Daniel Nardiello - On Target at Elland Road.

LEEDS UNITED 2 (Kandol 8, Ehiogu 45)
BARNSLEY 2 (Nardiello 3, 37)

TWO moments of brilliance by Daniel Nardiello were enough to ensure the Reds took a share of the spoils from a blockbusting Yorkshire derby at Elland Road.

With Antony Kay out injured and Ronnie Wallwork suspended, Reds caretaker manager Simon Davey made three changes to the side that beat Southend in midweek for the high noon showdown with Leeds United in the imposing arena of Elland Road. Back came Paul Reid, Grant McCann and Nardiello with Marc Richards dropping to the subs bench. Impressive youngster Kyel Reid, on loan from West Ham, also sat out the game through suspension.

Barnsley got off to the best possible start with just three minutes on the clock as Nardiello took on Paul Heckingbottom's throw before showing lightening-quick feet and composure to breeze past two defenders in the area and hit a brilliant, curling right foot shot into the bottom corner.

Leeds were level inside eight minutes as Nick Colgan felt the full force of a challenge in the area as he went for Robbie Blake's cross. The ball bounced into the air and nicely for Tresor Kandol, who headed into the empty net from seven yards.

Another Blake cross dissected the Reds defence two minutes later to reach Kandol at the back post but the big striker could not get his looping header on target. Leeds almost grabbed a second a minute later as Blake's neat free kick from the left caused chaos in the six yard box but the chance went begging.

The game swung down the other end on 13 minutes as Nardiello had the chance to fire a free kick into the danger area from 25 yards. His cross found Reid but the Reds' skipper could only flick his header backwards and it was easily dealt with by Graham Stack.

Another free kick gave the Reds a good chance on 21 minutes after Leon Knight tumbled under Ugo Ehiogu's challenge. This time Nardiello played it short for Brian Howard but the midfielder could only shoot high over the bar from 20 yards.

Most of Leeds' best chances came from the boot of Blake and the former Burnley star brought a decent stop from Colgan on 27 minutes with a rasping drive from 30 yards which the Reds keeper did well to hold onto.

A mistake by Nardiello then presented Blake with a great opportunity on 29 minutes as the striker tried to run his way out of his own area. Blake nipped in and saw his well-struck shot cannon away off a defender.

Nardiello almost made up for his mistake on 32 minutes as he broke well into the area following Howard's strong run but dragged his shot against Ehiogu.

Bobby Hassell became the first player to enter the referees' book, despite a string of mistimed United fouls, on 34 minutes when he pulled back Ian Moore as the pair raced downfield.

The Reds had a massive let off a minute later as Blake tricked his way into the area before pulling the ball back for Lewis, who smashed an effort against the upright.

Barnsley responded brilliantly and Neil Austin's hard tackling robbed Ian Westlake on the half way line to spring a swift counterattack. Austin lobbed the ball downfield for Nardiello to chase and the striker cut in from the byline and past two half-hearted challenges before smashing a low shot past Stack and into the net.

Lewis again went close on 40 minutes with a lob from the edge of the area after the Reds had failed to deal with Blake's corner.

Leeds stormed back with the leveller in the third minute of stoppage time, despite only two being shown, when Blake's cross found Shaun Derry at the back post. The midfielder nodded back across goal and Ehiogu managed to get free to power his header into the net.

Nardiello managed to get free of his marker again just a minute after the restart as he looked to get his side back in front. The striker crossed well but Stack managed to get down quickly and smother the ball before Knight could pounce.

Leeds came on strong and Blake managed to con a free kick on 50 minutes when he hit the deck under a nothing challenge from Paul Heckingbottom. The Reds dealt with the danger comfortably and broke quickly with two-on-two but referee Kevin Wright amazingly ignored the advantage and pulled play back for an incidental challenge in the area.

Kandol then did well to hold off Reid in the area on 53 minutes and squared the ball for Westlake, who smashed it goalward from 12-yards but we denied by Colgan's brilliance.

At the other end Heckingbottom fired wide on 58 minutes before Blake stung the hands of Colgan a minute later with a well-struck free kick from 35 yards. Colgan had to be at his best again on the hour mark as another Leeds long ball found Kandol in space and the striker volleyed goalward but this time the Reds number one got his body behind the ball to save.

Heckingbottom then found the pass of the game on 62 minutes to switch play and send in Paul Hayes in behind Stephen Crainey. Hayes crossed well for Knight but the striker was denied by Stack and then felt the full force of the United keeper's heavy challenge.

Hayes then almost got onto the scoresheet himself on 66 minutes as he raced at the United defence after more good play by Howard but was denied by Stack's fine save.

Nardiello managed to get the better of Fraser Richardson on 68 minutes and broke free down the left to cross but Knight just could not get enough on the ball to turn it goalward.

The game erupted into controversy on 70 minutes as first referee Wright gave Leeds a shocking corner even thought the ball had clearly gone out off a Whites' player. The corner was then swung in and Matt Heath rose highest to nod home but for the official to rule the goal out for some unknown reason.

At the other end more decent build up gave Grant McCann a shooting chance on 73 minutes but the midfielder hammered his shot high into the stand.

McCann turned provider on 74 minutes to send Knight in behind Ehiogu and the striker managed to get his shot away under pressure but his effort flew high over the bar.

Nardiello then twisted and turned his way past the close attention of three Leeds defenders on 76 minutes before shooting but Stack was in the right place to save.

Apparently a challenge from behind is legal at Elland Road as substitute Richards felt the full force of Ehiogu in the area on 82 minutes but, unsurprisingly, the official gave nothing.

Again the Reds pressed looking for a winner and when Knight found Hayes in space on 84 minutes Leeds had to be thankful his shot was straight at Stack and not a yard either side.

Knight managed to get the wrong side of the Leeds defence on 87 minutes but blazed his shot high over the top from distance.

LEEDS UNITED: Stack, Crainey, Douglas, Ehiogu, Westlake, Lewis, Heath, Derry © (Richardson 64), Moore (Carole 87), Kandol, Blake (Healy 79).
Subs: Warner, Beckford.

BARNSLEY: Colgan, Hassell, Heckingbottom, Reid ©, Togwell, Hayes, Knight, Howard, Austin, Nardiello (Richards 78), McCann.
Subs: Letheren, Tonge, Williams, Devaney.