Leeds 3-3 Barnsley ... Suicide again: Leeds lapses deciding fate

The Norwich game on Saturday was frustrating for Leeds fans and this was more of the same. This season's midweek misery is an unbelievable story. We're yet to win a game that hasn't been on a Saturday in the Championship and have taken four points from 27 available in midweek clashes in recent months. Clearly, this isn't good enough and as well as being inexplicable its a worrying stat for any possible play-off campaign that may or may not be to come, depending on how much we want to throw it away during the run in.

I thought pre-match that every Leeds fan would have earmarked the Barnsley clash as the one out of the three this week we must take three points from. With a tough trip to Swansea at the weekend, we're really in need of three points there now if we're to remain in touch with the automatic place that they currently occupy. A draw will do but could see Leicester come within a point of us should they get a win. Luckily for us, they didn't on Tuesday night - an already disappointing evening could have been worse I suppose.

The point of note for this report is that people have picked up on body language during this game in particular and I have to admit I've seen the same worrying signs. McCartney for one seems completely uninterested when we concede, and defensively he just doesn't look bothered and is often caught out of position. It surprises me that no one, bar Schmeichel, goes mad when we concede. Shoulders slump, and the look of feeling sorry for themselves is evident. That however, isn't good enough. No one seems to blame anyone, no one has a shout and no one seems to care who is accountable. Surely this is wrong? Players need to feel as if they have a job to do, and if they don't fulfill their role they need to be brought up on it.

The Game

Quickly onto the game then. Despite some kind chap selling me a ticket for 20 quid and saving me at least £6's worth of misery, the game still left a large vacuum as any encouragement about our current defensive issues has quickly left my system. I often say that we have the players, they have the ability and that is surely true - Cardiff wanted O'Brien for example but for all the ability that we do have, it's worth is eradicated by the sheer inability to concentrate for a full 90 minutes. The only time I've seen that this season is at the Emirates, and we were mighty. We just haven't produced anything like that solid defensive performance all season in the league, even during games where we managed a clean sheet against a poor attacking side. Lapses are our issue and there isn't much Simon can do about it. It's down to the players. They need to be professional and realise what they're doing and the mistakes they're making. Unfortunately, the learning process just doesn't seem to occur at all.

Simon decided to retain the 4-5-1 formation that brought us a point against Norwich despite me hoping for a Somma start this time... Kilkenny started the game well, he was able to find Howson in space with incisive passing up the pitch but as the game wore on, as on Saturday, he became ineffectual, due to his lack of any physicality and ability to move - he was overrun by the likes of Mellis and Trippier for Barnsley and bypassed - albeit with them having an extra man during the latter stages of the game. The 4-4-2 will be enforced on Saturday at Swansea and this is not the best time to showcase it. With Johnson banned and Kilkenny and Howson in the middle, we look awfully lightweight. Encouragingly Simon has said we're in the market to bring in a loanee before the weekend.

Anyway. The game could not have started any worse. A soft free kick was given away on the minute mark, on the right flank prime to swing into the box. Winger Trippier bent the ball in past the first man, McCartney, on the edge of the box, whose half hearted toe poke towards the ball did nothing to stop it entering the danger area. As it bobbled towards the back post, Haynes managed to tuck it back inside to be put home with ease on the turn by Shackell who poked into the roof of the net, with no Leeds man close enough or quick enough to react. It was as if they'd stopped in the changing room as they trudged back to the restart with Leeds fans left, swearing followed by a half hearted "we are Leeds" as if our lack of encouragement was at fault.

One thing we have done well defensively since the current back line has been established is play the offside trap and luckily we played it just right as the pacy Haynes ran free but was flagged. 

Despite Barnsley's early breakthrough, the game was far from in their control as we bounced back pleasingly with a spell of play pushing for the equaliser whilst keeping a fair amount of possession. After the battle of the first ten minutes, during which time we struggled to fashion and opening of note, we started to find our feet and compete with Barnsley - who were clearly up for it, and in the mood. Gradel was the first to impress in, especially with the help of McCartney who seemed to join him more that had occurred on Saturday. He had a headed chance that was saved comfortably, followed by a cracking free kick: About twenty-five yards out Gradel curled the ball expertly to goal, forcing Steele to scramble all the way across his goalmouth. The ball cannoned down off the bar onto what looked to me like the back of Steele's head and the ball bounced clear for a corner. Where the luck can go for us, it tends not to.

