Barnsley fell to a 1-0 defeat against Leeds United in the Yorkshire Derby on Thursday evening.
Michael Sollbauer’s unfortunate own goal after 28 minutes was the only difference between the two sides in a game that the Reds were largely the better team.
Gerhard Struber made two changes from the team that drew 0-0 with Wigan Athletic at the weekend, with Aapo Halme and Conor Chaplin coming in for Marcel Ritzmaier and Elliot Simoes.
The Reds created the first real opening with 10 minutes gone, as Callum Styles won back possession deep in enemy territory. He found Cauley Woodrow, who played a perfectly weighted through ball for Jacob Brown, but his shot flashed across the face of goal.
Midway through the first half, a well-worked corner routine straight off the training ground was headed narrowly wide by Mads Andersen.
However, from that opportunity, Leeds raced up the other end and Patrick Bamford fired a low cross into the six-yard box that Michael Sollbauer could only divert into his own net.
HALF-TIME: Leeds United 1-0 Barnsley
Barnsley made one change at the interval, with Luke Thomas coming on to replace Halme as Struber looked to add more pace to his attack.
It almost had the desired effect within moments of the restart as the diminutive forward ran at the United backline, putting them under pressure, and linking up with Kilian Ludewig. The German played it back into Thomas’ path, who forced Illan Meslier into a save down low.
The Reds then had two excellent chances in a matter of moments, first Chaplin lashed a half-volley narrowly wide of the upright, before Styles robbed the ball back but could only fire beyond the same upright.
Shortly after, Sollbauer nearly made amends when he firmly met Alex Mowatt’s cross, but headed straight at Meslier.
United produced a swift counter-attack – their first meaningful attempt of the half – but Bamford was denied by a fine save by Walton at his near post.
Woodrow also forced Meslier into action when he acrobatically tipped the Reds’ forward’s effort over as Barnsley push forward for that elusive equaliser.
But, despite all their hard work and endeavour, the visitors were unable to find a way through as Leeds held on for all three points.
LEEDS XI: Meslier (GK), Ayling, White, Cooper (c), Bamford, Roberts (Hernandez, 46, (Shackleton, 90)), Dallas, Costa (Alioski, 49), Harrison (Struijk, 60), Berardi, Klich.
Not used: Casilla (GK), Douglas, Poveda, Stevens, Casey.
REDS XI: Walton (GK), Sollbauer, Andersen, J Williams (Oduor, 84), Ludewig, Halme (Thomas, 46), Mowatt (c), Styles, Woodrow, Brown (Schmidt, 78), Chaplin.
Not used: Collins (GK), B Williams, Bähre, Ritzmaier, Wolfe, Marsh.
