Barnsley 5 Leeds United 2: Super Reds go nap and bring Leeds down to earth

Jonathan Howson had put Leeds ahead after just three minutes but a catalogue of defensive howlers allowed the Tykes to score five times in the last 48 minutes and maintain a 100 per cent home record.

Scottish international Garry O'Connor capped his debut with the equaliser just before the interval before second-half goals from Jim O'Brien, Diego Arismendi, Neill Collins (OG), and Adam Hammill sparked a chorus of "It's Just Like Watching Brazil" from the Pontefract Road End.

The win also put a big smile on the face of Barnsley manager Mark Robins who had been ribbed by Leeds supporters about his connections with arch-rivals Manchester United.

Over 20,000 fans packed into Oakwell for a night that will be long remembered in this corner of South Yorkshire. But it was truly a night to forget for Leeds.

The two clubs are now level on points in the table and Leeds have to recover in time for another Yorkshire derby at Doncaster Rovers on Friday.

There were less than three minutes gone when Leeds took the lead from the game's first corner. Neil Kilkenny delivered the ball low towards the penalty spot where Howson shot through a crowded goalmouth and past Luke Steele.

Nearly 7,000 supporters had followed Leeds down the M1 and the goal only served to heighten their noise levels.

Hammill eventually fired a reposte for the home side after 17 minutes but his on-the-run drive hit the side netting.

This first meeting between the two clubs in four years was played out at a high tempo but both sides struggled to create chances for long periods in the first half. There was certainly no sign of the goal frenzy that lay ahead.

Robins handed a first start to O'Connor who had joined the club on a month's loan from Birmingham City last weekend.

The burly Scot partnered former Leeds striker Andy Gray in attack while winger O'Brien also started for the first time since his summer move from Motherwell.

Leeds manager Simon Grayson had opted for Lloyd Sam instead of winger Sanchez Watt but otherwise stuck with the side that defeated Swansea City.

Barnsley nearly levelled on 37 minutes when Gray turned a corner from Jay McEveley goalwards but Leeds goalkeeper Shane Higgs blocked superbly with his legs.

Soon after, Arismendi headed another corner from McEveley wide.

However, with four minutes to go before the interval, Barnsley got back into the game thanks to some sloppy defending by Leeds. Winger Hammill had been running down a dead end street until Collins stumbled and allowed him to bring the ball back from the goal-line. Hammill then laid the ball into the path of O'Connor who showed his value with a neat finish beyond the reach of Higgs.

Leeds might have regained the lead immediately after the break when crosses fizzed across the Barnsley box but Gradel and then Becchio both failed to connect.

Yet it was their inadequacies at the back which would prove even more costly.

Another surge from Hammill, this time down the left, appeared to have been halted, however Paul Connolly and goalkeeper Higgs somehow got in a tangle.

The ball rolled away from the pair and left O'Brien, unmarked in front of a gaping goal, with a simple tap-in.

For the next 15 minutes, Barnsley took complete control but were unable to turn their superiority into goals. Gray shot wide from a great position and Higgs pushed a half-volley from Butterfield around the post.

Grayson introduced substitute Ross McCormack and the Scottish striker curled a 25-yard freekick inches over the bar.

But Leeds's evening got even worse as goalkeeper Higgs flapped at a corner and Arismendi scored from the tightest of angles. Barnsley began to run riot in the closing stages and Collins turned the ball past his own goalkeeper to make it 4-1 in the 83rd minute.

Barnsley fans were in dreamland a minute later as Hammill cracked home No 5 to round off an impressive performance. Leeds substitute David Somma pulled a goal back in the 86th minute but it did nothing to erase his side's pain or stifle Barnsley's joy.

Barnsley: Steele; Hassell, Foster, Shackell, McEveley (Doyle 90); O'Brien, Butterfield, Arismendi, Hammill; Gray, O'Connor. Unused substitutes: Preece, Lovre, Trippier, Neumann, Devaney, Dickinson.

Leeds United: Higgs; Connolly, Collins, Naylor, Bessone (Hughes 48); Johnson (McCormack 57), Kilkenny, Howson, Gradel; Becchio, Sam (Somma 66). Unused substitutes: Bruce, Clayton, Watt, Brown.

Referee: S Tanner (Somerset).

Tomorrow: Lucas Radebe talks about his life at Leeds.