Steve Bruce reveals "disappointing" Leeds and Southampton advantage ahead of Norwich, West Brom play-off clashes | OneFootball

Steve Bruce has favoured Leeds United and Southampton to get past Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion in the Championship play-off semi-finals because of the advantage they will have from playing at home in the second leg.

The first legs of the 2024 Championship play-offs saw no goals be scored, which was the first time since 2011 that the first game in both sets of ties ended in a 0-0 draw.

One of the two games was certainly more thrilling than the other, with Alex McCarthy and Alex Palmer both having to make great saves for the Saints and the Baggies, respectively, to not allow the other team to get a goal ahead.

Norwich vs Leeds, on the other hand, saw a lot less action in front of goal, in what was a pretty drab affair that would have put many back to sleep in the middle of last Sunday's early kick-off.

With it all still to play for, there should be much more intensity and action in the second legs of both ties. All four sides must win their game, on either Thursday or Friday, to reach Wembley and have the chance to win the most lucrative domestic game in all of football.

Bruce is certainly hoping for more fireworks the second time round than the first, and touched on one crucial factor that should give one side in both semi-finals a good advantage.

Steve Bruce outlines Leeds and Southampton play-off advantage

The former Albion boss, who was eventually succeeded by current boss Carlos Corberan, has said that the two sides that are hosting the second legs of the semi-finals - the Whites and the Saints - should have the upper hand.

Bruce said, via Betway: "Usually the play-offs are the big spectacle! So maybe we'll wait for the second leg. I watched a large chunk of the West Brom v Southampton game. How that ended up 0-0, I'll never know.

"There were some big chances at both ends and the goalkeepers played really, really well on the day. The other one was a bit of a non-event.

"You would think now with home advantage, it’s advantage Leeds United and Southampton, which is a bit disappointing for me but on home soil you need to go and win. You can never call the play-offs, but you probably put your money on the home sides now."

Elland Road factor could work against Leeds United

It's obvious to see, from the first leg against Norwich, and the bunch of regular season games that led up to it, that Daniel Farke's side aren't right.

Leeds aren't clicking like they once were. Instead of being the smooth Rolls-Royce of a team that was bouncing their opposition out of the way for much of the season, they're now trundling along like an ox and a cart over a cobbled street.

There's just no rhythm to their play, and a home crowd that has been used to good performances for much of the year, that will be nervous anyway, could start to get on their team's back quite quickly if there are signs of frailties.

They should have the quality advantage over the Canaries - this Leeds side reached 90 points while Norwich got 73 in the regular season - and games like this do come down to moments of quality.

But that tetchiness that has been present in Farke's players of late could start to aggravate the home end of Elland Road, which could spell trouble for everyone of a Leeds persuasion.

Meanwhile, looking at Southampton, they lost their last home game against Stoke City, showing they can be beaten at St Mary's where they have been fairly strong, in fairness to them.

The form book, though, is out of the window with all four sides well in contention for a place at Wembley now.