Leeds United 2 Norwich City 2: Paynter and Leeds remain desperate to avoid play-offs

So, perhaps, it is no surprise that Paynter is desperate for Leeds United to claim a place in the Championship’s top two rather than have to go through the nerve-shredding drama that is the end-of-season promotion deciders.

It is also a sentiment the Elland Road supporters will no doubt be able to empathise with after having their dreams of seeing Leeds step up a division shattered three times since 2006 by defeats in the play-offs.

Paynter said: “I am sure winning the play-offs is a great way to go up. But for us at Swindon last year, all it meant was the hard work we had put in over a season came to nothing.

“The final is a nice occasion and playing at Wembley was a nice feeling. But after the final (won 1-0 by Millwall) it was a massive disappointment.

“It would be nice to avoid that and go up automatically. Leeds have not had the best of luck in play-offs either so I am sure the fans will feel the same as us.”

Talk of where Leeds might finish may be a tad premature with there still being 14 games to play this term.

But there is little doubt that a sense of belief is building at Elland Road that clinching back-to-back promotions is not beyond United.

Certainly, against a Norwich City side who are also firmly in the hunt for a return to the Premier League, Leeds looked every inch a team capable of achieving great things.

In the first half, they could – and probably should – have put the game beyond the Canaries.

With Max Gradel a threat out wide and Jonny Howson a driving force through the middle, Leeds took the game to the visitors in impressive fashion.

That Simon Grayson’s men had just one goal to show for their endeavours at the interval was down to a combination of wasteful finishing and the woodwork.

Only five minutes had been played when the post first came to Norwich’s rescue, goalkeeper John Ruddy somehow bundling Luciano Becchio’s header behind for a corner via the upright.

The Argentinian had been picked out wonderfully by Robert Snodgrass’s free-kick and he threw his arms up in exasperation at being denied.

Becchio’s despair turned to joy just 11 minutes later, however, when his close-range finish at the far post proved too much for both Ruddy and left-back Adam Drury as the pair fought in vain to keep the ball out of the net.

Going ahead was no more than Leeds deserved and, but for the woodwork, they would have doubled that advantage seven minutes before the break.

Eric Lichaj created the opportunity after being released by a deft pass by Snodgrass, the on-loan Aston Villa full-back then picking out Howson, who shot against the bar when the Leeds captain should really have scored.

It proved to be a costly miss as, in stoppage time, Norwich drew level with an equaliser their play had hardly merited.

Henri Lansbury, a summer loan target for Leeds manager Grayson, was the beneficiary of poor defending by the home side as they failed to deal with Wes Hoolahan’s cross.

Lichaj was the defender beaten in the air by Grant Holt, who cleverly laid the ball back for the unmarked Lansbury to score from eight yards.

Being pegged back was harsh on Leeds but it was the visitors who started the second half strongly.

First, Hoolahan brought an unconvincing save from Kasper Schmeichel.

Then, Holt shot against the post after pouncing on to a knockdown from former Hull City striker Aaron Wilbraham.

It was a major let-off for Leeds, though not a warning they heeded and within a minute the visitors were ahead.

Once again, United were the architects of their own downfall with Andy O’Brien being caught in possession and George McCartney then caught badly out of position as the ball was worked to Hoolahan, who finished with aplomb.

Grayson’s response was to bring Davide Somma off the bench and it proved an inspired decision with the South African international netting the equaliser with his first touch to set up a frantic finale in which both sides tried to win.

With Norwich having this season proved to be the masters at leaving it late to score decisive goals, the fear among the 31,601 crowd was that a sucker punch may be awaiting the home side.

The Canaries, however, were unable to add to the 13 goals that they had already scored in the final 10 minutes of games this term.

Instead, it was Leeds who came the closest to claiming a winner with Somma being denied by a super last-gasp header by Zac Whitebread and then Paynter seeing his shot turned round the post by Ruddy in the third minute of stoppage time.

Paynter, who is yet to score in 14 appearances for Leeds, said: “I thought mine was in at the end. I played a nice one-two with Davide and maybe I should have gone down to try and get a penalty.

“But I stayed up to get a shot off and the ‘keeper saved it. That is my luck at the moment. It was a good save, to be fair.

“All I can keep doing is plug away and hope the chances start to go in.”