We played better than when we did double, says Hassell

BOBBY HASSELL is adamant Barnsley’s performance was superior in defeat than the two displays that last season brought a first league double over Leeds in 22 years.

The Reds were condemned to a fourth reverse on the road in five outings by a controversial 42nd-minute penalty converted by Luciano Becchio.

Defeat was harsh on Keith Hill’s men, who created by far the lion’s share of chances in a hard-fought derby encounter but thanks to the profligacy of Jacob Mellis and Marlon Harewood were unable to prevent United keeping their first clean sheet since the opening day of the Championship season.

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Hassell, in common with his team-mates, cut a frustrated figure at the final whistle as he told the Yorkshire Post: “I still can’t believe we lost.

“Anyone who was at the game will be able to tell you we should have had at least one point. And, on reflection, I thought we deserved all three.

“I thought we played better this year than last year when we beat Leeds. And we won 4-1 and 2-1 last season so I think that says a lot.

“We had so many chances in the first half and if we had taken them then we would probably have gone and won 4-0 or 5-0 like at Birmingham. It wasn’t to be in front of goal, while I can’t really remember Leeds having a chance other than the penalty. We were really unlucky.

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“Unfortunately, football can be like that sometimes. So, while we were disappointed with the result, we weren’t too disappointed with the performance.”

The loss at Elland Road means Barnsley have gone into the international break with 11 points from 10 games, a return that means Hill’s side will spend the next couple of weeks sitting in 19th position.

At least the next couple of days are likely to be spent pondering just what went wrong at Leeds with the 42nd-minute decision by referee Darren Deadman likely to figure hugely in any post-match inquests.

Hassell, brought off the bench at half-time to replace Stephen Foster who had been injured in the incident that led to the spot-kick being awarded, said: “He (Lee Peltier) was only just in the box when he landed. And he jumped a few metres. The first incident was outside the box and that makes it hard to swallow.

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“That decision cost us the game. Goals do change games. Usually in this division, the team who scores first goes on to win or at least get a point.

“We got done by a bad decision. Then, we should have scored in the second half. We also had four great chances in the first half. It just wasn’t our day.”

On Barnsley’s display, Hassell added: “Leeds changed formation (around 20 minutes into the first half) and went to three at the back. They couldn’t cope with how we were playing. It did make a difference as we were not as dominant after that.

“But I still thought we dominated in terms of possession. Maybe we didn’t have the chances in the second half that we had before the break.”

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Becchio’s first-half penalty means Barnsley have now lost on the road at Wolves, Brighton, Blackburn and Leeds. Their sole success away from Oakwell is the truly stunning 5-0 triumph Hill’s men claimed at Birmingham City on September 22.

The club’s away form was something of a problem last season when just four wins from 23 outings contrasted sharply with the 31 points claimed on home soil.

Hassell, however, believes if Barnsley can maintain the quality of their away displays in the coming weeks and months then this will soon start to be reflected in results.

The defender, in his ninth season at Oakwell, said: “Results might not be tallying with performances right now but I am sure they will come. Anyone who has seen us for the last four or five years will be able to see this is the best football we have played.

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“We just have to turn that into results. That is particularly the case away from home, where I believe teams don’t pay us much respect. That means we are able to pass it round.

“At home, it can be that bit more difficult because teams sit off us and we have to try and counter-attack them. Look at the last two games. In the past week, Ipswich and Peterborough have come and sat there while playing in a direct way (to claim a 1-1 draw and 2-0 win respectively).

“As a result, we found it hard to break them down. It is something we will have to work on.

“Away from home, our performances have been outstanding. I know results haven’t been great but the results will change.

“We have one of the worst budgets in the league but I think people can see we are a team. The gaffer has given us confidence and he deserves plaudits for that.”