DANIEL FARKE will be the happier manager with Leeds taking his former club Norwich back to Elland Road honours even.
This Championship play-off semi-final started at a frantic pace with the Canaries largely dominating but Leeds took the sting out of the game and comfortably held their opponents at arm’s length.
And Leeds controversially had a Junior Firpo goal ruled out offside.
Many thought this was Norwich’s best chance of getting a result against Leeds – going into the game unbeaten at home in 16 matches.
But with one of the league’s worst away records, Leeds are now favourites to get the job done at Elland Road on Thursday night.
Norwich came out like an express train.
Marcelino Nunez almost nipped in ahead of Illan Meslier after a clever pass from Shane Duffy but the Leeds keeper won the foot race.
Leeds were appealing for a penalty when Wilfried Gnonto went down under a challenge of Borja Sainz – but ref Josh Smith waved them away.
Gnonto laid a great ball on a plate for Georginio Rutter but he took an air kick at it and the danger was cleared.
Norwich went close when Jack Stacey sped away down the right and Josh Sargent failed to get decent contact on his inch-perfect cross.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Nunez fired a speculative effort from the edge of the box that flashed wide.
And when Gnonto charged forward at the Norwich defence, Nunez produced a superb last-ditch tackle.
Leeds thought they had moved into a 30th-minute lead when Duffy’s poor back pass was pounced upon by Firpo, who rolled the ball home.
Yet the assistant had his flag up.
TV replays clearly showed that Rutter, who was initially flagged offside in the lead up, was in fact onside.
Stacey was having a fantastic game on the right for the Canaries. He was a constant threat going forward and also pressing Leeds to thwart them building attacks.
But the visitors started to dominate possession as the sweltering conditions started to take its toll on the hosts who had come out all guns blazing.
Gnonto was booked for sarcastically clapping the ref and, after the break, he had to walk a tightrope.
Duffy went into the book after going through the back of Crysencio Summerville.
Kenny McLean laid a beautiful pull back for Gabriel Sara, who drove inches wide of the left post.
Summerville managed to find space on the left edge of the Norwich box and he saw an angled effort kept out by Angus Gunn.
Sam Byram then air-kicked from 16 yards when he was set up by Archie Gray.
Gnonto needed lengthy treatment to dress a head wound after being caught by Sainz in a 50-50. There was nothing malicious in it so the Norwich ace avoided a yellow card.
Christin Fassnacht missed a great chance for Norwich after Sargent glanced the ball into his path.
The Canaries ace failed to make any contact as the ball bounced in front of him.
David Wagner was dealt a blow with eight minutes left when Sargent hobbled off and on came Sydney Van Hooijdonk – son of ex-Nottingham Forest and Celtic star Pierre.
Farke replaced Summerville for Dan James, who is back after an injury lay-off.
And the game petered out and it is now off to Elland Road.
