Samuel Seaman: Player ratings from Canaries' Leeds stalemate (2024)

Here is Samuel Seaman's verdict on Norwich City, who drew 0-0 with Leeds United in a semi-final first leg that never sprung to life.

Angus Gunn

Didn't have much to do as the Leeds attack struggled to create opportunities. They were slightly more potent than the home offence, however, meaning Gunn had to deny Jaden Anthony and Crysencio Summerville in the second half.

But neither of those were especially difficult stops, and the visitors' fairly lax press meant distribution was comfortable. A good punch to clear when one corner was placed right in the middle of his goal.7

Jack Stacey

Coped well with Championship player of the season Summerville defensively, limiting him to frustrated movements and occasional fruitless darts inside.

At the other end he wasn't as effective as he can be, with one cross aimed at Borja Sainz summing up his afternoon in an attacking sense.

That chip was well over the head of the Spaniard, but Stacey's good defensive form will undoubtedly be handy in Yorkshire.6

Shane Duffy

Capped off a nightmare week with a relatively questionable performance at Carrow Road.

Leeds' plan to give him time on the ball worked, with numerous sloppy concessions fortunate to go unpunished. The pace of United's attack also left the Irishman exposed in a tough first half, with an ill-judged tackle allowing Junior Firpo to tap in before Georginio Rutter was ruled offside.

Improved in the second half, his headed clearances relieving pressure as Daniel Farke's men inched closer and closer to an opener.5

Samuel Seaman: Player ratings from Canaries' Leeds stalemate (1)Shane Duffy struggled (Image: PA)

Ben Gibson

A solid performance from the 31-year-old, who was refreshingly pro-active with his defending and wouldn't let an individual mistake decide a tight game.

Fewer distribution issues than Duffy as well, perhaps without reaching his usual high standards,and showed the kind of ownership and leadership that's needed in games like these.7

Dimitris Giannoulis

A better defensive showing than he's become known for, coping well with the lively Willy Gnonto and minimising any threat from his side of the pitch.

Got into good positions on the counter but only produced one real chance when he cut back for Gabriel Sara. The Brazilian should probably have done better.7

Marcelino Nunez

Kept things ticking and covered plenty of ground as he always does. Was a key part of City's attempts to bait the away side into pressing, but spent a lot of his time rolling feet over the ball and playing simple passes.

A couple of efforts from distance that failed to trouble Illan Meslier.6

Kenny McLean

Worked hard and showed physical robustness as well as exceptional reading of play to surge onto the ball in midfield often.

What let him down, as they did at Birmingham eight days earlier, were the consistently poor long passes that failed to find his team-mates in space.

Still a decent outing for the Norwich player of the season, however, as he got back to decent form.7

Jonathan Rowe

Still building his match fitness and it looked like it. Made few real mistakes but was nowhere near as involved as he would have liked to be and probably could have done with more game time up to now.

Forged a good understanding with Stacey that allowed them to rotate defensive duties when necessary.6

Gabriel Sara

Barely involved on a very difficult afternoon for the Brazilian.

Part of that may have been his 'number 10' position, where he was asked to complete more flick-ons than through balls or shots.

Tested Meslier with a free-kick from distance, but should have done better with Giannoulis' cut-back early in the second half.5

Borja Sainz

The main source of danger when it presented itself in yellow and green. Carried the ball well with a series of slaloms, jinks, flicks and tricks but couldn't finish with anything productive.

Worked hard defensively but may have been lucky to avoid sanction when he brought Gnonto down early on. The challenge was outside the penalty area, but Sainztook a risk.7

Samuel Seaman: Player ratings from Canaries' Leeds stalemate (2)Borja Sainz was a danger on the Norwich left (Image: PA)

Josh Sargent

Didn't get close to the levels he's shown he can achieve since returning from a long-term ankle injury at the end of last year.

Lost possession nearly every time he received it in the second half, either misplacing passes, controlling poorly or being tackled by Joe Rodon.

The Whites centre-back easily had the best of this duel, and Sargent will hope he's fit enough to prove himself at Elland Road. 4

SUBSTITUTES

Christian Fassnacht (on for Rowe, 60)

Fulfilled his tactical function perfectly well and helped halt Leeds' rapid attacks down the left. One of those included a selfless yellow card. Perhaps could have done better when Sargent flicked Giannoulis' cross into his path.6

Sam McCallum (on for Giannoulis, 70)

A standard substitute shift from the full-back, who became used to them before Giannoulis' injury and is likely to see at least one more before the season is up.6

Sydney van Hooijdonk (on for Sargent, 84)

Not much time to make an impact but got through a good amount of work. Will need to step up in a huge way if that Sargent injury does end up being more serious than hoped.5

Samuel Seaman: Player ratings from Canaries' Leeds stalemate (2024)

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