Norwich City

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Your views on Norwich City's Wembley hopes

Here are some of your thoughts on the Canaries' 0-0 draw with Leeds in the Championship play-off semi-final first leg. You've also been looking ahead to Thursday's second leg:

Sam - A tight game as to be expected with two teams not in good form. I did think we should have pushed a bit more being the home team and our away form is not the best. However, it’s now a straight shootout, so let’s see. Leeds have to be slight favourites though. OTBC.

Roger - Well, what can you say - both teams played not to lose so we'll just have to see which team wants it more. It'll be down to the home team to play on the front foot because they are the home team, but that might suit Norwich and the way they play.

Optimist Personified of Norfolk - Both sides just didn't want to concede so it was a very difficult game for the spectators. I think we will win on Thursday and go on to beat Southampton, get promoted, win the Premier League and play in Europe and win all the cups. 😀

Paul - Fantastic atmosphere created both outside and in the ground. Excellent first half but didn’t take our chances. Heat and fitness levels showed in the second half. We can do this in the second leg but may need to risk Barnes at some point to increase attacking options. OTBC.

Leif - My heart says yes, we can do it, but it will be very tight and it won't be a goal fest. One goal in it, a bit of Sara magic from distance in the 86th minute! My head though says no. Leeds are a quality side and our old manager has got them playing some excellent attacking football. The Elland Road crowd will be their 12th man. 1-0 Leeds unfortunately!

'Both managers were too scared to grab the bull by the horns'

BBC Norfolk's Scrimmage co-host Chris Reeve gives his first reaction to the Canaries 0-0 draw with Leeds United in the Championship play-off semi-final first leg.

Join Chris and Rob Butler for The Scrimmage podcast, available with BBC Sounds on Monday from 19:30 BST.

Send us your thoughts on the play-off semi-final first leg

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Norwich City know a win at Elland Road on Thursday will send them to Wembley for the Championship play-off final.

The Canaries drew 0-0 with Leeds on Sunday in a cagey semi-final first leg.

What did you make of the game?

Are you happy with the draw?

Do you think the Norwich side should have taken more risks on the pitch?

How are you feeling about Thursday's game?

Can Norwich do the job?

Get in touch with us here.

Simon Lappin's thoughts on Norwich City 0-0 Leeds United

The Canaries and Leeds drew a blank in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final at Carrow Road on Sunday.

The game finished 0-0, the two sides will meet in the second leg of the tie on Thursday at Elland Road (20:00 BST).

Simon Lappin was BBC Norfolk's guest summariser for Sunday's game, here are some of his full-time thoughts:

"They (Norwich) would have hoped to have won this game to go to Elland Road with that lead.

"But it's an old adage in football - 'if you can't win the game, don't lose it' and I think David Wagner will be delighted."

He continued: "I came along today with the same sentiment as a lot of fans - we wanted to see them get after Leeds from the word 'go', and they did that.

"It's hard to keep that up against a side who finished with 90 points, 17 points ahead of them and it was a big ask to go 90 minutes at that tempo.

"It's 0-0, Wagner goes there with all to play for and there is still an opportunity to go to Wembley."

You can listen to more from Simon Lappin on Canary Call with Adrian Coote and Rob Butler here.

• Norwich have won just one of their last seven home games against Leeds in all competitions (D2 L4), losing each of the last three in a row. Their meeting at Carrow Road in the regular Championship season finished 3-2 to the Whites

• Leeds have won each of their last four games against Norwich in all competitions, with this their first meeting in the Football League play-offs

• This is just Norwich’s third appearance in the Football League play-offs, all in the second tier. They lost the 2002 final against Birmingham City on penalties, before beating Middlesbrough in 2015 to reach the Premier League

• Leeds have never won promotion via the Football League play-offs, with this their sixth appearance. They lost 4-3 on aggregate to Frank Lampard’s Derby County in the 2018-19 semi-final in their most recent appearance

• Norwich have won both of their home legs in the Football League play-offs by a 3-1 scoreline (vs Wolves in 2001-02 and Ipswich Town in 2014-15)

• Since the second tier rebrand to the Championship in 2004, the team finishing third has won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs almost 50% of the time (9/19)

Norwich City supporters gave their players a warm welcome as the team coach arrived on Sunday morning.

