Championship
BarnsleyBarnsley0LeedsLeeds United1

Barnsley 0-1 Leeds United

Ross McCormack

Barnsley's survival hopes suffered a blow as they were beaten by Leeds to leave them three points from safety.

They have three more games to avoid relegation to League One.

Ross McCormack gave the visitors an early lead after Matt Smith's knock-down found him free inside the area and he fired low past Luke Steele for his 29th goal of the season.

Barnsley never seriously threatened to drag themselves back into this Yorkshire derby.

Home keeper Steele was called into action to keep out a header from Smith and Luke Murphy was the next to threaten for Leeds, as he saw a header blocked.

Leeds defended their lead well during the opening 45 minutes, restricting Barnsley to a solitary effort on goal - a looping header from Dale Jennings that was easily gathered by keeper Jack Butland.

Tomasz Cywka also volleyed wide from a cross from Stephen Dawson.

Early in the second half, another tame Jennings effort was easily saved by Butland and team-mate Kelvin Etuhu then saw his shot blocked before putting the follow-up well wide.

As the visitors began to press forward in search of a second goal, Smith found the target with a header from Tom Lees' free-kick but could only direct it straight at Steele.

For Barnsley, Jennings saw another header saved by Butland and Liam Lawrence put a 25-yard effort over the bar.

But Noel Hunt threatened to find a way through at the other end before being blocked by Jean-Yves M'voto and it was Leeds who looked the likelier scorers in stoppage time - McCormack firing a low drive wide of Steele's left-hand post.

Barnsley manager Danny Wilson: "It wasn't a good result, obviously, and it doesn't make it any easier, but who said it was going to be easy anyway?

"We thought it was going to go right to the wire and I think I'm right. We didn't offer enough quality and I thought the game was poor.

"There were not a lot of chances and there was one bit of quality. Of all the people for it to fall to, it was McCormack and you didn't want it falling to him with the form that he's in at the moment. That was the difference."

Leeds United boss Brian McDermott: "I think it was well deserved.

"I think the game was separated by a bit of real quality. Ross's first touch was fabulous and then a great finish.

"He's a match winner and those players are very, very important. He took the one chance that made the difference. He's right up there as a finisher."

Line-ups

Barnsley

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 1Steele
  • 23EtuhuBooked at 19minsSubstituted forMcCourtat 66'minutes
  • 4Kennedy
  • 14Lawrence
  • 22Mvoto
  • 6Cranie
  • 27McLaughlin
  • 8DawsonSubstituted forProschwitzat 76'minutes
  • 10O'Grady
  • 19Cywka
  • 16Jennings

Substitutes

  • 2Hassell
  • 5Nyatanga
  • 9Proschwitz
  • 11Woods
  • 21Mellis
  • 31Turner
  • 42McCourt

Leeds

Formation 5-3-2

  • 30Butland
  • 22Wootton
  • 15Warnock
  • 5Pearce
  • 24ZaliukasSubstituted forHuntat 60'minutes
  • 4Lees
  • 6MurphyBooked at 47mins
  • 17BrownBooked at 26mins
  • 44McCormack
  • 20SmithSubstituted forWhiteat 82'minutes
  • 18Tonge

Substitutes

  • 8Austin
  • 10Hunt
  • 14White
  • 16Pugh
  • 26Poleon
  • 33Cairns
  • 36Mowatt
Referee:
David Webb
Attendance:
15,190

Match Stats

Home TeamBarnsleyAway TeamLeeds
Possession
Home56%
Away44%
Shots
Home13
Away9
Shots on Target
Home3
Away3
Corners
Home1
Away1
Fouls
Home8
Away13

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Barnsley 0, Leeds United 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Barnsley 0, Leeds United 1.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Thomas Kennedy (Barnsley).

  4. Post update

    Aidan White (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  5. Post update

    Attempt missed. Ross McCormack (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Michael Tonge.

  6. Post update

    Offside, Leeds United. Scott Wootton tries a through ball, but Ross McCormack is caught offside.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Liam Lawrence (Barnsley).

  8. Post update

    Stephen Warnock (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  9. Post update

    Attempt missed. Ryan McLaughlin (Barnsley) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.

  10. Post update

    Liam Lawrence (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  11. Post update

    Foul by Luke Murphy (Leeds United).

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, Leeds United. Aidan White replaces Matt Smith.

  13. Post update

    Attempt missed. Liam Lawrence (Barnsley) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Tomasz Cywka.

  14. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Matt Smith (Leeds United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ross McCormack.

  15. Substitution

    Substitution, Barnsley. Nick Proschwitz replaces Stephen Dawson.

  16. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  17. Post update

    Delay in match Ross McCormack (Leeds United) because of an injury.

  18. Post update

    Tomasz Cywka (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Ross McCormack (Leeds United).

  20. Post update

    Hand ball by Stephen Dawson (Barnsley).

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Leicester43289679433693
2Burnley432414567353286
3Derby432391177482978
4QPR4321101254401473
5Wigan4220101257401770
6Brighton4317141250381265
7Reading4317131363531064
8Ipswich431713135650664
9Nottm Forest431517116358562
10Bournemouth431711156162-162
11Blackburn431516125956361
12Watford4215151269511860
13Middlesbrough431416135546958
14Bolton431316145456-255
15Sheff Wed431314165957253
16Leeds43158205563-853
17Huddersfield431211205261-947
18Birmingham421110215364-1143
19Doncaster431110223866-2843
20Millwall431013204473-2943
21Charlton421012203155-2442
22Blackpool431012213562-2742
23Barnsley43912224069-2939
24Yeovil43813224267-2537
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