Leeds United: Leeds play out goalless draw at Norwich
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00:00 Well, Lee, it was a bit of a ball fest.
00:04 Leeds, first leg of the semi-final against Norwich City.
00:09 Obviously, Leeds are still in the tie.
00:12 I think that's the main thing to talk about.
00:14 It was a goalless draw.
00:16 Neither side were brilliant at their perhaps flowing best,
00:19 but I think it's fair to say Leeds were slightly more organised.
00:22 They looked as if they'd turned a corner performance-wise,
00:25 given some of the results and performances they put out in recent weeks.
00:28 So, despite the boring nature on an attacking sense,
00:33 was it slightly more encouraging from a Leeds perspective?
00:36 I think so, yeah. The bar was set pretty low,
00:38 you've got to say, based on recent performances,
00:40 which have been nowhere near what they were like earlier on in the season,
00:42 when they went on the long run and everything,
00:44 which had it very much looking like they were heading towards the automatic promotion.
00:47 That obviously wasn't the case.
00:48 But yeah, I think it was slightly more encouraging, let's say.
00:51 And ultimately, they are not just still in the tie.
00:55 They have to be seen very much as favourites now for the tie.
00:58 But we'll come to that a bit later.
01:00 But we said beforehand, after shipping in goals left, right and centre and whatnot,
01:04 the first thing there, first and foremost,
01:06 even though Leeds went there as favourites,
01:08 was just to make sure that you stay in the tie,
01:10 especially early on, and make sure that you're still in the tie,
01:13 going back to Ellen Road.
01:14 And obviously, there was no goals, it was a goalless draw,
01:17 and not the most entertaining game you'll ever see.
01:20 But first and foremost, it looks a lot more solid at the back, which is good.
01:23 It's probably no surprise with a bit of a change in shape,
01:26 obviously a three-man midfield.
01:28 I didn't know what to think really going into the game.
01:30 And I've got to say, when I saw the team sheet and the sort of new look midfield,
01:33 that it sort of raised my confidence a little bit,
01:35 because I've seen Archie play at number 10 a few times,
01:38 and he does have a lot of potential, I think, to play in that position.
01:40 He's definitely got good attacking qualities in his armoury,
01:44 as well as defensive ones.
01:45 But it's fair to say he didn't have his best game.
01:48 He really struggled to get involved.
01:49 But overall, it did make Leeds harder to break down, really.
01:53 I mean, the only thing is, is that maybe by doing that,
01:55 did they lose a little bit in the final third, so to speak.
01:58 And obviously, we didn't have Patrick Bamford.
02:01 So we had Routier going up through the middle.
02:03 It was a disappointing game from Routier, really.
02:05 You really want him to step up and be not just him,
02:07 but be one of the ones to really step up and shine now.
02:09 And hopefully he can do that on Thursday evening.
02:11 But he never got going, really.
02:12 And, you know, just very, very few chances, really.
02:15 I mean, what was it, two shots on target for Leeds and one for Norwich?
02:17 And we're struggling to even remember what they were, really.
02:19 And seven for them, shots, six for Leeds, and 60-40% possession for Leeds.
02:25 But, yeah, goal was strong.
02:26 It looked to be heading that way from a long way out.
02:28 What you would say is, is that Leeds are probably,
02:30 well, they certainly are unlucky, really,
02:32 not to be heading back to Ellen Road with some sort of lead.
02:36 The Nantes challenge, when I saw that straight away, I thought penalty.
02:39 When you watch it back, it's one of them.
02:41 It does sort of start on the outside of the area,
02:43 but sort of like continues into the box.
02:45 I mean, that could definitely have easily been given.
02:47 And then the other one, the Firpo goal where Routier was offside.
02:49 I mean, I was sort of like a bit bemused watching that back,
02:52 because I thought straight away watching it back,
02:53 but why is he offside? Because he looked like he was being played on by the left-back.
02:56 But anyway, Daniel Farker wasn't happy about those, obviously,
02:59 and sort of said afterwards that, you know,
03:01 if it wasn't for those decisions, if you had VAR and whatnot,
03:03 that Leeds would already be automatically promoted.
03:05 But obviously, they're not.
03:07 It's been sort of suggested that if they get to the Wembley final,
03:10 which is the case, then they will have VAR enforced there.
03:13 So there'll be no complaints on that score.
03:15 But first and foremost, they've got to get there, haven't they?
03:17 And you've got to say it does look like they've laid the platform to get there.
03:21 We will come on to that in a minute.
03:22 They are definitely not there yet.
03:23 Absolutely no way.
03:25 But I think a lot of fans did sort of fear going to Norwich,
03:28 especially the way things have gone recently,
03:30 and, you know, maybe falling 2-0 down after half an hour or something,
03:34 and heading back to Ellen Road on the back of like a 2-0 defeat,
03:37 or even worse or something.
03:38 And then it's a massive uphill task.
03:41 And, you know, it's basically a one-off game now, isn't it?
03:43 And you've got to say earlier on in the season,
03:45 the way Leeds were going at home, if Leeds had, you know,
03:47 one game at home to get into the playoff final,
03:49 you definitely would have taken that.
03:51 You probably would have taken that at the start of the season,
03:54 I think, in terms of, you know, that very first month
03:56 when there was so many people leaving on loan exit clauses and stuff.
03:59 I'm pretty sure if you asked Daniel Farker and said, you know,
04:01 would you have taken that, you know,
04:03 win one game at home against Norwich,
04:06 you obviously respect Norwich a lot to get in the playoff final.
04:08 I think you probably would have taken that.
04:09 And that's the situation they've got.
04:11 So, yeah, you know, a slight improvement,
04:13 but I mean, let's not wax lyrical about it because it wasn't brilliant.
04:16 Neither side were brilliant, really.
04:19 But, yeah, nil-nil, definitely slight improvements from a defensive aspect,
04:23 but obviously they need to sort of refine that attacking vigour now.
04:26 And let's hope that's the case in the second leg.
04:29 Very much so, yes.
04:30 I think having watched the game myself,
04:33 Leeds, as you say, the two goal opportunities or penalty decisions,
04:39 yeah, I think the one on Nantes, it's one of those where I think
04:42 if it was in the Premier League under VAR restrictions,
04:46 if it's given, it stays given.
04:48 If it's not given, it probably doesn't get overturned.
04:50 It's one of those where it could really go either way.