Norwich fans confident the Canaries could still make it to the Premier League

Norwich travel to Elland Road on Thursday for the deciding fixture

Leeds United's Ilia Gruev (left) and Norwich City's Gabriel Sara battle for the ball during the Sky Bet Championship match at Elland Road, Leeds. (Wednesday January 24, 2024)
Author: Tom ClabonPublished 13th May 2024

Norwich fans tell us they're confident they can still make it to the play-off finals at Wembley.

It's after the Canaries drew the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final against Leeds 0-0 at Carrow Road yesterday.

"We need to give them something to worry about"

Rob Sainty is the chair of the club's official supporters group: "I really hope that David Wagner doesn't set up defensively on Thursday for 90 minutes.

"It's going to be a cauldron in Leeds, they'll be coming at us and I don't think we hold them off, completely. We need to give them something to worry about."

Chris Newby supports the club and now lives in Portugal: "I certainly think we do have what it takes to make it to Wembley.

"It's going to be a tough task on Thursday and it would have been nice to be able to take an advantage to Elland Road, but if we keep playing to our strengths, we can certainly do it.

"It is still 0-0 after all."

What happened in the game?

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.

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.

What happens next?

Norwich travel to Elland Road on Thursday for the return and deciding fixture.

Kick-off is at 8pm.

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