sunday.
"The victim was seen by paramedics at the scene and did not require further medical treatment."
In a statement, external, Leeds United said the club "thanks the emergency services for their quick response to the supporter and swift action taken following the incident".
So, a final before the final will decide Leeds' play-off fate after a goalless semi-final first leg against Norwich on Sunday set up a winner takes all clash at Elland Road on Thursday evening.
Can Daniel Farke's side make it to Wembley? How relevant is their poor end to the league season? How important will the Elland Road crowd be?
Everton boss Sean Dyche is hopeful of finding a deal to turn 27-year-old English winger Jack Harrison's loan from Leeds United into a permanent transfer. (Liverpool Echo), external
Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter
Image source, PA MediaDaniel Farke will become the first Leeds United manager in six attempts to win a play-off if he secures an immediate return to the Premier League.
United's sorry history when trying to climb out of both the second and third tiers of English football may well weigh heavy on supporters but Farke is yet to experience the end of season mini campaign having successfully negotiated semi-final opponents Norwich City to automatic promotion on two occasions.
Before Sunday's semi-final first leg against the Canaries, Farke has been speaking to the media. Here are the key lines:
Striker Patrick Bamford will miss both legs of the Championship play-off semi final with a knee injury. Damage to his patella was previously undiagnosed. Farke said: “He's seen a different knee consultant and the new diagnosis says there is mini trauma in his patellar tendon. We were not aware of this."
Winger Dan James may be fit after missing the final two games of the regular season through injury.
The narrative for many will be Farke against his old club but is the real story about about his man management skills this week? He said: "Young side. I trust my players. It's not about me. It's not about playing chess with the opponent's manager. In such a crunch game it's the players who decide things. Managers are there to support them and back them and prepare them in the best possible way. This game will not be won or lost by great decisions on the touchline. It's totally up to the players."
Farke continued: "We are not experienced, but I would not change one player. The winning mentality we have. When there is a special occasion - two times against Leicester and Ipswich - we won four times. More consistency on other days in the office and we would have done better. In spotlight games, this team is spot on."
Asked how he installs confidence, Farke said: "No psychological games. Hard work on the training field. Win the confidence back with hard work. Success on the training pitch. Good positions on the training pitch. Reminding them step by step they do not need to do something different or special."
Having beaten Norwich twice this season, Farke reflected: "The season does not matter now. It's a new competition. Two wins against Norwich do not matter. We had 46 games to earn the place in the play-offs. That's good, but it's a new competition and have to concentrate on now rather than the past."
Asked about investment in the club from actor Will Ferrell, Farke said: "We need each and every man. It's always good. A great actor. We are all happy he's on board, but I don't think it will help us score at Norwich. It says a lot about the calibre of this club which has many well-known supporters who we are thankful for. But its up to the players to win these games."
Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter
It has been a memorable week for former Leeds United manager Howard Wilkinson who received his OBE from The Prince of Wales at Windsor for his work in football and charity.
His son Ben will be looking to add another honour to the family name when his Manchester City Under-18s host Leeds United Under-18s in the FA Youth Cup final at the Etihad tonight (KO:19:00 BST). It will be up to United coach Rob Etherington to spoil the party.
Etherington, who has engineered an excellent run to the final beating Norwich City, Brighton and Hove Albion and Sheffield United all away from home before defeating Liverpool and then Millwall in the semi-final at Elland Road, is aware of the Wilkinson factor but is not allowing it to be a distraction.
"I know Ben from previous games at under-18 level. I'm sure he will be fully focused on a Manchester City performance and we'll continue focusing on us," he said.
United have won the competition twice in the club's history in 1993 and 1997 both under Academy coach Paul Hart. In the first instance, when Manchester United were beaten over two legs, Howard Wilkinson was in charge of the first team who were the reigning champions of England.
The significance of winning tonight is not lost on Etherington. "The FA Youth Cup is one of the biggest competitions in youth football," he says.
"We've seen it as an opportunity to make it something bigger than football, so we've connected the players with the values and the history of the football club. But also with the history of the competition and the connection of the club with the competition and part of that is the previous successes we've had."
Etherington has used the experience of former Academy coach Andrew Wright who helped United beat Crystal Palace to win the trophy in 1997.
