EFL Championship semifinals: Norwich-Leeds, West Brom-Southampton end in 0-0 draw in first leg

Norwich vs Leeds, Championship playoff: The Canaries, who failed to score at home for the first time since December, will visit Leeds for the second leg on Thursday.

File Photo: Leeds’ Junior Firpo (left) found the net on the half-hour mark but Georginio Rutter was offside during the build-up, causing the goal to be ruled out for the visiting side. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Norwich City and Leeds United played out a goalless draw in the first leg of their EFL Championship play-offs semifinal tie on Sunday.

Norwich, which failed to score at home for the first time since December, will visit Leeds for the second leg on Thursday.

“It was a tough game. I think the first legs in these games are always a bit cagey,” Norwich midfielder Kenny McLean told Sky Sports. “Obviously a bad game for both teams... the second leg, we’ve got a lot to look forward to.”

Leeds appealed for a penalty in the seventh minute when Wilfried Gnonto went down after contact with Borja Sainz on the edge of the penalty area but the referee disagreed.

Junior Firpo found the net on the half-hour mark but Georginio Rutter was offside during the build-up, causing the goal to be ruled out for the visiting side.

The host side almost broke through in the 53rd minute when a cross from the left reached Gabriel Sara inside the box but his left-footed attempt went just wide.

Norwich keeper Angus Gunn’s save at the near post denied Crysencio Summerville before the hour mark and Jack Stacey blocked Archie Gray’s left-foot shot from inside the box in the 81st minute to prevent a late Leeds strike.

West Brom and Southampton play out goalless stalemate

West Bromwich Albion and Southampton played out a goalless draw in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final on Sunday, the second 0-0 result of the day after Norwich held Leeds in the other semifinal tie.

Tom Fellows delivered a cross from the right into the Southampton box that was headed down by Grady Diangana in the 33rd minute, but keeper Alex McCarthy kept it out with a quick dive to the right.

West Brom came close again at the hour mark with Mikey Johnston’s cross reaching Darnell Furlong whose hurried attempt from close range missed the near post by inches.

Diangana had another chance to score in the 78th minute but ended up playing the ball straight at the keeper. Southampton will host West Brom in the second leg on Friday.