BARNSLEY 3 (Devaney 30, McIndoe 64, Howard 76)
LEEDS UNITED 2 (Derry 44, Blake 45)
BRIAN Howard's wonder-strike lifted the Reds out of the bottom three as a magnificent, battling display earned a much-needed victory in a barnstorming Yorkshire derby at Oakwell.
Reds boss Andy Ritchie made the one change for the clash with local rivals Leeds United with Neil Austin replacing Bobby Hassell at right back. Hassell picked up a groin injury in Wednesday's defeat at Derby County and could be out for up to a fortnight. Tommy Wright continued up front alongside Marc Richards.
A strong and physical opening saw both teams look to impose themselves on the game with United midfielder Shaun Derry seeing his second minute shot well blocked by Paul Reid. Michael McIndoe then broke with purpose at the other end just a minute later and forced Graham Stack to make a save with a right-foot shot.
David Healy thought he should have had a penalty on four minutes when he tumbled under Paul Heckingbottom's challenge as the pair went for Robbie Blake's centre but the referee gave nothing.
Skipper Paul Reid was then harshly booked for a challenge on Healy 30 yards from goal although referee Phil Crossley took an age before deciding to brandish a yellow card.
Leeds got it right on 12 minutes as Healy found himself in down the right and crossed wonderfully well for Blake at the far post but the United striker could only manage to head woefully wide from inside the six-yard box and with an open goal gaping.
Referee Crossley then let Gary Kelly away without a booking on 13 minutes after a two-footed challenge from behind on McIndoe on the half way line.
McIndoe then smashed a deflected shot over the bar on 15 minutes as he met Austin's half cleared shot and had to take the full force of three late challenges as the Leeds' defence flew in after the ball had gone. Howard then took a tumble in the area a minute later as Kelly flew in but the referee again did not point to the spot.
It was Wright's turn to pick up a caution on 21 minutes as he challenged Eddie Lewis before Horsfield wasted a gilt-edged chance just seconds later as he powered Paul Butler's centre well wide from 12 yards.
Antony Kay then thought he had made the perfect challenge on 24 minutes as he took the ball from Ian Westlake when the United midfielder looked odds on to burst into the area but amazingly the referee saw it differently and awarded a free kick. Kay was booked for the foul although justice was done when Blake fluffed his lines and scuffed as appalling free kick into the wall.
The opening goal came on the half hour as the Leeds defence made a complete mess of dealing with McIndoe's deep free kick. The ball bounced out to Devaney who took a touch before smashing it past Stack and into the bottom corner.
Devaney turned provider on 32 minutes as his deep cross found Wright at the far post but the striker could only head high over under pressure from Matt Kilgallon.
Leeds' aerial advantage could have paid off again on 36 minutes as Jonathan Douglas rose highest to meet Kelly's cross but could not get his effort down on target.
Richards almost got in again on 41 minutes as he chased down Butler's weak back pass but Stack was quick enough and bravely out to clear the danger.
Leeds grabbed the equaliser on 44 minutes as Derry stole in at the back post to meet Blake's corner and powered his header into the back of the net. Not content with levelling the scores both Derry and Blake then proceeded to show their unsavoury side by gesturing to the home supporters as the pair celebrated.
Barnsley were almost back in front just a minute later as Austin's deflected cross caught Richards flat footed at the back post and the Reds striker blazed over.
Devaney turned from hero to villain in stoppage time as his mistake gifted Blake a shooting chance and the former Birmingham City hit man blasted his shot low past Nick Colgan.
Barnsley started the second half well with Devaney tricking his way into the danger area on 46 minutes before crossing inches in front of Richards and Wright in the six yard box.
Devaney again found a yard of space a minute later and brought a decent save from Stack with a well-struck shot from the edge of the area. Howard then burst from midfield on 47 minutes and let fly from all of 30 yards but his effort flew well wide.
Leeds again got away without a booking on 51 minutes as Blake cynically took out Austin as the Reds full back burst through the middle of the park. Kay then crashed a shot over the bar on 53 minutes after turning well past Derry as the home side pushed Leeds further and further back.
The best Leeds could offer came on 57 minutes as Healy volleyed weakly through to Colgan from 30 yards. Douglas tied to lift the visitors a minute later as he managed to get the wrong side of Paul Heckingbottom and drilled in a shot but Colgan was able to claw his effort away.
Barnsley continued to press and got the breakthrough on 64 minutes as a clearance sat up nicely for McIndoe 25 yards out and the Reds winger hammered his shot in off the upright.
McIndoe went inches away from a second on 67 minutes as he raced across his marker to meet Wright's excellent cross but could only prod the ball agonisingly wide of the target.
Blake then hammered a shot just over the bar at the other end after skipping away from Sam Togwell as both teams threw everything into a rip roaring end to the game.
Barnsley grabbed the lead with a goal of real quality on 76 minutes as substitute Daniel Nardiello's run forced Leeds United back into their own area. The ball eventually broke out to Howard, who took a touch and curled a magnificent right-footed shot past Stack and into the far corner.
Leeds were not done and Lewis again sent in a fine free kick on 78 minutes which Richard Cresswell managed to glance goalward but Colgan managed to get his angles right and make a smart save.
A quick turn by Nardiello wrong-footed the entire Leeds defence on 83 minutes but the striker was denied his first of the season by Stack's fine save although substitute Nicky Wroe was probably better placed in the middle. Nardiello again got in on 84 minutes and managed to lob the ball over Stack but could only watch his shot smack the upright.
Nardiello once more had the Leeds defence chasing shadows on 85 minutes as he raced across before bringing the very best from Stack again with a well-struck drive.
It was chaos in the Reds area in stoppage time as Reid sliced his clearance but Adam Johnson blazed high over as Leeds pressed during the five addition minutes.
BARNSLEY: Colgan, Heckingbottom, Reid, Togwell, McIndoe, Howard (Wroe 80), Austin, Kay, Richards (Nardiello 56), Devaney, Wright (Hayes 90).
Subs: Healy, Williams.
LEEDS UNITED: Stack, Kelly, Douglas (Einarsson 86), Butler, Westlake (Johnson 81), Healy, Horsfield (Cresswell 62), Lewis, Derry, Kilgallon, Blake.
Subs: Foxe, Warner.
|
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST TICKET INFORMATION FROM OAKWELL!!! MAIN MATCH SPONSORSHIP AT OAKWELL GET THE BIGGEST NEWS DIRECT TO YOUR MOBILE ©www.barnsleyfc.co.uk 2006 RNK |
