Match report: Leeds United v Barnsley F.C.

Leeds welcomed fellow Yorkshire side Barnsley to Elland Road this week in a fixture that never fails to live up to the occasion but despite the high intensity of the match, it ended 0-0 at full-time.

New Barnsley boss Danny Wilson.
                                                  Picture from http://www.dailystar.co.uk

The game was manager Danny Wilson's first in charge since returning for his second spell with the club after the Reds sacked David Flitcroft following a poor run of results which has left them at the very foot of the Sky Bet Championship. Leeds on the other hand went into the Yorkshrie derby at sixth-place in the league and were eyeing the fixture as an opportunity to take advantage of a struggling side.

Bizarrely, Barnsley are the fifth team Leeds have played this season with a new manager. Players always seem to 'put on a show' when a new manager comes into the fold at their club and Barnsley were certainly no different, restricting Leeds to a draw despite the home side dominating for most of the match. Manager Brian McDermott told the YEP after the match: “It was new manager syndrome for us again. I said to my players beforehand ‘play like you've got a new manager.’ They didn't but that’s life."

Wilson set his side up to contain Leeds, utilising Bobby Hassell as a protective barrier sandwiched between two banks of four defenders and four midfielders. This contrstricted the home side, allowing for little room to breathe and it showed. ""The first half wasn't good from our point of view." McDermott said, noting the difficulty that United had combating the strangle-hold that Barnsley implemented.

Leeds striker Matt Smith chasing the ball.
                                 Picture from http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk

Barnsley could have easily gone behind though had it not been for stalwart England international goalkeeper Jack Butland. The on-loan Stoke man kept his side in the game in the first half after his flash of brilliance denied Matt Smith a goal, parrying the Leeds striker's point-blank volley. Smith continued to threaten though and after showing strength to shrug off defender Peter Ramage, he latched onto Ross McCormack's pass but only to hit it straight at Butland.

Barnsley frustrated Leeds in the middle of the park all afternoon. David Perkins and Jim O'Brien pulled the strings and ensured that Leeds could not set their own pace from midfield. Marcus Tudgay also came close, in a game of few chances for the away side, but Kenny managed to tip his header safely over the bar.

Young Leeds midfielder Alex Mowatt picked up a yellow card in the first half and made way as McDermott introduced Michael Tonge and Sam Byram after the interval, but both failed to provide an impact as the tempo of the game continued to rise. The heroics of Butland also continued, saving a Danny Pugh volley before keeping out McCormack's on-target header. Striker Matt Smith once again went agonisingly close in the final stages but his shot dragged just wide of the post.

Barnsley were hanging on but in the 85th-minute Marcus Tudgay took a reckless swipe at Leeds defender Marius Zaliukus and saw a straight red card for his troubles. When asked about the dismissal, the Barnsley boss said: "He’s not that type of guy but I've no qualms with the referee. He was right on top of the incident." Six  minutes of injury time were added on at Elland Road but to no avail for the home side, who were held to a draw as the final whistle blew.

Luke Murphy picked up a yellow card in the match and his fifth of the season, inevitably ruling him out of the next game against Blackpool and the feeling is that he could be sorely missed. Though Leeds do have a readily available replacement in Michael Tonge, McDermott could opt for Michael Brown - the veteran's thorny style can be an asset when playing away at big clubs. Despite a disappointing draw against the Championship's bottom-placed side, Leeds moved up to fifth and, if the Whites can claim victory at Bloomfield Road, they will edge even closer to the automatic promotion spots.