We continued to press and had another golden chance on about fifteen minutes. Gradel put the ball into the box and it was touched on by Snodgrass. The ball went high into the air with Luciano Becchio watching it all the way. He span, back to goal originally, to slice wide on the volley, with Steele onrushing, from the corner of the six yard box. I'd no idea how he'd missed. Normally those are "Becchio chances" even if they sometimes roll off his shin instead of off his boot. Barnsley were riding their luck here, and their keen support had gone quiet compared with the first five minutes celebrating their gift of a goal.

Becchio got another chance in the 23rd minute, though, and this time he couldn't miss. A short corner (usually I despair at the faffing that almost always leads to a waste) was played to Kilkenny, and back to Gradel, who was tackled. The ball then fell back to Kilkenny who swung the ball in deep to the back post. (It wasn't McCartney as many sites have claimed). Keeper Steele shouldn't have come and his missed punched allowed Becchio to rise above their left back to nod into the open goal. He, and we, were relieved.

The next chance was created with too much ease for Barnsley. The impressive Trippier laid a ball back to a midfielder who played a first time return for him to burn past McCartney who's Premier League experience went missing. The England U21 was sent free and put in a delightful ball all the way along the floor, across the six yard box. Somehow O'Connor failed to get a touch. Leeds fans were cursing the ease at which we were broken down and Barnsley should have been 1-2 up.

Kilkenny, who was pulling the strings and doing what we expect early on, linked up the midfield beautifully. He played a slicing pass into Howson, who was midway inside their half with plenty of space - it took the whole of their midfield out. Howson carried the ball well and managed to get a shot away, but it was comfortably saved. This is what we want to see of Kilkenny and it is what he is in the side for.

A minute later, we had a penalty -   off of Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg. From where I was sat, unobstructed to the incident and in line in the West Stand I thought he'd got it spot on. Hill was struggling with Gradel's burst into the box and dived in from behind, looking as if he caught Max's legs before getting any of the ball. I expected Clattenburg to give it, and he did. After the game however, Grayson said that it wasn't a penalty, and the referee started as he meant to go on in a game he ended up making a mess of, with several wrong decisions for both sides. Max confidently stroked home into the keeper's top left corner sending Steele the wrong way. 2-1 and on balance, we'd deserved it, especially including Johnson's shot from all of five yards somehow being deflected away with a combination of Steele and post just minutes later.

The Barnsley fans were deflated but surely felt they were far from out of it. Mark Robins would have been pleased though to get in at 2-1, after our pre half-time pressure.

This is the time where Grayson should reiterate that we need to be professional, hassle them whilst not getting out of position, watch the runners, mark men and pick the moment wisely to kill the game off whilst not getting caught out with too many upfield. We haven't done any of the above all season really, so I didn't expect us to carry it out this time either. I said to the chap who gave me my cheap ticket "is this going to be another game we need to score three to win?".

Within minutes of the restart, it was indeed a game we needed to score three to win. On the break, Tripper was again involved when he played Matt Hill in who drove low across Schmeichel to score. Lichaj had rushed out from right back to try and block Trippier's pass. He missed the block and left a gaping void for Hill to pierce, untracked as Snodgrass switched off momentarily. Hill had all the time in the world to hammer home, as no one could close him in time. Yet another lapse we're punished for.

It was almost as if Clattenburg had watched the replay of the penalty decision he had got wrong when he gave Johnson his second yellow for an innocuous shirt pull slide from behind on Mellis. What an unbelievable decision, especially in a derby, where leeway is usually given - it wasn't as if it was malicious, and Barnsley had got away with similar earlier in the game, and went onto get away with similar later in the game. The reason he went is because he rushed bringing out the yellow, forgetting that it was Johnson he'd earlier booked for accumulated fouls in the first half. As he saw Johnson walking away towards the tunnel (before Johnson himself stopped) he remembered it was his second yellow and got his red out. 

Had he realised it was Johnson he'd already booked I'm certain he wouldn't have sent him off, at least not for his first offence since his first booking. It made me wonder that if a supposed top flight ref was so shaky in his decision making and common sense, does this country have a pool of decent referees somewhere? Or are we devoid of any refereeing nous? Barnsley could feel equally aggrieved due to the penalty situation, but the sending off veered the game in their favour and won them their point anyway. Robins said: “It was a welcome respite when Johnson was sent off". And it clearly was, as Kilkenny and Howson along with the rest of our midfield struggled to cope in the enforced 4-4-1 most notably with Butterfield, Mellis and Trippier's trickery and pace.

