Adrian Clarke has predicted the winner of Leeds United vs Norwich City in the Championship playoff semi-finals.
Leeds endured a rocky end to the season and ultimately saw their automatic promotion hopes slashed, resigning them to a playoff campaign.
They’re up against sixth-placed Norwich across two legs and Clarke has made his prediction ahead of Sunday’s clash.
Adrian Clarke thinks it will be cagey
Speaking on the ‘What the EFL?!’ podcast, Clarke favoured Norwich at Carrow Road, with David Wagner’s side unbeaten there since November, but isn’t convinced about their away form.
“I wouldn’t fancy Norwich to win the second leg,” he said.
“Their away record is pretty poor anyway. They didn’t put up much of a fight at Birmingham on the last day.
“And they’ve lost a lot of matches to some pretty average teams away from Carrow Road this season.
“So yes I think for Norwich to stand any chance of getting to Wembley they need to win and they’ve got a chance of winning, there’s no doubt about that.”
Clarke believes Norwich have the attacking firepower to cause Leeds problems.
“As you said, great home form, good forward players, obviously Josh Sargeant is a real handful.
“Sara has got that ability to produce game-changing moments and Leeds are certainly on their knees a little bit form-wise.”
He added that Leeds’ final-day defeat to Southampton is a worry.
“So it’s a worry really that they lost meekly at home to Southampton in the way they did.
“So I’d almost make Norwich favourites for the first leg but over the two I’d still just about side with Leeds United.
“Wouldn’t surprise me if this is quite cagey.”
Leeds United have the quality
Evidently, Leeds possess the greater quality and ordinarily, had they not stumbled into the playoffs in poor form, many would have them the outright favourites.
But that’s the main issue at the moment, they lack momentum and belief, so Daniel Farke must place emphasis on building the team spirit around the place.
It’s all been a little disjointed of late and they need comradery to see them over the line.
A telling couple of weeks await.