LAST UPDATE | 12 May
Norwich City 0-0 Leeds United
NORWICH AND LEEDS shared a 0-0 first-leg stalemate at Carrow Road that left their Championship play-off semi-final evenly poised.
It was a clash that was short on quality in the final third as neither goalkeeper found himself 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.
Wagner survived and the man who took Huddersfield up via the play-offs in 2017 found himself pitted in the 2024 version against fellow German Daniel Farke, who had led Norwich to automatic promotion as Championship winners in 2019 and 2021.
Leeds won both of this season’s previous meetings, coming back from behind to triumph 3-2 at Carrow Road in October and then winning their home game 1-0 thanks to a goal from Patrick Bamford.
Bamford was out injured for this one, with Norwich defender Shane Duffy, who scored for both clubs in the first game, starting despite being charged with drink-driving earlier in the week.
It was a frantic start with Marcelino Nunez’s shot going out for a throw-in and Georginio Rutter missing his kick in front of goal at the other end.
Referee Josh Smith added to the raucous atmosphere for failing to award Leeds a penalty when Borja Sainz hauled Wilfried Gnonto to the ground right in front of the away section, possibly because he thought the Spaniard got a touch on the ball.
Gnonto saw a drive blocked before Josh Sargent glanced a header wide at the other end.
Norwich were on top as Gabriel Sara had a free-kick saved before Nunez was off-target again.
Junior Firpo had the ball in the Norwich net on the half-hour mark after Duffy poked it past his own goalkeeper, Angus Gunn, but Rutter had been flagged offside in the build-up.
The sapping sun saw the tempo slow, with Gnonto booked just before the break for some sarcastic clapping of a decision that went against him.
Duffy was cautioned early in the second period for a crude challenge on Crysencio Summerville, who had hardly been in the game, and Norwich’s best chance in a while followed when Dimi Giannoulis crossed for Sara to strike just wide with a first-time effort. Giannoulis was then booked for fouling Gnonto.
Firpo and Summerville tested Gunn at his near post but play stopped when Sainz caught Gnonto on the head with a boot.
Both sides made changes, including attacking ones, but no clear chances and therefore no goals followed.
West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Southampton
Later on Sunday, West Brom and Southampton also played out scoreless draw in the first leg of their semi-final at the Hawthorns.
Both teams had chances to win the game as Alex Palmer denied Flynn Downes when one-on-one while Alex McCarthy made an equally crucial save at the other end to keep out Grady Diangana’s header before the break.
The two goalkeepers also kept the game scoreless in the second period with McCarthy again denying Diangana while Palmer made a stunning reaction stop with his feet to turn substitute Ross Stewart’s effort to safety.
It leaves the tie wide open ahead of the second leg at St Mary’s Stadium on Friday as Southampton aim to return to the Premier League at the first attempt while the Baggies look to end their three-season hiatus from the top flight.
Saints spurned a glorious chance to take the lead after 20 minutes. Palmer kept out Downes’ shot when one-on-one after the midfielder exchanged passes with Joe Aribo down the left-hand side of the penalty area.
Southampton threatened again on the half-hour mark when Sekou Mara sent an overhead kick over the crossbar from 10 yards after West Brom failed to properly clear Will Smallbone’s corner from the left.
The home side’s best chance of the first half saw McCarthy make a save low down to deny Diangana at the back post after the Baggies forward rose highest to meet Darnell Furlong’s cross.
West Brom captain Kyle Bartley then made an excellent block to deflect Aribo’s shot away from goal after Downes drove with the ball to the edge of the penalty aera.
The home side almost broke the deadlock just past the hour mark when Michael Johnston delivered a cross from the left to the back post and Furlong poked a volley inches wide with McCarthy rooted to the spot.
Albion came forward again soon after as Saints defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis received a yellow card for a foul on Okay Yokuslu as he looked to burst into the box only for Alex Mowatt to send the resulting free-kick from 25-yards out over the bar.
The hosts’ best chance of the half once again fell to Diangana with McCarthy equal to the forward’s shot from 15 yards after a superb run and cutback down the right by Tom Fellows.
Saints broke immediately as substitute Stewart cut in from the left and saw his shot deflect off Bartley only for Palmer to readjust his body superbly and somehow keep the ball out with his feet.
West Brom saw a late penalty appeal following a challenge by Ryan Fraser on Diangana fall on deaf ears and neither side were able to find a winner in six minutes of added time.