Almost straight after this setback Leeds had a chance from a deep Kilkenny corner. Steele again struggled with Kilkenny's choice of delivery, this time opting to do nothing at all. Bruce rose at the back post but was leaning back and headed over with half the goal gaping and the corresponding half the South Stand willing it in.

With 25 minutes remaining, Simon remained true to his "all or nothing" style of play by bringing on Somma and Watt for Becchio and Snodgrass, who had looked tired and isolated with Lichaj still struggling to link up as well as Connolly tends to - although he improved this aspect of his game from the Norwich match.

Leeds went to a 4-3-2 formation with Somma dropping deeper and Gradel going up top. Shortly after these changes, the ball was bundled through to Gradel via Watt and he managed to cut inside two defenders to bend the ball into the bottom corner with a beautifully executed dipping effort. Despite adversity, Leeds had managed to claw ahead. Surely now we'd follow through and achieve a result despite the situation with fifteen minutes remaining?

Somma was impressive. He was crowbar-ed into a deeper role and linked up play well. Holding the ball up successfully and he managed to fashion a chance all of his own doing, with the shot deflecting behind for a corner after twisting the Barnsley defence one way then another on the edge of the box. Despite his effectiveness at playing deeper he never looks as much as a threat running from these positions - his goal threat gets massively depleted.

Leeds then proceeded to ruin another game and another chance of three points. Much more of this and we could be in for a hard and possibly disappointing end to the season with Leicester pressing us in the table. A cleared corner was never truly dealt with and Sanchez Watt fouled a Barnsley man on the edge of the box. He was going nowhere, and shooting into a packed box. The threat was minimal and the tackle suicidal. No need. Barnsley's main man, Trippier was there to step up and slot the ball home, when the free kick should have been a disappointing one hitting half way up the middle of the wall. Two Leeds men turned their backs and the ball left Schmeichel standing and annoyed as the side-footed effort tamely hit the back of the net. Schmeichel went spare. He belted the ball away, kicked the post and was shouting at himself for a good minute or so. This should have been aimed at the wall but they'd already trudged towards half way off with no-one being held accountable.

As the game headed towards it's end, Butterfield was their next most impressive player. His persistence and trickiness caused all sorts of issues for Lichaj and he managed to work space for dangerous crosses too many times. Lichaj should have been offered help more readily from a Leeds player to double up on him, as Barnsley did with Gradel and Snodgrass.

Five minutes were added on and Barnsley could have nicked it with Haynes being denied by a combination of Howson and O'Brien's committed but desperate defending. 

In the end it was a fair result but nothing like what we need to see defensively as multiple factors combined to give Barnsley their opportunities, which they duly took. They'll likely feel the same with Steele's flap and Clattenburg's penalty flop, however I'd fancied us to score three before the game one way or another and with our chances just before half time we were definitely unlucky - hitting the woodwork twice. What's worrying is its another game we'd had to score three goals to get anything from. Luckily we're scoring for fun, enabling us to bail out some terrible team defending.

The Players

Starting with Schmeichel and the defence then. I'd said a few weeks ago I was impressed at the harmony between Schmeichel, Bruce and O'Brien. This was nowhere to be seen on Tuesday evening, as Bruce's lower back will testify to after Schmeichel crashed into him to punch clear. Communication again seems an issue with a scrappy first goal where the delivery just wasn't dealt with, nor was the lay back. Schmeichel seems to communicate enough after we concede but he should channel his anger more towards the defence when we're under pressure. They obviously need telling and they need to feel accountable for their failures. 

Technically, O'Brien and Bruce were good. Tackles well executed and heading well executed, as well as positionally. Worryingly, Lichaj came out kamikaze style and left a gaping space for their second and McCartney was caught out time and again by their play. He was at fault on Saturday and was again at fault several times on Tuesday evening. He has a worrying tendency to creep well inside alongside Bruce leaving acres of space for them to run into where he should actually be stood. He also seems worryingly willing to let Gradel do a large amount of his defensive duty and tackling. 

In my opinion, McCartney has seemed lax in recent weeks - seemingly uninterested entirely in defending and goals that come about due to his personal mistakes have no obvious effect in his body language. I fail to see any disappointment or anger when we score through his fault or the fault of others. I had this feeling when he came originally on his month's loan. When this was extended he seemed to put a shift in, but since it was extended in January the same impression of not really being fussed defensively has shone through. Going forward I've no complaints, its the eagerness to defend and defend well that worries me. He isn't currently showing his Premier League experience in the slightest at the back. Many more mistakes and Parker is worth a go.

