Paddy Bamford wheels away after forcing the own goal that beat Barnsley
Leeds United is once more a Premier League club. Having been promoted as Champions, much to the incredulous joy of our loyal and long-suffering fans, the season’s goals can fairly be said to have been achieved, or even surpassed. Last year, we’d have been delighted to have gone up via the play-offs at Wembley (although we all secretly know we just don’t do play-offs). This year, the resolve was there and explicitly made clear that we would not be dicking about with any end of season lotteries. The aim was automatic promotion, and in the end, that has been achieved with two games to spare. It has been a season of pride and achievement, one that we will all look back on as fondly as we do that campaign thirty years ago when Wilko’s Warriors stormed the citadels of the top flight.
All that being undeniably true, there might be those who feel that the last game of the season, against Charlton Athletic at Elland Road on Wednesday, is a dead rubber. We’re just going to have the Championship Trophy presented, see out the ninety minutes and make the most of such rest and recuperation as an abbreviated close season can offer.
But of course, with Leeds now being Marcelo Bielsa‘s United, it can’t be as simple and undemanding as that. Those weary lads will be required to go out there and achieve victory in their accustomed relentless style, as happened in a particularly satisfying manner as recently as yesterday at Derby County. And that’s just as it should be – but not only because it’s in the DNA of el Loco’s Leeds to finish on a high.
Cast your minds back to last week, and the Barnsley game at Elland Road. It was a vital match for both sides, and the nervous tension was palpable. The events of this last weekend make last Thursday seem a lifetime ago now, but the fact is that we were taken to the limit and beyond by a Barnsley side scrapping for survival. The Tykes pushed us all the way and made life exceedingly uncomfortable for a home side that had recently dismantled a Stoke team just coming off the back of a four goal thrashing of Barnsley. The sums should have added up to a comfortable passage for Leeds, but football isn’t like that, and Barnsley gave us a gruelling examination and one hell of a scare. They had no luck, Dame Fortune entirely ignored their plight, and they suffered a one goal defeat courtesy of putting the ball into their own net in the first half. Barnsley were massively hard done by; Leeds, for once, got the breaks, and we were on our way up into the Promised Land.
I can’t recall many matches like that Barnsley game. It was completely unenjoyable; even after the final whistle, the main feeling was of a slightly hollow relief that we’d somehow got the points. I was left somewhat bewildered and nauseous, the kind of feeling you have when you manage to walk away unscathed from a car accident or some similar mishap. And of course, it was even worse for Barnsley fans, who didn’t even have that sense of relief and having got away with something. All they could do was to take the positives from what had been an excellent performance, and vow to grab the campaign’s remaining points in the hope that would keep them in the Championship for next season.
That vow was half-fulfilled yesterday as the Reds of Barnsley felled the Tricky Trees of Nottingham Forest with a late, late winner at Oakwell, to keep those flickering hopes alive. Now, they must go and win at Brentford, against a side still smarting from the defeat at Stoke which confirmed Leeds as Champions and handed back the advantage to West Brom in the race for that second auto spot. It’s a big, big ask for Barnsley, but surely not beyond them, if they can match the performance they put in at Elland Road, where they were, in my view and that of many others, the best visiting side Leeds have played this season.
If Barnsley were to win at Brentford, they’d still need other results to go their way, and that’s where we can help, by beating Charlton Athletic and giving our worthy opponents of last week some sort of chance. Various disciplinary issues involving the likes of Wigan, Sheffield Wednesday and even Derby County, could yet change to landscape of the Championship’s lower half. But Barnsley can’t and won’t rely on that – they will be focused on winning at Brentford, and hoping that others can do them the favours they need against their immediate rivals. Let’s hope that Leeds United can provide that helping hand and help save the Tykes. Sorry, Lee Bowyer, thou good and faithful servant of yesteryear, because this might seem rather churlish. But it really is the least we can hope to do for the fellow Yorkshire club that pushed us all the way on that nervy Elland Road evening of last week.
