Leeds take tentative first step — Mail 12/5/24
Leeds take tentative first step to finally ending their play-off hoodoo at the sixth time of asking - after securing a 0-0 draw with Norwich in the first leg of their Championship semi-final
Leeds held out vs Norwich to put themselves in control of
their play-off semi final
Norwich and Leeds fought out a tense, cagey goalless draw at
Carrow Road
By JOE BERNSTEIN
Leeds United took an encouraging first step to ending their
play-off curse but manager Daniel Farke was still raging after being denied an
all-important goal by an offside flag.
The Yorkshire giants have been unsuccessful in all five of
their previous play-off campaigns but will now be favourites to reach Wembley
with the second leg to come at Elland Road on Thursday.
However, in a noon snooze of few scoring opportunities Leeds
felt robbed that Junior Firpo’s goal after half-an-hour was ruled out for
offside given against Georgino Rutter.
It looked tight on television replays but Farke was
convinced his side had been short-changed after Rutter was thwarted by
goalkeeper Angus Gunn and Firpo rolled in the rebound.
‘I am still annoyed about the offside,’ said the
normally-placid Farke afterwards. ‘I recommend everyone should look at the
scouting feed with the proper line. It was definitely not offside.
‘Everyone speaks about the play-offs being worth £100million
or more. At this level the decisions have to be right. I expect myself to be
spot on, the officials have to be the same if they want to be in charge of such
a game.’
Without VAR being used in The Championship until the final,
there was little Leeds could do except curse their luck. Asked if he wanted
technology to be introduced for the semi-finals, Farke added: ‘I don’t ask for
it in case we go to Wembley. I believe in karma!
‘But if we’d have used VAR to make fair decisions through the season, we would be automatically promoted, not in the play-offs. I’ve had 12 letters of apology for offsides and penalties.’
The moment of controversy was out of a place with the rest
of a quiet afternoon in which both Championship heavyweights seemed content
going into the second leg all-square.
Norwich had finished 17 points behind Leeds in the final
regular season table and were twice beaten by Farke’s side. They didn’t
over-extend themselves pushing forward in the warm sunshine.
Ditto, Leeds. After a run of just one win in six, they stuck
an extra man in midfield and prioritised a clean sheet. ‘We wanted to be rock
solid,’ acknowledged Farke.
Each goalkeeper was tested just once. Illan Meslier got down
well to keep out a free-kick from Borja Sainz while Angus Gunn blocked well at
the near post from Championship player of the year Crysencio Summerville.
Star man Wilfried Gnonto was in the wars; claiming a penalty
when tugged by Gabriel Sara, wiped out by a late challenge from Dimitris
Giannoulis and accidentally caught on the temple by Sainz.
Daniel Farke was convinced his side had been short-changed
after Firpos's goal was ruled out
The 20-year-old Italian was booked for dissent and taken off
with 20 minutes left.
‘He had some bruises and you could sense Norwich wanted to
provoke him to get him a red card. I wanted to protect him. We need our
attacking players to be fresh for the second leg to work their magic,’ said the
Leeds boss.
Like Farke, who was twice promoted with Norwich, current
Canaries manager David Wagner knows what it takes to get up to the Premier
League, his success coming at Huddersfield.
Jurgen Klopp’s best pal cut a chilled figure afterwards.
‘There are no secrets between the teams. Maybe that is why we were both so
tactically organised,’ he said.
‘It doesn’t have to be an advantage to play the second leg
at home. There are great expectations. I am absolutely fine with what I’ve
seen.’
Norwich’s only scare was seeing centre-forward Josh Sargent
depart late on with an ankle injury though it’s hoped the USA international
will be fit for the return game.
Defender Shane Duffy also played despite being charged with
drink-driving earlier in the week.