Chris Sutton: Norwich City no must show no fear in play-offs

With the first game against Leeds being at Carrow Road, they have got to come out quickly, flex their muscles and not be fearful. They cannot be cautious or tentative in their approach. 

If Norwich can get themselves in front, that's a perfect scenario. There can be no room for submission or the type of approach that we have seen under David Wagner at points this season. 

There is a psychological aspect to the game with Leeds' position after missing out on automatic promotion. They cannot let them grow in confidence.

Norwich cannot show fear, nor should they. It's not a team of kids that they have; it's an experienced group, and that should be something to utilise. They have to show bravery. That has to happen at home, especially. 

They should be going into this tie feeling bullish. They've got a goalscorer in Josh Sargent, quality in Gabriel Sara, Borja Sainz adds an extra dimension, Jonny Rowe is coming back and Kenny McLean is a real leader. There should be absolute confidence in that dressing room. 

Leeds will try to be expansive, but Norwich needs to be brave and try to exploit them. We cannot have two legs of the same approach deployed away at Leicester. This isn't a time to shirk; it's about stepping up and being brave. Everyone knows what is at stake—go and play. 

There is a greater pressure on Leeds. I used to love playing at Elland Road because of its atmosphere, but that can have a detrimental effect on players because they will be nervous after what's happened at the back end of this season. 

If Norwich can take a lead into the second leg, I think the Leeds fanbase could turn and be edgy. If I was in the dressing room as a City player, I'd be really fancying this one. What an opportunity. 

It's an added opportunity that it's Daniel Farke. Yes, he's well-liked and respected in Norfolk, but you still want to put him away - especially after two defeats in the regular campaign. 

Leeds have a vulnerability. Norwich can go into it knowing this is a team that has been flaky and they have to prey on that. They got walloped by QPR, Middlesbrough put three past them Blackburn nicked a win at Elland Road, Coventry beat them, Sunderland got a point against them.

Why can't Norwich? That is what they should be saying: 'Why not us? Why not now?'. 

Farke will be really concerned about their drop off in performances. I'm not sure it's going to be that easy to lift them back up. If you're a Leeds player, you're not going into this game with a spring in your step. 

When the going has got tough and competitive at the end of the season, they've fallen away and lost their nerve a bit. That is something that Norwich should be trying to use to their benefit in the play-offs. 

I even think that Leeds beating Norwich twice this season may not be a bad thing. If I were a player in that dressing room, I'd be thinking that it's about time we beat them'. They are capable of doing so. 

The wide areas will be a key battleground. It will be Jack Stacey versus Crysencio Summerville and Sam McCallum or Dimi Giannoulis against Willy Gnoto. Norwich have to win those battles if they want to come through the two legs. 

These games are about holding your nerve and big moments - that is what Norwich have to do throughout the play-offs. 

It's good that Norwich have qualified for the play-offs. But now the objective is to get promotion. I'm not someone who thinks now they've made the top six, everything is okay. It's about going up. That has to be the aim. 

I make Southampton favourites for the play-offs. I look at their squad and feel it's the strongest. If Leeds do click, they could be devastating. Norwich have their own threats. West Brom have shown a real consistency. 

Gabriel Sara could be a key weapon for Norwich City in the play-offs. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Nobody thinks this is going to be easy. I don't think it's a bad time for Norwich to play Leeds—there are going to be doubts in their minds. Whilst they are favourites, it wouldn't surprise me if City got over the line against them. 

I've played in many two-legged ties—balance is the key to getting through them. It's vitally important to play with confidence, and these games are always defined by moments. Norwich have players capable of producing them. 

What a great opportunity for Norwich. They weren't getting into the play-offs before Christmas. They've now got a real chance - but it's about whether the players are courageous enough. 

After everything that has happened this season—the difficulties Wagner has had, the frustrations, and the poor runs of form—it would be a fantastic ending to an amazing turnaround story. 

But it'll only happen if they show no fear and play with courage. That has to be the message from Wagner to his squad of players ahead of this tie. 

Ipswich Town secured their promotion to the Premier League over the weekend. (Image: PA Images)

SUTTON EXTRA

As much as we in Norfolk don't really like them, we should give praise to Ipswich Town for their promotion to the Premier League. 

Kieran McKenna has done a marvellous job. To compete with those teams with parachute payments and who dropped out of the Premier League with quality players and deep pockets is an incredible story. 

The thing I like about it, and it's a bit like what Paul Lambert achieved at Norwich, is that the players who have predominantly played for them this season did so regularly in League One as well. 

He made the odd tweak with decent loan signings in Omari Hutchinson and Kieffer Moore, but they've done it with players like Sam Morsy, Conor Chaplin, Leif Davis, Cameron Burgess, and Luke Woolfenden who got them out of League One. 

That is a testament to the quality of McKenna's coaching. Their biggest challenge will be keeping hold of him because he will be sought after, and rightly so. 

They are Norwich's neighbours, but you can still show respect and admiration for the job that they have done. Nobody saw them bouncing up again, just as nobody saw Norwich doing it back in the day. It's a very special job McKenna has done. 

The way Ipswich have played, how expansive and are well-coached they are is remarkable. 

We all know Norwich have had the Indian sign over them for a long time now, but that aside, it's a phenomenal thing that they've done, and they deserve praise for what they've achieved - even if it's begrudgingly. 

The fans will enjoy it and be excited to go into the Premier League but, as neighbours, we know all too well that the last two top-flight seasons for Norwich have been thoroughly miserable. It's so hard to get it right up there. 

It's possible—look at Brentford and Bournemouth—but it will take money and good recruitment. Will Ipswich drastically change their squad? Their approach to it will be fascinating. The Premier League can be brutal, as Norwich know all too well. 

Credit to them for getting there. It is a remarkable achievement to get out of League One and into the Premier League within a season.