The Canaries face Leeds United in the Championship play-off semi-final first leg (12:00 BST).

Norwich City face Leeds United in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final on Sunday (12:00 BST).

You can listen to full live coverage from 11:00 BST with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM, DAB and Freeview.

Guest summarisers are Simon Lappin and Adrian Coote.

Norwich City host Leeds United in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final on Sunday at 12:00 BST.

City head coach David Wagner says he will share in supporters' excitement when the game kicks off.

You can listen to full live coverage with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM, DAB and Freeview.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Norwich City manager Nigel Worthington led the team to promotion to the Premier League in 2004. Two seasons earlier, he was the boss when City lost in the First Division play-off final to Birmingham City on penalties at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium.

The Canaries finished sixth in the regular season that year.

'Worthy' spoke to BBC Radio Norfolk's Chris Goreham about his play-off experiences and said the current Canaries team should be comfortable with being the underdog in their semi-final against Leeds United:

"I always liked to be the underdog because the focus and the pressure is on the team that finished higher in the league.

"While they get all the attention, you can set yourself up and get on about your business in training and get the preparation and focus 100 per cent right for what you are about to endure. I think it can be a plus."

He continued: "The fact Norwich are at home first against Leeds, if they can get a very good result there because it will be very very dificult at Elland Road where the crowd are going to be up for it.

"I think it's just about focus, preparation, keeping your nerve and then go out and perform."

You can listen to the full interview with Nigel Worthington on BBC Sounds here.

Here is part two of Norwich City defender Jack Stacey speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk's Rob Butler.

Stacey will be part of the Canaries' squad who face Leeds United in the Championship play-off semi-final first leg at Carrow Road on Sunday (12:00 BST):

Image source, Rob Butler/BBC

Opinion: 'Forget what's at stake, make play-offs special'

Susannah George

Where were you when?

How many times do we do this to each other and ask this question? For Norwich City fans, the majority of us will be able to recall almost instantaneously where we were for the May 2015 play-off final at Wembley, the second leg of the playoffs against 1p5wich, the victory against Man City, the Cup game where we beat Spurs on penalties, even where we were when we beat Bayern Munich.

Not only will we be able to recall where we were but probably exactly who we were with, what we ate that day, what we were wearing and maybe even the after effects of heavy celebration.

Those games are up there, certainly for me (insofar as I was around) as some of our finest. All remembered fondly as moments of pure jubilation I spent with some of my nearest. And I'm sure there are countless others.

The same cannot be said for some of our losses. Unless it formed part of a day out with someone close to me, I cannot remember when we went out of 'x' cup run having lost to 'y', or the last game of the season where we finished mid-table/relegation, certainly not with the same clarity anyway.

As we go into play-offs we all know the potential outcomes, I am sure we have all run the various scenarios in our heads. Of course there are mixed emotions but we shouldn't let that get in the way of enjoying a journey that one day we could be looking back at with the same fondness as some of our finest moments.

Let's make sure we enjoy this journey, which we, all of us, the team, the club and supporters, have earned!

Let's ensure we share it with our friends and our families.

Let's build core memories that, whatever the outcome, we will be glad of.

Because who knows?

We have a 1 in 4 chance for this to be something epic which we and maybe even future generations will look to as a benchmark one day.

Let's make it special!

Image source, Susannah George

Norwich City defender Jack Stacey spoke to BBC Radio Norfolk's Rob Butler ahead of the Canaries' Championship play-off semi-final.

The first leg of the tie against Leeds United is on Sunday at 12:00 GMT.

Here is part one of their chat:

Norwich City head coach David Wagner spoke to BBC Radio Norfolk's Phil Daley ahead of Sunday's play-off semi-final first leg against Leeds United.

