Leeds United could see sentimental Farke calls and Elland Road play-off first vs Norwich

Elland Road is the major factor in this Championship play-off semi-final second leg. Leeds United and Norwich City could not be separated on Sunday, but if home advantage pans out as it should, the Whites hold all of the cards tonight.

The atmosphere should be crackling with electricity, expectation and hope. How will it react to the events of the evening, though? Anyone with memories of 2019 will remember the life being sucked out of the stadium by Jack Marriott’s equaliser and almost a sixth sense it would implode from there.

On the flip side of that, just this season, there was a home atmosphere which many fans have said was the best they can remember. The feral explosion of the comeback win against Leicester City will never be forgotten.

READ MORE: Leeds United line-up vs Norwich City as Rutter is dropped and youth is trusted in Wembley decider

The stadium willed that victory into existence and everyone must be hoping for a similar night.

Elland Road farewells?

Win or lose, tonight will be the last time some of United’s players feature in white at Elland Road. The match takes priority and Farke will make decisions which ensure Leeds win the game, but if the result is certain with some time left to play, the manager may be tempted to give some players their last appearance in LS11.

Liam Cooper, Sam Byram and Jamie Shackleton will see their current contracts expire this summer. Unless new terms are offered, this will be a final home game with Leeds for them. While Byram has played enough to suggest Farke may look to keep him, it would be a major surprise if this was not a last chance for Cooper and Shackleton.

Loan stays for Joe Rodon, Jaidon Anthony and Connor Roberts will also end this summer. Unless fresh deals can be agreed with their clubs, this will be their farewell lap of Elland Road as Leeds players.

Contracts aside, there will surely be some players sold this summer, with or without promotion. In the Premier League, Farke will need to strengthen what he has and let his weaker options depart, while another Championship campaign surely means his best players are hunted by wealthier suitors.

Changes from Sunday?

The biggest debate in the line-up seems to be what Farke does with the tip of his attack. Georginio Rutter extended his underwhelming streak, but does the manager turn to Joel Piroe or Mateo Joseph instead?

Behind him, Archie Gray was a surprise inclusion in the first leg. Will he retain his place? And what of Connor Roberts or Daniel James? Are they remotely sharp enough to push for starts tonight?

A play-off semi first?

You will likely have been reminded enough over the past week about how poor United’s play-off record is. They have been in the second and third-tier lotteries on five occasions and never been promoted.

Of the five games played at Elland Road, there has been one win, in the second leg of the 1987 Second Division final, but, as yet, no home victories in the semi-finals. There was a draw with Preston North End in 2006, a loss to Carlisle United in 2008, a draw with Millwall in 2009 and a loss to Derby County in 2019.

Will tonight end that winless streak?

Avoiding a second-half slump?

One way to see Elland Road begin to fret is by surrendering possession and territory to visitors for 20 minutes. While Norwich did not do much with it, there was a bizarre phase of the January clash which saw Leeds back off the Canaries and allow them the ball virtually unchallenged for the third quarter of the match.

Confidence had seemingly drained from Leeds and they looked entirely unable to either press Norwich, tackle them or string a pass together when they regained possession. They were defensively solid and did not concede any key chances, but it was unsettling to watch.

Leeds need to avoid something similar tonight.