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NPOWER CHAMPIONSHIP 2011-12 |
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Leeds United 1 |
Barnsley FC 2 |
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McCormack 55 | Vas Te 27 |
The Reds keep up the amazing form and particularly against Leeds United since they came back up into the Championship. Its the first win for Barnsley FC at Elland Road since 1990 and it came on the back of one of the best Barnsley performances of the season.
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Two derby wins within a week brings us just 3 points away from the Play off zone, as the Reds start turning draws into wins and hopefully keep this form up into the busy christmas calendar.
We went ahead before the half hour mark, as a Jim O'Brien cross found Ricardo Vas Te, who partly and fortuitously scuffed his shot and it arced over the defence and Leeds keeper.
We were 2-0 up and looking good for it just before half time, as a rasping Jacob Butterfield shot stung the palms of Alex McCarthy who could only parry with the rebound dropping nicely for Craig Davies, who said thank you adding his fifth goal of the season. Its starting to look like we might have that prolific striker that has been the missing ingrediant in so many campaigns in recent years.
Russ McCormack got Leeds back in it with a well placed freekick giving Steele no chance, and putting pressure on the Reds registering a famous and well deserved victory in Leeds' back yard.
Leeds started the game with some possession but could only muster one chance through Snodgrass in the early exchanges. The Reds built up confidence and started to get into our game as Jacob Butterfield started orchestrating some nice passing from Barnsley.
Butterfield made his way into the box and got in a header which he could have done better with, and Aidy White was booked for simulation at the other end as he tried to cheat into a Penalty kick. Probably the only way they would have a chance against a resurgant Barnsley.
Lloyd Sam slipped up for Leeds on 27 minutes allowing Jim O'Brien to find Vas Te whose shot ended up in the back of the net.
The Reds were then 2-0 up thanks to the powerful effort from Captain Jacob Butterfield which was too strong for McCarthy to handle properly in goal, and so the ball bounced back out to the prowling and confident Craig Davies to slot in to put the Reds in charge going in at half time two-nil up at Elland Road.
Leeds were going to come out firing, and Snodgrass has a curling effort that had beaten Steele hit the upright.Then McCormack got Leeds within sight of a comeback with 35 minutes on the clock, it roused the home support as they looked to get back into the game.
But the Reds were defensively up to the task getting through a period of pressure from Leeds unscathed. Things were made trickier when David Perkins got his marching orders for catching a Leeds striker from behind, he had no arguments but Steele saved the day with a lovely stop late on to keep the Reds in front.
Nile Ranger came on in the 64th minute and could have marked his debut with a goal if he managed to make contact with a strong cross from Jim O'Brien who had an excellent game in a Red shirt.
McCarthy spilled another effort this time from Matty Done and was fortunate to have White on hand to clear instead of a Barnsley man.
The Reds held on for the first win at Elland Road in 21 years, making it two wins and a draw in three fixtures against Leeds since their return to the Championship, bring on the corresponding fixture at Oakwell on NewYears Eve!