Wagner was asked about Shane Duffy's status going into the tie.

Duffy was arrested and charged with a drink-driving offence on Monday.

Norwich City head coach David Wagner has been speaking to the media ahead of Sunday's Championship play-off semi-final first leg against Leeds United at Carrow Road (12:00 GMT).

Here are some of the key points:

• Defender Shane Duffy has trained normally all week, Wagner indicated he will be available for selection this weekend. Duffy was arrested and charged with a drink-driving offence on Monday

• Striker Ashley Barnes will miss the first leg with a calf injury, but Christian Fassnacht is back after missing the Birmingham game

• Wagner says Sunday is 'another big game' of many his team have had in recent months. "We are used to it", he says

• On Leeds United: "There are no secrets - they know more or less everything about us, we know more or less everything about them"

• Wagner says he is happy for the Canaries to be classed as the underdogs in the two-legged game against Leeds

• Wagner on his play-off experience: "If you've done it and been successful, you are quite confident." Wagner led Huddersfield to promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2017

Leigh Bromby is a former Leeds United and Norwich City defender, he worked with current City boss David Wagner at Huddersfield Town.

Bromby says Leeds will need picking up by manager Daniel Farke after failing to claim automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Norwich host Leeds in the first leg of the play-off semi-finals at Carrow Road on Sunday (12:00 BST).

Former Norwich City and Leeds United defender Leigh Bromby says the Canaries will be the most well prepared team in the Championship play-offs.

Bromby was working as a coach at Huddersfield Town when current Norwich boss David Wagner led the Terriers to promotion to the Premier League in 2017.

The Canaries play Leeds over two legs in the play-off semi finals, the winner will meet Southampton or West Brom at Wembley in the final on 26 May.

Opinion: 'Who cares? We care, David!'

Matthew Soakell, North East Canary

I’ve criticised David Wagner this season when I feel he’s been worthy of criticism and I’ve also praised him for his second half of the season turn around. Do I think Norwich City finishing in the play-offs is a success? No. Do I think given that where we were at Christmas, that Wagner’s done well in 2024? Yes. That said, as Norwich limped over the line on Saturday at St Andrew’s after a dismal performance, my first thought was "If we play like that against Leeds, we haven’t got a chance". So when I heard Wagner say “It wasn’t great but to be totally honest, who cares?” after the game, honestly I was seething! And I’ll tell you for why…

My frustrations aimed at City’s head coach are nothing personal; he comes across as a lovely man who I’d have a pint with. But we all know the play-offs are all about momentum and we’ve lost any possible momentum in our last three games. Two draws and a lacklustre defeat meant we passed up the chance to finish 5th and with it, there was a fair bit of optimism and positivity sucked out of the fans as a consequence.

I know we’re in the play-offs.

We might get to Wembley.

We might get promoted.

I’m not saying let’s be negative — far from it!

However, Wagner’s comments were almost him saying “I’ve done what I was tasked with doing and I don’t care how we’ve done it”. This surely isn’t the attitude to have going into two - hopefully three - huge games?

If we were in the Premier League and we’d survived by playing poorly but we’d got over the line, then the sentiment would be totally different. But we aren’t. We have one of the highest wage bills in this league and fans - rightly or wrongly - demand more than what we’ve seen against Bristol City, Swansea City and Birmingham City of late.

So here’s hoping that Wagner, his team and staff are up for Sunday’s game against Leeds United. I know the fans will be. We definitely care. And I know that he cares, but there are ways and means to get or keep fans onside; there are ways and means to go into the play-offs; Wagner’s not quite helped himself with either of these, but let’s be loud and proud this weekend and show the whole footballing world watching just how much we care!

You can listen to David Wagner's full post-match interview after the Birmingham game here.

Rob Butler and Jack Reeve called for positivity from Norwich City supporters ahead of a two-legged play-off semi-final against Leeds United.

The first leg is on Sunday at Carrow Road (12:00 GMT)

Download the full Scrimmage podcast here.