All season Leeds have been considered one of the favourites to make the immediate return to the Premier League, but that they go into Sunday’s play-off semi-final first leg with Norwich so unsure of their fate says a lot about their recent form.
There should be confidence in the Leeds camp against Norwich having already beaten the Canaries twice this season, but David Wagner’s side will know that it won’t take much to inflict more misery on the Peacocks after a run of four defeats in six.
We’ve taken a closer look at the game and picked out a few tips and predictions.
Norwich vs Leeds Match Preview
Both sides head into the play-offs in poor form, but it is Leeds who have most to lose having seen automatic promotion slip through their fingers in the last few weeks.
Having gone top of the Championship in the last international break, it all appeared to be in Leeds’ hands given their remarkable run of form but a total collapse of form and confidence saw them pick up just two wins in their last eight matches and condemn them to another play-off run.
The play-offs don’t hold many fond memories for Leeds fans, with 2019 still a sore memory for fans along with 2009, 2008 and 2006 and will go into this year’s matches with players such as Georginio Rutter, Joel Piroe, Ethan Ampadu and Illan Meslier woefully out of form, and Patrick Bamford injured.
Such was their drop off in form that they have been displaced as favourites for the play-offs by Southampton, but people still fancy them to come out on top against Norwich over two legs.
Daniel Farke’s side did the double over his former club in the league this season and although Leeds finished the season poorly, Norwich were hardly much better with just one win in their last five.
Expect it to be a fairly nervy affair between two sides looking for some encouragement, but there are plenty of high quality players on display so a moment of brilliance on either side could prove crucial over the course of the two legs.
Norwich vs Leeds Tips
This could be a cagey affair. Yes there are players on both sides capable of winning the game, but with it being over two legs and with neither side going into the first leg full of confidence, we think this could finish level after the first 90 minutes.
Leeds would probably take that result as it would set them up very well for the return leg at Elland Road where they have been so dominant this season, but will Leeds fans be happy with a more pragmatic approach from Farke?
But while we think it will be a very close game with barely anything to separate the two sides, we are backing one of those creative players to have their say at some point over the game.
Crysencio Summerville was crowned the Championship player of the season but his form has tailed off slightly towards the end of the season, but he will need to step up with his team in need.
The winger actually scored twice at Carrow Road earlier in the season and we think he will be on target again, but Leeds’ recent defensive troubles are also expected to continue.
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