Leeds United top Barnsley FC 2-1 in another important Yorkshire Derby

Amid all of the controversy surrounding Massimo Cellino, we can count on one thing this month at least: Leeds will continue to play hard. We are soaring sky-high right now. After a dismal start to the season, we had a 4 game winning streak in a great September. And even though the streak ended when we lost to Bristol City on Tuesday, we all knew that the lads would show up Saturday for another Yorkshire Derby.

The Whites hosted Barnsley FC, a newly promoted side for this season, but a sometimes-rival nonetheless. Whenever you have a Derby Day, you know the ONLY thing you can do is win: getting three points and bragging rights until you meet again is all that matters, and Leeds came out with that mentality. Leeds triumphed over Barnsley 2-1, and the game was heavily influenced by Monk’s men.

The starting line-up was confirmed and I got chills knowing that Elland Road would be rocking today with a crowd of 27000+. Whenever you have an unchanged line-up for three games in a row, you know you can expect a good result, and the fans were ready.

After an emotional and thunderous applause for Duncan Revie, who passed this week, it was time to win. And after just five minutes, we were already on the front foot with an early Leeds corner.

The game continued to go our way, but after a few Barnsley chances in the span of 10 minutes, Leeds broke the deadlock with a header by the captain, Kyle Bartley.

Both of Kyle Bartley’s goals have come off set pieces, and he proved once again to be a crucial signing this season. With Leeds up 1-0, I was thrilled: not only did we score in the first half, but we scored off a corner!

The whistle blew to signal the end of the first half, and with Leeds ahead, the Elland Road faithful were energetic, and loud.

With both sides going unchanged heading into the second half, Leeds picked up right where they left off. Just five minutes into the second half, Pablo Hernandez fired a shot just wide of the goal, but it took Hernandez just four more minutes to double Leeds’ score.

Leeds United were in dream land! Everything was going great up until the 70th minute, when Barnsley got a goal back. The goal was initially credited to Barnsley’s Sam Winnall, but then later officially credited as a Charlie Taylor own-goal, which is a shame because Charlie Taylor played wonderfully.

Once Barnsley grabbed a goal, their 2,413 travelling fans were the ones making the noise at Elland Road, urging Barnsley on and excited about a few more attacking chances throughout the second half.

After Marcus Antonsson came on for Sacko, he nearly scored a goal that would’ve sealed the deal for Leeds, but a great save on a 1v1 denied the goal.

As the game headed into the final 10 minutes of play, both teams were going back and forth and the game as a result, was end-to-end. Rob Green made a crucial save in the 85th minute, Jansson followed up with a great play to clear off the line, and it was tense.

Four minutes of additional time were added onto the full 90, and in the 91st minute, Charlie Taylor was booked for clearing a ball away to waste some time off of the clock. A free-kick was given to Barnsley inside Leeds’ half, but the free-kick was cleared by none other than Pontus Jansson (again). The final whistle blew a few moments after, and the stadium erupted in joy. Not only did Leeds win in good fashion, but they entered the international break starting another winning streak.

It was a good performance from Monk’s men. The win put Leeds in 11th place, tied with Barnsley on points. The team is starting to look like a well oiled machine. The play from the back up to the top was marvelous, and we are starting to look like a real threat as long as we stay consistent.

My man of the match has to be Swedish defender Pontus Jannson, even with Bartley and Hernandez scoring the goals. The man was a rock again on defense today.

Leeds are storming up the table with each passing week, and let’s hope that we can continue this wonderful play after the international break. MOT.