How do Norwich City win the second leg against Leeds United?

Some will back an attack first policy, others will favoured a more cautious approach but it will be David Wagner’s opinion that matters most. 

After a goalless first leg at Carrow Road on Sunday, it is all to play for at Elland Road on Thursday. But how should City approach it?

That was a topic of conversation discussed in the latest Pink Un podcast - brought you in association with Colman’s of Norwich. 

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PD: I think Norwich have a great chance, I really do. They're not going to a Leeds who are absolutely flying and putting away allcomers. They're going to a Leeds who have stumbled at the end of the season and missed out on following Leicester out of that division via the top two. They may look at it as not getting beat [at Carrow Road] and taking it back to Elland Road, it's advantage Leeds. That may still be the case, but David Wagner was talking about Norwich being underdogs before a ball was being kicked and that is still the case, but the expectancy is firmly on Leeds' shoulders now. There was a telling quote from David post-match where he said, 'every second that passes at Elland Road on Thursday, and they're still in the tie, is in Norwich's favour'. I can see where he's coming from because I think that crowd would turn. If Norwich can stay in their game or get their noses in front, let's see how a young Leeds team react. They've not been in that situation, whereas a lot of Norwich's players and their head coach certainly has. That experience could tip this now, with one caveat: the fitness situation of Sargent and Barnes. If you have to go to Elland Road with neither of those players, then disregard everything I've said because I don't see what options would come in to give them something at the top end of the pitch. It would be a backs-against-the-walls job, and with the attacking armoury they have got - they're bringing on players like Joel Piroe and Dan James - it underlines that they cannot go to Leeds and try to play for penalties. I don't think it's feasible to do that. 

CS: Adam, as much as we talk about the frustration element of Norwich's approach and soaking up periods of pressure at Elland Road, it's important they have an outlet like they did against Ipswich at Carrow Road. Especially given their are vulnerabilities in that Leeds defence - it feels like that is where they're going to make their moments matter. 

AH: If you look at some of the gritty wins that they've got on the road, even though it's been tough on the road, they were under the cosh at Hull for 90 minutes really. It was on the counter with Jon Rowe producing a bit of magic to pick the ball up on halfway and find the bottom corner. Then, as Hull were putting on the pressure hoping to get an equaliser, they struck the second through Christian Fassnacht and that was enough to secure a really big three points. Looking back now, that is the three points that has got them into the play-offs. For me, they have to replicate that - frustrate the home crowd and if they want to let Leeds have the ball and try to pile the pressure on, they can't do that for 90 minutes, but they can for large periods as long as they defend well and are clinical at the other end. That has been the fine margins in the big games. I think about the Preston game when Gabriel Sara produced the little moment of quality to decide the game. Set pieces could be an avenue to success as well. It was cagey on Sunday and it will be again at Elland Road, that's one thing they have in their locker - Gabriel Sara, Borja Sainz, Josh Sargent and Jon Rowe. If it requires one moment of magic, those are the players you want to provide it. Hopefully Norwich can utilise that on Thursday and it will go their way. 

Gabriel Sara is capable of magic in the big moments. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

CS: How much does the away record come into it? It's been debated throughout the season and quite how bad that's been. Norwich have been better against teams in the top seven. But how relevant those types of statistics? 

SS: They are less relevant against Leeds because, on the pitch, things don't change as much if they were lower in the table. The main problem away from home this season was that Norwich were setting up tactically different away from home. Against teams that they should be beating and should be proactive against, they weren't doing that at times. That is what was so frustrating to see them draw to Blackburn, QPR or struggle against teams in the bottom half of the table that should have been easier if they took the game to them. Norwich were the home side [in the first leg] but you took that game and dropped into another stadium, you wouldn't be surprised by the set-up. It's hard to criticise Wagner for that because there is no way he is going to be expansive, attacking and extremely proactive football in a play off semi final against Leeds. For me, it makes less difference in this game than it would in a game where Norwich were the favourites. The intangible aspects around the game could actually tip in Norwich’s favour. 

- The full podcast is available to watch on YouTube or listen to via your preferred podcast player