Barnsley once again kept up their great home record against Leeds with an easy 2-0 win against a very poor Leeds side.
Any neutral going to the game would have wondered which side was bottom and which side was eighth before kick-off.
Barnsley started the day bottom of the championship, without a manager, without a home championship win since September 1st, without a clean sheet in their last fifteen games and they had just sold their leading goalscorer. Cue Leeds United to help them banish a few unwanted records.
Having conceded nine goals in our previous two visits surely it was a great time to be going to Oakwell, or so we would have thought.
Barnsley dominated from start to finish and without goalkeeper Paddy Kenny and the woodwork, Leeds could have quite easily have gone in three or four down at half time. Bottom of the table Barnsley were playing football, passing and movement whilst Leeds stood around, no closing down, no desire and when the ball was at their feet, it was a matter of kick it wherever.
New young Leeds signing Ross Barkley must have wondered what he had done after signing for the club the previous day from Everton. He was the one positive to take from a shocking performance and he came closest to scoring for Leeds when his shot hit the underside of the bar in the second half.
Once again, Leeds conceded goals in quick succession. The last three away games have seen Nottingham Forest, Hull City and now Barnsley all score two goals in quick succession. This time it was Chris Dagnall, a player who hadn`t scored in the league since March, who scored not one but two goals in the space of three minutes.
His first was from the penalty spot after Sam Byram had upended him.
The second came after Marlon Harewood had played him in, and with Jason Pearce getting nowhere near him; he was able to pick his spot.
On the point of Marlon Harewood, a journeyman striker who has never really delivered despite once being involved in a £4 million transfer.
For 90 minutes yesterday, we made him look world class.
As the full time whistle blew, Leeds fans showed their disgust in another shocking performance on the road. The anger was vented at nearly the whole squad and especially manager Neil Warnock.
I cast my mind back to Warnock`s press interview after the 7-3 home defeat to Nottingham Forest in March, ‘You will never see another Leeds side play like that whilst I am in charge of the club.` Well unfortunately for us, it seems to be a re-occurring theme in recent away games especially. In our last three Championship games, our only meaningful effort on target was a penalty against Bolton Wanderers.
Warnock has always insisted, if he didn`t have the backing of the fans he would have walked away from the club a long time ago. Well Mr Warnock, any more performances like this and you will be being shoved out the door!
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