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- Norwich and Leeds fought out a tense, cagey goalless draw
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Leeds United took a tentative first step to ending their play-off curse as they withstood some rough Norwich treatment to put themselves in good shape in their Championship semi-final.
The Yorkshire giants have been unsuccessful in all five of their previous play-off campaigns but will now be favourites to reach Wembley when the second leg is played at Elland Road on Thursday.
In a nervy noon contest at Carrow Road, the two heavyweights mustered just one serious shot on target apiece.
Leeds attackers Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville were snuffed out by a series of strong, and sometimes illegal, challenges that saw three Canaries players booked.
The closest the visitors came to a breakthrough arrived when Junior Firpo’s first-half strike was ruled out by a tight offside.
Leeds and Norwich cancelled each other out in a hard-fought first leg at Carrow Road
Leeds had ended the regular season by winning just one in six though they had done the double over Norwich earlier in the campaign.
They recalled teenager Archie Gray while Canaries defender Shane Duffy was selected to start despite being charged with drink driving earlier in the week.
There was attention on the clubs’ German managers who both have previous experience of taking teams into the Premier League.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke won two promotions in his four years in charge at Norwich whilst Jurgen Klopp’s best friend David Wagner – who classifies himself as a compatriot despite playing international football for the USA – was successful at Huddersfield.
Norwich had finished 17 points behind their visitors in the final Championship table but felt momentum was on their side.
Norwich and Leeds fought out a tense, cagey goalless draw on Saturday aftenooon
A panicky header from United defender Sam Byram that didn’t reach his goalkeeper Illan Meslier raised the volume early on and Meslier’s dodgy kicking remained a theme throughout.
Gnonto was always involved and felt he should have had an early penalty when he was tugged in the box by Gabriel Sara.
The 20-year-old Italian international had a running battle with referee Josh Smith, feeling he wasn’t given enough protection. When the winger reacted to a foul being given against him, the official brandished a yellow card.
Despite being at home, Norwich preferred to play on the counter and might have been relieved after half-an-hour when Gnonto fed Georgino Rutter.
Angus Gunn came out to smother and when the ball ran loose, Firpo tapped in. Celebrations were cut short however by an assistant’s flag waved for offside against Rutter.
Replays suggested it was tight but without technology being used in The Championship until the final at Wembley, there was nothing Leeds could do.
Duffy was cautioned for a crude late challenge into the back of Championship Player of the year Crysencio Summerville. Dimitris Giannoulis followed him into the book for scything down Gnonto.
The diminutive forward was in the wars and also needed treatment after being accidentally caught on the temple by the boot of a falling Borja Sainz.
Neither goalkeeper was overworked. Meslier got down low to stop Gabriel Sara’s free-kick and Gunn narrowed his angles to save at the near post from Summerville.
With the heat having an effect on energy levels, it appeared both sides were prepared to keep in the tie and see what occurs at Elland Road.
