Norwich v Leeds United 12th May 2024 - Carrow Road, Norwich

2023/24 EFL Championship Play Off - First Leg

Before I start my blog, I want to wish the Leeds fan who was attacked after the game today, a speedy recovery. According to his son “We came out of Carrow Road after the game to Chants of Turks with knives and Galatasary.. whilst asking the lads why it was said my dad was slashed in the neck with a blade and hit by a full can…” An horrendous and cowardly attack that has no place at football games. Two have been arrested in connection with this and they are looking for a third. After the carnival atmosphere at the start of the game, this was the last place I’d have expected anything like this to happen. The best way for “revenge” is for Leeds to beat them on the pitch on Thursday to get through to the final.

When I arrived at Elland Road at 4.30am this morning, it was so deserted, I was beginning to think I’d got the time of the coach at 5.15am wrong. I hadn’t and we had a good run down and luckily, I slept most of the way there and back. Spare a thought for some of our Cornwall whites who left home at 1am showing fantastic commitment to support our team. It already felt like the season was over and when speaking to someone outside the ground, he said it felt like a pre-season friendly. With it being a gloriously hot day that sounded good to me as it meant no pressure. Historically, we’ve never done well in the play offs, but it has to change one day. Whether that is this year only time will tell.

Team: Meslier, Ampadu, Rodon, Byram, Firpo, Gray, Rutter, Summerville, Gnonto, Gruev, Kamara

Subs: Piroe for Rutter (79), Anthony for Gnonto (70), James for Summerville (87)

Subs not used: Darlow, Cooper, Shackleton, Roberts, Joseph, Cresswell

Leeds drew the game 0-0

Attendance: 26,982 -1,959 Leeds fans

Referee: Josh Smith.

Booked: Gnonto

Leeds were attacking the goal in front of us in the first half. We had our hearts in our mouths a few times as we invited Norwich to attack us by playing deep and giving the ball away too easily. Farke had changed the formation of the team but it took a while before we settled into the game after misplaced passes before suddenly, we showed what we could do. With one touch passing, the ball ended up in the net courtesy of Firpo only to be disallowed for offside. It was a very tight decision by the linesman as when the ball was kicked Rutter was level with their defender on the far side, but he made a mockery of that in the second half when he wasn’t up with play twice and let Norwich play on.

The second offside was way off but not given. With Norwich getting so many free kicks given for fouls, the referee came under fire from the Leeds fans especially as he’d played on when Gnonto was brought down on the edge of the box. Leeds did win a free kick and Summerville’s shot was put out for a corner. Gnonto had a good strike which was blocked and although Norwich had looked dangerous a few times, we went in on level terms at half time. The second half saw chances limited for both teams, but it was good to see the Leeds players find some fighting spirit again as it has been missing as of late.

Keeping the scores level at full time means the second leg next Thursday gives us another chance to get to the final with another sell out crowd behind us.

See what happens then. LUFC – Marching on Together!