Player ratings: How Barnsley and Leeds United performed at Oakwell

LEEDS UNITED returned north up the M1 with a fully-deserved three points after defeating hosts Barnsley at Oakwell.
Gianni Alioski curls in Leeds United's second goal at Oakwell. Picture: James Hardisty.Gianni Alioski curls in Leeds United's second goal at Oakwell. Picture: James Hardisty.
Gianni Alioski curls in Leeds United's second goal at Oakwell. Picture: James Hardisty.

Here, our writers give you the ratings of players on both sides. See if you agree and, if you do or don't, feel free to share your comments at the foot of the page.

Barnsley

Davies: Flapped at an early Hernandez corner but his blushes were spared when Alioski fired rebound wide. Not so lucky with the opener, the goalkeeper making a horrible mess of trying to divert Saiz’s shot away from danger - instead missing the ball completely 6

Samuel Saiz tries to engineer a move for Leeds against Barnsley at Oakwell. Picture: James Hardistsy.Samuel Saiz tries to engineer a move for Leeds against Barnsley at Oakwell. Picture: James Hardistsy.
Samuel Saiz tries to engineer a move for Leeds against Barnsley at Oakwell. Picture: James Hardistsy.
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Yiadom: Some wayward play at times down the right flank in the first half. Improved after the break but still no real threat 5

MacDonald: Couple of crunching tackles but, like many in red, he struggled to contain the inventive Leeds attack. Blocked late chance for Saiz 6

Lindsay: Headed wide when picked out by a Freyers free-kick just before the interval. Fortunate not to put through his own goal when cutting out a Saiz cross, the ball landing in Davies’ hands more by luck than anything else 6

Fryers: Did well to block Alioski just before the break when the Leeds man looked to be through on goal. Couple of decent deliveries from set-pieces 6

Leeds United's players celebrate their second goal of the afternoon. Picture: James HardistyLeeds United's players celebrate their second goal of the afternoon. Picture: James Hardisty
Leeds United's players celebrate their second goal of the afternoon. Picture: James Hardisty
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Potts: Struggled in a midfield over-run at times. Guilty of some sloppy passes as game passed him by 5

Williams: Struggled to pick up Saiz, meaning the Spanish midfielder was given far too much space at times. This was particularly evident for the opening goal when Williams was five yards away from the Leeds man as he raced forward to score 5

Moncur: Fouled by Pontus Jansson for the United defender’s early yellow card but, otherwise, the first half passed him by. Substituted 5

Hammill: Had little joy down either flank after being swapped from right to left at half-time following the substitution of Barnes. Booked. 5

Samuel Saiz tries to engineer a move for Leeds against Barnsley at Oakwell. Picture: James Hardistsy.Samuel Saiz tries to engineer a move for Leeds against Barnsley at Oakwell. Picture: James Hardistsy.
Samuel Saiz tries to engineer a move for Leeds against Barnsley at Oakwell. Picture: James Hardistsy.
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Bradshaw: Far too isolated up front in the first half with little or no support from his team-mates. Despite that, he competed well and almost forced a mistake out of Wiedwald when closing down the Leeds goalkeeper. 6

Barnes: Took exception to Ayling taking a tumble in the area and squared up to the Leeds defender to earn himself a booking. Fortunate to escape a second caution when he rugby tackled Phillips to the ground. Wisely substituted at half-time. 5

Substitutes - Gardner (for Moncur 46): Booked within two minutes of coming off the bench. Tame shot when presented with a chance late on. 5

Ugbo (for Barnes 46): Couple of flashes from the substitute but could not pep up a below par attack.6

Leeds United's players celebrate their second goal of the afternoon. Picture: James HardistyLeeds United's players celebrate their second goal of the afternoon. Picture: James Hardisty
Leeds United's players celebrate their second goal of the afternoon. Picture: James Hardisty
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Hedges (for Hammill 76): Lovely run and cross soon after entering the fray deserved better than a Leeds defender clearing two yards from his own goal. 7

Leeds United

Felix Wiedwald: A dime to the fan who gave Wiedwald his cap during the first half but he could have seen out the first half with his eyes closed. Barnsley gave him no trouble until one big save at the end - and no question at all that Leeds looked more stable at the back. 7

Luke Ayling - Cruised through the first half under no threat from Harvey Barnes and only in the latter stages did Barnsley get anything out of him. 7

Pontus Jansson: Booked very early, which might have caused a problem, but was disciplined from then on. Made Tom Bradshaw look out of his depth. 7

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Liam Cooper: Came up with a couple of late clearances which, while not necessarily crucial, prevented Barnsley from creeping back into the game. 7

Gaetano Berardi: Under pressure recently but much more dependable and wore down a player in Hammill who Barnsley would have expected to get something going for them. 7

Kalvin Phillips: He and O’Kane held the door in front of United’s defence and gave Barnsley nothing until O’Kane left the field. As a contest, there was none. 8

Eunan O’Kane: A shame to see him go off and Leeds were slightly more open after he did. Got the balance right by sticking his foot in and leaving the front four to play. 8

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Gjanni Alioski: Four goals in four games for Alioski now and he is coming back into the form shown in August. A real nuisance and finished beautifully. 8

Samuel Saiz: Gave Joe Williams the runaround and Barnsley’s failure to pick him up was fatal. The most influential player at Leeds bar none. 8

Pablo Hernandez: Helped to keep United ticking but a word too for his defensive effort, which was a 10-fold improvement on his work at Wolves. 7

Caleb Ekuban: More than good enough to keep his place. His movement was constant, his interplay was very good and Christiansen’s front four complemented each other well. 8

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Substitutes - Conor Shaughnessy (for O’Kane, 58): A first chance in midfield for him and Leeds looked a touch more vulnerable without O’Kane. 5

Kemar Roofe (for Ekuban, 80): A little too late to make a big impact. United weren’t looking to take any risks by then. 5

Jay-Roy Grot (for Alioski, 88): One run and shot towards the end. 5

Subs (not used): Andy Lonergan, Matthew Pennington, Vurnon Anita, Hadi Sacko.

Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire) - Was lenient with Barnes in the first half and should probably have sent him off. 5