Leeds United once again missed a great chance to cement their place in the top six when they were held to a draw by Barnsley in a 3-3 draw at Elland Road.
Leeds named an unchanged side for the third game in a row with Davide Somma once again having to settle for a place on the bench.
The visitor made the dream start when Jason Shackell bundled in after only two minutes when Leeds failed to clear a Barnsley free kick.
Robert Snodgrass had Leeds first effort but his shot from the edge of the area went over the bar.
Max Gradel came close to equalising when his free kick came back off the bar, hit the goalkeeper on the back and somehow went over the bar.
Becchio then missed a great chance when he fired wide from close range.
Leeds got themselves level halfway through the half when Becchio got on the end of a Neil Kilkenny ball into the middle.
Max Gradel was a constant thorn in the side of Barnsley all evening and it was him who won Leeds a penalty when he was fouled by Paul McShane.
Gradel took the penalty and he gave Steele no chance with a clinical penalty.
Bradley Johnson then missed a great chance to put Leeds further in the lead when he blasted a shot from close range against a post.
Leeds went in at the break 2-1 ahead and looking well set to go on to an important victory.
Unfortunately Leeds once again came out for the second half with most of them still in the dressing room and Barnsley were once again quickly on level terms.
A swift move from right-to-left found Hill, who drilled his shot beyond Schmeichel.
Leeds task was made even harder soon afterwards when Bradley Johnson was given his marching orders for his second yellow card of the evening.
It didn`t stop Leeds attacking and Alex Bruce had a header go wide from a Kilkenny corner.
Leeds were back in front with just twenty minutes remaining, Gradel found a bit of space and his curling right foot shot nestled into the far corner of the net.
Barnsley came back and Schmeichel was at full stretch to turn a Arismendi effort over the bar.
The visitors got back on level terms with just under ten minutes remaining, Trippier scored with a free kick from the edge of the area with the Leeds wall splitting to allow his shot to go straight through and leave Schmeichel stranded.
The visitors looked the more likely winners in the final minutes but Leeds held on to record their fourth draw in their last six games to remain in sixth place.
Leeds now face a tough trip to Swansea on Saturday and with the teams in seventh and eighth closing the gap they will need to come away with something from the game.
Teams
Leeds
Schmeichel, Lichaj, Bruce, O`Brien, McCartney, Snodgrass (Watt 66), Gradel, Howson, Johnson, Becchio (Somma 66), Kilkenny
Subs
Higgs, Bromby, Parker, McCormack, Paynter
Barnsley
Steele, Hassell (Butterfield 74), Shackell, Hill, McShane, Trippier, Mellis (Gray 90), O`Connor, Haynes, Doyle (O`Brien 45), Arismendi
Subs not used
Bennett, Lovre, Preece, Nouble
Join Vital Leeds
Vital Leeds offers everything that a Leeds United supporter could wish for. If you can think of something and suggest it, we`ll put it on the website!
With news and views, along with a forum, polls and article comments, everything you need in a fans site is right here!
You can even win prizes, by posting articles comments, posting on the message forum and voting on the polls.
The site is regularly updated with news and views regarding all the current events at Elland Road, alongside a fully interactive message forum.
With news and views, along with a forum, polls and article comments, everything you need in a fans site is right here!
You can even win prizes, by posting articles comments, posting on the message forum and voting on the polls.
Vital is also 100% interactive. Not only can you have your say on the articles and the forum but you can also suggest an article or a poll so you can air your views.
So why not join Vital today?
It’s easy to register here and enjoy getting involved
Message Board
To visit the message board, click here.
Get involved
This website is your website and we are looking for people to help run the site. Do you go to most of the games and have an opinion? Why not write a match report? Perhaps you are a budding journalist or even just someone who is very opinionated? Well why not join our team? If this interests you please contact Vital Leeds .
Vital Leeds is now available on both facebook and twitter, so if you are that way inclined and more importantly understand all this new fangled dangled stuff, feel free to watch us, poke us or whatever else you are meant to do there!
Vital Leeds on:
Vital Leeds on: