Leeds take tentative first step to finally ending their play-off hoodoo at the sixth time of asking – after securing a 0-0 draw with Norwich in the first leg of their Championship semi-final

Leeds United took an encouraging first step towards ending their play-off curse, but manager Daniel Farke was still fuming after an offside flag denied him a very important goal.

The Yorkshire giants have been unsuccessful in their five previous play-off campaigns but will now be favorites to reach Wembley in the second leg at Elland Road on Thursday.

However, in a midday nap with few scoring opportunities, Leeds felt robbed as Junior Firpo’s goal after half an hour was disallowed for offside against Georgino Rutter.

It looked tight on television replays, but Farke was convinced his team had been let down after Rutter was thwarted by goalkeeper Angus Gunn and Firpo rolled in the rebound.

“I’m still upset about the offside,” the normally calm Farke said afterwards. ‘I recommend everyone watch the explore feed with the appropriate line. It definitely wasn’t offside.

“Everyone talks about the play-offs being worth £100m or more. At this level the decisions have to be right. I hope I get it right, the referees have to be the same if they want to be in charge of a match So.’

Without the use of VAR in the championship until the final, Leeds could do little except curse their luck. Asked if he wanted technology introduced for the semi-finals, Farke added: “I’m not asking for it in case we go to Wembley. I believe in karma!

“But if we had used VAR to make fair decisions throughout the season, we would be automatically promoted, not to the play-offs. I have received 12 letters of apology for offsides and penalties.”

The moment of controversy was out of place with the rest of a quiet afternoon in which both championship heavyweights seemed content to go into the second leg tied.

Norwich had finished 17 points behind Leeds in the final regular season table and were beaten twice by Farke’s team. They didn’t try too hard to move forward under the hot sun.

The same goes for Leeds. After a run of just one win in six, they put an extra man in midfield and prioritized a clean sheet. “We wanted to be rock solid,” Farke acknowledged.

Each goalkeeper was tested only once. Illan Meslier ducked well to avoid a Borja Sainz free kick, while Angus Gunn blocked well at the near post from Championship Player of the Year Crysencio Summerville.

Star man Wilfried Gnonto was at war; claiming a penalty when Gabriel Sara took it, wiped out by a late challenge from Dimitris Giannoulis and accidentally caught on the temple by Sainz.

The 20-year-old Italian was booked for dissent and sent off with 20 minutes remaining.

“He had some bruises and you could feel that Norwich wanted to provoke him to get a red card.” She wanted to protect him. “We need our attacking players to be fresh for the second leg to work their magic,” the Leeds boss said.

Like Farke, who was promoted twice with Norwich, current Canaries manager David Wagner knows what it takes to reach the Premier League, and his success came at Huddersfield.

Jurgen Klopp’s best friend cut a frozen figure afterwards. ‘There are no secrets between the teams. Maybe that’s why we were so tactically organized,” he stated.

‘There doesn’t have to be an advantage to play the second leg at home. There are high expectations. I’m absolutely fine with what I’ve seen.’

Norwich’s only scare was seeing centre-forward Josh Sargent leave late with an ankle injury, although the US international is expected to be fit for the second leg.

Defender Shane Duffy also played despite being charged with drink-driving earlier in the week.