Norwich miss chance to build advantage after draw with Leeds in playoff

The consensus heading into this playoff semi-final first leg was that Norwich had to seize the initiative now. Unbeaten for 16 games on home soil prior to this and facing a youthful Leeds United that have appeared to be wilting in recent weeks, the expectation on David Wagner’s side was to earn a lead they could take to Elland Road next week.

If that school of thinking is correct – and it is so often a foolish game to predict the outcome of a two-legged tie – then the hosts should feel an opportunity missed from this competitive if largely industrial goalless draw.

Given that concerns briefly turned to an unthinkable relegation battle when they floundered in 17th back in November, it is remarkable that Norwich are even still playing football this late in May. So, too, for Leeds who would have expected to be watching these playoffs from a beachside bar after banking on automatic promotion that failed to materialise.

As it is, two games to book a place at Wembley have become one, and Leeds will fancy their chances in a second leg that will doubtless see them show greater attacking intent when it truly matters.

This was a game disappointingly short on chances. Indeed, only three shots were goalbound in an entire match largely played to Norwich’s tune, albeit they were frequently unable to puncture the Leeds defence. Not that the lack of action in front of goal prompted boredom.

Daniel Farke had spent much of the week fielding questions about Leeds’ dismal Football League playoff record that has failed to yield a single promotion in five attempts. He had, justifiably, suggested his young side are untainted by performances from bygone players and there were enough flickers of life from a side who will nonetheless be content to return to Elland Road with the scoreline level.

The visitors did, in fact, have the ball in the net in the first half through Junior Firpo, only for Georginio Rutter to be ruled offside in the buildup.

It was the kind of marginal call that required the benefit of slow-motion replays to determine. But with no VAR in the Championship – at least, until the playoff final at Wembley later this month – the assistant referee rolled the dice in raising his flag and was proven correct by the slimmest of margins.

For all the positivity generated as Norwich climbed the table over the second half of this season, questions have habitually been raised over Wagner’s tentative approach when taking on a fellow Premier League-chasing club.

To the pleasant surprise of the majority who descended on a sun-drenched Carrow Road, he selected the most attacking team at his disposal – the exciting Jonathan Rowe making his first start since January after a hamstring injury – and was rewarded with no shortage of intent from a side who finished 17 points behind their opponents. That deficit is greater than any overcome since four-team playoffs were introduced to the Championship.

Sam Byram was required to make an excellent last-ditch sliding tackle after Rowe unleashed Borja Sainz early in the second half, and Gabriel Sara dragged an effort wide soon after. The substitute Christian Fassnacht then spurned an opening when he failed to control a cross Josh Sargent had flicked on.

But the home side’s bluster never looked likely to yield much reward and both teams appeared to have set their sights on their next encounter some time before the final whistle.