He added: "We've been in touch with players who've won it before to help inspire the current group that we've got. We've tied that in full circle with framing the message to the players that they then have the opportunity to inspire the next group who will follow."
With a big Championship play-off semi final for Daniel Farke's side at Norwich City on Sunday to come what better way to lift the spirits of the club by lifting a trophy beforehand?
Adonis Storr
Fan writer
As the Leeds United players took a lap around Elland Road after the final game of the season, those fans who chose to stay screamed a roar of encouragement that could have been mistaken for a war cry.
The play-offs were not the goal and they have never been kind to United. But it is easy to be united when a team is winning - much harder when form has fallen apart.
A lot of criticism on social media has been aimed at Daniel Farke, seemingly forgetting the choas of last summer - the club between owners, players refusing to play or jumping ship and an almighty hangover from more than 150 goals conceded in the two previous seasons.
Farke steadied the Whites and took the second-youngest team in the Championship to one of the highest points tallies in Leeds' history. Only once in the Football League has 90 points not been enough to get promoted.
"There is no tiredness or feeling sorry - you have to be on it and work again and make sure that everyone is ready and prepared," said Farke in the post-Southampton news conference.
Players and fans need a major reset before the play-offs. United and in full voice, the Leeds crowd can make the difference.
Adonis Storr can be found at The Roaring Peacock, external
Are Leeds United's players facing an unprecedented number of fixtures?
There's talk of Daniel Farke's side being tired, so do the stats point to a group of players who may be up against a mountain of a workload?
Presenter Jonny Buchan questions if the players are "shot" mentally and physically.
Image source, Getty ImagesOn the latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix ask how Leeds United missed out on automatic promotion and look ahead to their play-off campaign.
Ipswich's victory guaranteed their promotion alongside Leicester on the final day but the Whites lost 2-1 at home to Southampton anyway to set up a semi-final against Norwich City. If they overcome the Canaries and Russell Martin's team beat West Brom then they will meet Saints again in the play-off final.
BBC Radio Leeds' Pope said: "Southampton played really well and looked brave and strong and like a team that is not scared of going into the play-offs which they've known they will for a few weeks.
"Very quickly any kind of realistic hope became realism that it wasn't going to happen.
"It felt a bit flat really and I was thinking 'how are they going to turn this around based on the last couple of weeks'? They can but it's difficult to feel it right now."
Rix added: "Rest they need I think because everyone looks a bit done. I think there's a little bit of narrative that people aren't trying but I just think it was a bridge too far.
"We all thought going into this little run of games on that great form and being top was really great and would give us the enthusiasm and motivation for the last eight games to just drive through and keep it in our hands but is has been the complete opposite."
On-loan Manchester City and England midfielder Kalvin Phillips' hopes of rejoining Leeds United this summer depend on the Elland Road side earning promotion back to the Premier League. (Football Insider), external
With automatic promotion from the Championship now out of their hands going into the final weekend, Leeds United may have to settle for a spot in the play-offs instead.
Former Leeds midfielder Michael Brown tells The Football News Show how the players will stay motivated and why Daniel Farke's side will be favourites to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
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Lewis Deighton
Fan writer
A win at Loftus Road last Friday would have put Leeds in the driving seat for automatic promotion on Saturday. Instead, we registered our worst defeat so far under Daniel Farke, losing 4-0 to relegation-threatened QPR. This is the Leeds United I fell in love with.
With Leicester having won the league and Ipswich now just a point away from securing second place, it is almost impossible for Leeds to achieve anything more than a play-off spot. If we beat Southampton and Ipswich lose, we would be promoted on goal difference, which seems practical until you acknowledge that Ipswich's opponent is all-but relegated Huddersfield Town - a team that spent most of their pre-season in the pub or playing golf, as revealed by their manager Andre Breitenreiter earlier this week.
Despite Leeds not being in contention for the title until March when Leicester had forfeited a 17-point lead, some of their celebrations this week have bizarrely revolved around us. Following many wins since 2022, "I Predict A Riot" by the Kaiser Chiefs has often echoed around Elland Road at full-time. The 3-1 win against Leicester in February was no exception, and yet for some reason some of their players, staff and fans persist that it was specifically catered to them - singing it mockingly all week and changing the words to "Leeds are in the play-offs".
We need a miracle on Saturday, and miracles do happen, just not for Leeds United.
