Reds 0
Leeds 1 (McCormack 16)
Barnsley offered no real threat as Leeds comfortably sat on their 16th-minute goal to earn their first victory at Oakwell since 1997.
The atmosphere was cranked up an extra notch for this Yorkshire derby as Oakwell was baked in the Spring sunshine.
After potshots at both ends that ended up in the stands, Matt Smith registered the first shot on target with a header Steele dealt with comfortably on nine minutes.
On 16 minutes the visitors took the lead through Ross McCormack from 10 yards. His first touch was quality as he brought down a lofted pass and his finish just evaded the legs of Steele.
It was tight and tense with both sides not wanting to put a foot wrong. The Reds could only offer snatches at goal, with Cywka volleying wide from Dawson's cross as the clock ticked towards half time.
Second half
For the first 15 minutes of the second half, Leeds were happy to sit on their one-goal lead and take the sting out of the game.
Etuhu flashed a shot across goal as the Reds tried to build some momentum. Hunt replaced Zaliukas for United on the hour.
McCormack was fairly quiet but flashed a half volley over after Etuhu had cleared at the far post but the pressure was off McDermott's men.
Barnsley's first change saw Kelvin Etuhu replaced by Paddy McCourt on 65 minutes. Dawson did well to stand up a cross from the left and Jennings rose well to meet it but his looping header was easy for Butland.
Nick Proschwitz came on for Stephen Dawson with 14 left on the watch as Barnsley stepped up their search for something from the game.
It was looking like the Reds were never going to score as nothing was dropping their way. Lawrence curled over from 20 yards.
The game ran away from the Reds who now face back-to-back matches on the road with three games remaining.
Teams
Turner, Woods, Mellis, Hassell, Nyatanga.Subs:
Butland, Lees, Pearce, Murphy, Warnock, Brown, Tonge, Smith (White 82), Wootton, Zaliukas (Hunt 60), McCormack (C)Leeds United:
Cairns, Austin, Hunt, Pugh, Poleon, White, MowattSubs:
Attendance: 15190
Man of the match sponsored by Napoleons: Jean-Yves M'voto
