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 to ending their play-off curse but manager Daniel Farke was still raging after being denied an all-important goal by an offside flag.

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

However, in a noon snooze of few scoring opportunities Leeds felt robbed that Junior Firpo’s goal after half-an-hour was ruled out for offside given against Georgino Rutter.

It looked tight on television replays but Farke was convinced his side had been short-changed after Rutter was thwarted by goalkeeper Angus Gunn and Firpo rolled in the rebound.

‘I am still annoyed about the offside,’ said the normally-placid Farke afterwards. ‘I recommend everyone should look at the scouting feed with the proper line. It was definitely not offside.

‘Everyone speaks about the play-offs being worth £100million or more. At this level the decisions have to be right. I expect myself to be spot on, the officials have to be the same if they want to be in charge of such a game.’

Without VAR being used in The Championship until the final, there was little Leeds could do except curse their luck. Asked if he wanted technology to be introduced for the semi-finals, Farke added: ‘I don’t ask for it in case we go to Wembley. I believe in karma!

‘But if we’d have used VAR to make fair decisions through the season, we would be automatically promoted, not in the play-offs. I’ve had 12 letters of apology for offsides and penalties.’

The moment of controversy was out of a place with the rest of a quiet afternoon in which both Championship heavyweights seemed content going into the second leg all-square.

Norwich had finished 17 points behind Leeds in the final regular season table and were twice beaten by Farke’s side. They didn’t over-extend themselves pushing forward in the warm sunshine.

Ditto, Leeds. After a run of just one win in six, they stuck an extra man in midfield and prioritised a clean sheet. ‘We wanted to be rock solid,’ acknowledged Farke.

Each goalkeeper was tested just once. Illan Meslier got down well to keep out a free-kick from Borja Sainz while Angus Gunn blocked well at the near post from Championship player of the year Crysencio Summerville.

Star man Wilfried Gnonto was in the wars; claiming a penalty when tugged by Gabriel Sara, 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 taken off with 20 minutes left.

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

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

Jurgen Klopp’s best pal cut a chilled figure afterwards. ‘There are no secrets between the teams. Maybe that is why we were both so tactically organised,’ he said.

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

Norwich’s only scare was seeing centre-forward Josh Sargent depart late on with an ankle injury though it’s hoped the USA international will be fit for the return game.

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