It was honours even at Carrow Road in the first leg between Norwich and Leeds with a 0-0 draw leaving their play-off semi-final nicely in the balance heading to Elland Road.
Leeds are odds-on favourites to make home advantage count and see off David Wagner’s Canaries.
But, with a place at Wembley in the play-off final up for grabs, expect another tight and tense affair in West Yorkshire.
- THE DRAW
- GABRIEL SARA OVER 0.5 SHATOS ON TARGET
- OVER 3.5 NORWICH CORNERS
Canaries Can Leave Whites Feeling Blue
There was precious little between Norwich and Leeds in round one of this Championship play-off semi-final and round two might not be full of knockout blows, either.
There were just three shots on target over 90 tepid minutes at Carrow Road, with neither side wanting to take the risks that could have backfired and left a mountain to climb at Elland Road.
What the 0-0 draw did show us is that these are two teams who look out on their feet.
This will be the 54th match of a grueling campaign for both of these clubs and recently they have looked jaded.
Daniel Farke’s Leeds were all about free-flowing attacks and bags of goals, but they have scored one or less in six of their last seven matches. Norwich have failed to score in their last two.
For Leeds, Patrick Bamford is out and the likes of Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and Daniel James have run out of spark.
They would love to stretch this match and run Norwich ragged but probably lack the freshness to do so against a Canaries’ side who will seek to be as organised as they were at the weekend.
Super Sara To Test Keeper Meslier
There was only one Norwich shot on target at Carrow Road, which came courtesy of Gabriel Sara.
Norwich’s Brazilian forward has been outstanding for Wagner this season with 13 goals, eight coming in the last three months.
Sara averages 2.2 shots per game, second only to top scorer Josh Sargent, who is a doubt for this match after limping out of the first leg. Norwich will get chances if the game opens up and Sara is the man to test Ilan Meslier.
He’s 11/8 to have at least one shot on target which looks great value.
GABRIEL SARA OVER 0.5 SHOTS ON TARGET
Norwich Can Corner A Tasty Profit
There’s a real sense that Sunday was a sparring session between these two Championship heavyweights and that the gloves will come off on Thursday.
There ought to be more chances created and also more corners won than the combined eight these two mustered in Norfolk.
Norwich are averaging 5.3 corners this season and Leeds are conceding an average 4.5, so it’s entirely likely that City can chalk up at least four at Elland Road.
