Leeds vs Norwich LIVE: Championship play-off semi-final result and reaction as hosts run rampant
Leeds 4-0 Norwich: The hosts dominated from the off and now have a trip to Wembley to look forward to
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Your support makes all the difference.Leeds United are the first team to make it to Wembley after a dominant and brilliant display to defeat Norwich City in their Championship play-off semi-final second leg.
With home advantage, Leeds came out of the traps quickly, forcing Norwich to defend and pressing high up the pitch. They won a free kick just outside the box and Ilia Gruev curled it past Angus Gunn to open the scoring. Joel Piroe, returned to the starting XI for this one, then met a cross from Wilfried Gnonto and powered a header into the back of the net to double the lead.
In what was perhaps the turning point of the match, Ashley Barnes threaed Josh Sargent into space but his one-on-one with Illan Meslier was kept out by the goalkeeper.
Georginio Rutter added a third before the break and Crysencio Summerville put the icing on the cake with a second half tap-in to send the Whites to Wembley.
Relive the action below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
Leeds vs Nowich team changes
Leeds boss Daniel Farke makes just one change to his Leeds United team from Sunday. Sam Byrom drops out with Joel Piroe brought in. It’s an attacking move from the German.
Norwich manager David Wagner makes one change to the team that started the first leg. Borja Sainz is replaced by Ashley Barnes.
Leeds vs Norwich line-ups
Leeds XI: Meslier, Gray, Firpo, Rodon, Ampadu, Gruev, Kamara, Summerville, Gnonto, Georginio, Piroe
Norwich XI: Gunn, Stacey, Duffy, Gibson, Giannoulis, McLean, Nunez, Rowe, Sara, Barnes, Sargent
Norwich and Leeds deadlocked after cagey Championship play-off first leg
Norwich and Leeds shared a 0-0 first-leg stalemate at Carrow Road that left their Championship play-off semi-final evenly poised.
The clash was short on quality in the final third as neither goalkeeper were overworked, although Leeds had a goal ruled out before half-time.
The tie will be decided at Elland Road on Thursday night, with both sets of supporters hoping for a bit more magic.
Leeds had finished the regular season with 90 points, 17 more than sixth-placed Norwich, who had been down in 17th in November when many supporters wanted manager David Wagner sacked.
Norwich and Leeds deadlocked after cagey Championship play-off first leg
Norwich 0-0 Leeds: The two teams played out a lacklustre 90 minutes at Carrow Road
Wagner on Sargent
Norwich boss David Wagner also spoke about Josh Sargent, who went off late in the second half of the first leg with a knock. He said: “He was not able to carry on. He’s had some problems with his ankle, I haven’t spoken with him or the medical staff yet, but he’s a tough guy.
“I’m sure he will be ready for Thursday, which is a very, very big game. I really liked the occasion today, the atmosphere was fantastic.
“The players were able to keep their focus and concentration high against a team like this, with this quality, if you switch off for a second you will get punished.
“This never happened today, this is great to see. Unfortunately, we were not able to find the clear cut chances. The shift was fantastic.
“This play-off semi was never going to be decided in the first leg, it will be decided in the second leg. We’re in the race.”
‘It was an intense game’ says David Wagner
Norwich City head coach David Wagner says that it is only half-time in this tie and that either team can go on to win after the draw at Carrow Road.
“It was a very intense game. Quite even, I think. The guys have done fantastic, put in a proper shift,” Wagner said.
“Both teams neutralised each other, there were not a lot of clear cut chances. Half-time, 0-0 and still fully in the game. I’m absolutely satisfied with how the guys defended, how they worked their socks off.
“This means we keep going, we keep pushing. We recover and prepare for Thursday, a great occasion. This is exactly how I look on it, it’s half-time, 0-0.
“First two games of the regular season, we lost. First step we’ve done, kept a clean sheet and a draw. Now the next step is on Thursday.”
Farke reacts to first leg draw
Here’s a look at what the Leeds United boss had to say after the draw at Carrow Road:
Farke backs Leeds to shake off poor form
Leeds had been strong challengers for automatic promotion before losing four of their remaining six games and became the first Championship side since Sunderland in 1998 to finish on 90 points and not go straight up.
Farke insisted his players can recover their shaken confidence and that they had previously proven up to the challenge of “spotlight” matches throughout the season.
“We are not experienced, but I would not change one player,” the German said. “We have spoken about the the winning mentality that I think we have.
“It always felt during the whole season, when there is a special occasion, we were there. When there were spotlight games, we won two times against Leicester and we won two times against Ipswich.
“Yes, more consistency on other days would have been great, but with 90 points you can’t speak too much about lack of consistency.”
Daniel Farke reacts to first leg
“When you play a play-off semi-final with two legs, an away draw and especially also a clean sheet in a difficult ground here, it’s always a good and solid result,” said Leeds boss Daniel Farke said after the first leg on Sunday. “A good basement situation for the second leg at home, there’s no doubt about this.
“I’m happy with the performance and happy also with the result. Obviously, the last games in the regular season were not that great in terms of results and also we have conceded too many goals after many clean sheets during the season.
“We have a massive game up and coming on Thursday evening and it’s just half-time and we have to keep going.
“I think it will be a pretty, pretty impressive atmosphere on Thursday. But we also have to make sure that we are also not overexcited. So, to show a good mental strength in this moment will be also quite important.”
Tonight’s match officials
Australian Jarred Gillett will be the man in the middle of the second leg with Neil Davies and Nick Greenhalgh his assistant referees.
The fourth official will be Rebecca Welch.
What happened in the first leg?
It was a cagey contest at Carrow Road with neither side really creating any chances that could have swung the match.
Jonathan Rowe and Dimi Giannoulis carried a threat for Norwich running in behind the Leeds defence while Josh Sargent’s misjudged header was the closest the Canaries came to scoring before the break.
As the clock ticked on through the second half Leeds showed more initiative and Crysencio Summerville forced a save from Angus Gunn at his near post. The Scotland international was then called on again to collect Jaidon Anthony’s curling effort from the edge of the penalty area.
Here’s hoping for a more exciting game this evening.
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