In midfield, Kilkenny again started well but became a passenger. Good passing early on was masked later in the game by his inability to track and stop a run as well as break up a move in the tackle. He was desperately inadequate as part of a midfield two and if we don't get anybody in on loan I really fear for our midfield at Swansea in Bradley's absence. 

Johnson was key prior to his sending off. He competed well as he has done for a long time now and was effective at stopping many Barnsley moves. His physical presence is a breath of fresh air in our midfield, it is also critical to our success. 

Howson was impressive again. He thrives further forward and orchestrated the early parts of our forays forward, after often being picked out in acres of space in front of Barnsley's back line.

Snoddy had an okay game but did look a little tired. A lack of support from Lichaj on Saturday had taken its toll as well as his constant willingness to track and run. He broke clear once when he anticipated a bouncing ball but nothing came of it.

Gradel was the key winger, blinding in his effort and ability to create as well as finish. He was backed up well by McCartney and was able to create havoc for Barnsley's defence on more than a few occasions with pace and quick feet. He acted well as an outlet for our longer ball play as well. Barnsley's right back got caught out by him and a lobbed ball a couple of times.

Watt didn't really do anything of note after he replaced Snodgrass, bar give a free kick away unnecessarily that they went on to score from. 

Becchio was good and deserved his goal. Strangely for him though he got nothing in the air, due to McShane's presence - commanding as it was - at the back. He played better to his strengths later in the game when he chose to come short and flick on headers rather than aim for a static flick on or knockdown, where he was constantly beaten. This was another game though, where he got nothing from the referee. Arms round his waist, pulling on his waist, shirt and neck, pushing in the back... none of it got noticed for the second game of note in a row. I spent all Saturday afternoon watching Grant Holt win multiple free-kicks from the same sort of things, and it is harsh on Luciano. He used to go down too easily and the referees tended to see through it and it seems he can't win as when he tries to remain on his feet and gets battered from pillar to post, he still gets absolutely nothing from the officials.

Davide Somma did what he could, and still managed to look a threat despite acting at times as a wide midfielder or added central midfielder due to us having only three in midfield after Johnson's departure. He showed good touches and willingness but could do little as when he did have an opportunity it was a run from something akin to 40 yards and he was expected to do far to much on his own.

To Sum Up

We need to cut these lapses out and players need to communicate better to each other, whether that's organisationally or to rollock each other when a mistake is made. To put our appalling defensive record into perspective, Swansea have conceded only six at home this season in the league where we've let 29 in. It's quite frankly embarrassing, and worrying for Saturday's encounter at the Liberty - where three points is pretty necessary, and not losing is a must.

For our enforced 4-4-2 to succeed on Saturday we need a midfielder in. Swansea and Pratley will expose Kilkenny terribly.

Grayson

"It was a great opportunity to get three points against a team who are dogged and hard working, and it was a game we should we have won.

"We started poorly, conceded an early goal, then got back in it. We scored a another great goal through Max, then we made another mistake with their equaliser near the end.

"The wall is there for a reason at a free-kick and one or two turned their backs on it. If he puts it over the top I have no problem with that because it is good quality, but he puts it straight through the wall and into the middle of the net, and it's 3-3 and two points dropped."

"We don't want to be scoring three or four goals to win games," 

"Barnsley, even playing against 10 men, never cut us open or played through us. They were goals we could eradicate. It's people staying with runners and not turning their backs in the wall. They could have been stopped.

"But it's one of those things. We'll start preparations for the weekend. We've got 13 games to go to make sure we get in the top six. Swansea are our promotion rivals and it's a game we're looking forward to and will be ready for."

The Support

It was pretty poor, as has been the case of late although the on-pitch action didn't do much to encourage the fans, who probably felt as if they were banging their heads against a brick wall. Barnsley went mad for their first but were quiet right until their second, due to our relative dominance of the chances on the field. They persisted with "we all hate Leeds scum" chant when in general we couldn't give one about them which most teams tend to do thinking as if its some form of insightful goading. In reality, its pretty boring when every team in the land comes to Elland Road and sings it just for the sake, less baffling for Barnsley obviously, more odd from the likes of Norwich.

Man of the Match

It's got to be Gradel. He scored a deserved brace and combated well defensively, doing a lot for McCartney down the left flank. His second was a peach and he's fast becoming hot property and probably the form player in the league. Trippier would have got it had this not been a segment for a Leeds player. He was brilliant and had a hand in the first two goals, as well as scoring the third. They'll miss him next season if they can't get him on a more permanent basis.