Championship play-off: Leeds smoke after Norwich draw, Saints hold off West Brom

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Daniel Farke claimed Leeds were wrongly denied a crucial goal in their 0-0 draw against Norwich in the Championship play-off semi-finals, while West Bromwich Albion and Southampton also played out a goalless stalemate on Sunday.

Farke was left fuming when Leeds had the ball in the net on the half-hour mark through Junior Firpo, only for an offside flag to deny them a goal at Carrow Road.

TV replays suggested it was a close but fair call against Georginio Rutter in the build-up to Firpo’s finish.

But Leeds manager Farke, who led Norwich to the Premier League as boss in 2019 and 2021, insisted it was the wrong decision.

“I’m still quite annoyed with the offside situation,” he said.

“Someone told me that Sky showed a picture that they said was proof that he was offside. I recommend everyone to look at the researchers stream, where you have a fair line. It wasn’t offside.

“Because we play at the top level, the little details make the difference. Here it changes the whole picture.

“Everyone is talking about Wembley, the £100m game, and at that level all the decisions have to be right.”

VAR will be in place for the play-off final at Wembley, but is not used in other Championship matches.

“I’ve got 12 home letters of apology already this season, no offside goals and no penalties,” Farke said.

“If we had used VAR this season, we would not have been in the play-offs. We would have been automatically promoted.”

Third-placed Leeds finished the regular season with 90 points, 17 more than sixth-placed Norwich.

Farke’s side, who are bidding for a swift return to the Premier League after last season’s relegation, will be favored in the second leg in front of their vociferous fans at Elland Road on Thursday.

But Norwich boss David Wagner, who promoted Huddersfield to the Premier League via the 2017 play-offs, remains confident his side can reach the final.

“I’m absolutely fine with the performance and the change the players have made,” he said.

“I have a positive mindset after the draw. All the cards are still on the table and we will go again on Thursday.”

In Sunday’s other leg, Southampton earned a 0-0 draw at the Hawthorns, giving them the opportunity to finish the job in Friday’s second leg at St Mary’s.

Southampton are looking to return to the Premier League at the first attempt, while West Brom are looking to end their three-season hiatus from the top flight.

Both teams had chances as West Brom goalkeeper Alex Palmer denied Flynn Downes when one-on-one.

Southampton’s Alex McCarthy made an equally crucial save at the other end to keep out Grady Diangana’s header before the break.

McCarthy again saved from Diangana in the second half and Palmer made a stunning reaction with his feet to turn Ross Stewart’s effort to safety.