Marching On Together
Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything 
Rob? my absolute sentiments entirely,last year and the year before we would have lost that game.They were tireless.I thought they would fade after the break,wrong.I really didnt expect a win during the game.Would being born near Barnsley affect my judgement,no it didnt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll support that as well.
They played their boots off, it would be nice if we could help.
.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly! MOT
LikeLike
I tried to describe the feeling after Barnsley Rob and couldn’t but you’ve just nailed it with the car crash analogy. It was almost as if the football gods had finally changed allegiance, or at least stopped sh*tting on us, maybe with a bit of ‘encouragement’ from Big Jack, Norman and Trevor. Barnsley became Leeds on the night with their (lack of) luck. Similarly, results then going our way at Huddersfield and then Stoke, it was all a bit bewildering. Add to that Norwich already down, Villa hopefully following and even Scum lost in the cup, this just doesn’t happen to Leeds Utd, no matter how well we’ve played or much we deserve it!
Like many of us, I was in Bournemouth last time around and the overriding feeling for me then was one of relief, swiftly followed by emotion and then celebration. This time was the same, very emotional (must be my age) and eventually excitement and pride.
I too really hope Barnsley survive – MOT David
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s been a hell of a few days, alright. Glad you’re wishing Barnsley well MOT
LikeLike
Was with a mate, Barnsley born & bred, 80 & with health issues but wished LUFC all the best after this weekend
Be lovely if we could do them a favour with Charlton after the way Barnsley pushed us ALL the way.
Good luck Barnsley
LikeLiked by 1 person
Having been abused at “the old valley” in the sixties I concur that we should do our bit and try to support fellow yorkies to the end.
MOT
Gordon
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you will find that Barnsley will have been the second best side to have visited Elland Road this season after Wednesday night. Ask form team Wigan how they managed to steal a point when we we all over them, like a rash. Even the partisan Wigan press conceded they were a clear second best at the Valley and most fortunate to walk away with anything at all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brave words, but we owe you one anyway.
LikeLike
Vic? Vic?? You ok, hun?
LikeLike
Rob, you have a good heart – akin to Bielsa’s notions of fair play and respect. Were the boot on the other foot, I doubt that Barnsley fans would have such fine feelings. Nevertheless, why not? Haha, and 93 points will add extra shine to the trophy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, there is that 😎
LikeLike
Barnsley don’t deserve to be in this league. When Leeds played Barnsley at theirs early in the season they were awful. They didn’t try to play football. They slowed the game down, the goalkeeper moved in slow motion when taking a goal kick. They argued to the ref all the time. Went down too easy at the faintist of touches and in agony. They are where they are for a reason, for their negative play. If they had played all season like they did at Leeds last week, then they wouldn’t be where they are now.
No sympathy for them
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Rob Atkinson for your gracious words about Barnsley. We need Leeds to go all out for the win to help out their brave Yorkshire neighbours.
LikeLike
You’re welcome Sir. Whatever’s left of my conscience (not a lot) was agonised by the fact that you got nowt at Elland Road, and I was delighted to see you beat Forest. I’d be even happier if you took the sting out of the Bees and, in that case, I hope we’ll have helped out by sending Charlton home pointless. UTR and MOT!
LikeLike
Millwall will miss Leeds. Deep down all followers of Millwall knew it was the massive loyal away support of Leeds United that paid Millwall’s and all other Championship clubs electricity bills.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll be honest i was a bit miffed at the Barnsley result and the manner of it as I also think they’re the best team to visit Elland Road this season. If their forward Jacobs had learned to kick with his left foot it may have been a different story. Lets hope things go their way on Wednesday especially as I have no sympathy for Lee Bowyer now,great player but a lousy man. He was one of many who dropped us in it towards the end of our last time in the Premier League.
LikeLiked by 1 person