Kyle Bartley and Pablo Hernandez were both on target for Leeds United on Saturday as Garry Monk's side bounced back from defeat at Bristol City on Tuesday to record a fourth successive home win in all competitions.

United, who were beaten 1-0 at Ashton Gate in midweek courtesy of a Marlon Pack strike, were many observers' favourites to take the spoils in this game against a Barnsley side who were the Championship's top scorers prior to kick-off at Elland Road. It is fair to say that the Whites did not disappoint in front of 27,350 fans, putting in a terrific team performance to secure victory in their last match before the international break. Goals either side of half-time from defender Kyle Bartley and playmaker Pablo Hernandez proved to be enough as United survived a late Barnsley surge to win by two goals to one; a fifth victory in six games.

The result sees Leeds rise up to 11th in the table, overtaking Wolverhampton Wanderers in the process, having amassed 16 points with 11 matches played. Barnsley meanwhile remain 10th in the table, with merely their goal difference (+5) keeping them one place above United, despite being deservedly beaten by the Whites.

Leeds will now spend the majority of the next two weeks preparing for a trip to Derby County's IPro Stadium on the 15th of the month. United will be hoping for a repeat of last season's fixture; the Whites were victorious thanks to Tom Adeyemi and Chris Wood goals either side of a Chris Martin equaliser.

Team Lineups

Leeds United (4-2-3-1) - Green; Ayling, Bartley, Jansson, Taylor; Phillips, O’Kane, Hernandez (Roofe 84'), Dallas (Vieira 89'), Sacko (Antonsson 75'); Wood.

Unused Substitutes: Silvestri, Coyle, Cooper, Mowatt.

Barnsley (4-4-2) - Davies; Roberts, MacDonald, Scowen, Kpekawa; Kent (Bradshaw 82'), Hourihane, Yiadom, Hammill, Winnall, Armstrong (Watkins 65').

Unused Substitutes: Townsend, White, Jackson, Morsy, Lee.

First-Half

Before kick-off, both sets of players and both sets of supporters respectfully participated in a minute's applause in memory of Duncan Revie, who recently passed away aged 62 after a bout of illness. The thoughts of all of us at To Ell and Back are with his friends and family; may he rest in peace.

Barnsley, backed by a 2,413 strong travelling contingent of supporters, got proceedings underway, shooting toward the Kop. After a fairly bright opening five minutes from the hosts, United's Luke Ayling was required to make a brilliant defensive header to deny former Coventry hotshot Adam Armstrong at the back-post with ten minutes played.

Two minutes later, and the visitors would push forward once more; Adam Hammill seeing his low strike held by Rob Green in the United goal, the game's first effort on target. Josh Scowen would then try his luck five minutes afterwards, but his effort was deflected behind for a corner, before Andy Yiadom drilled a wayward effort wide of the mark.

At this point, Leeds were struggling to make any sort of inroads into their opponents' half of the pitch, and the away pressure just kept on coming. On 26 minutes, Conor Hourihane saw a low strike deflected behind with the resulting corner culminating in Cole Kpekawa blasting a speculative shot way over Rob Green's crossbar.

For all of Barnsley's pressure and blocked shots, it would be the hosts who would take the lead, arguably against the run of play. Pablo Hernandez conjured up a superb delivery from a corner and there was Kyle Bartley to bundle the ball home from close range to give United the lead with 36 minutes on the clock.

Leeds then began to be a little more adventurous in their approach. Eight minutes after going ahead, Hernandez looked to double his side's money with a well-hit effort from 20 yards, but the ball went straight into the path of Adam Davies who held comfortably.

That would prove to be the last act of the first period, with Leeds taking a slender lead into the interval despite a nervous spell midway through the half.

HT - Leeds United 1-0 Barnsley

Both sides remained unchanged for the second half, with Leeds leading thanks to Bartley's second goal in a United shirt.

Second-Half

As Barnsley had kicked off the first period, it was the prerogative of United to begin the second, shooting toward the Kop.

The hosts were fast out of the traps, and it was merely five minutes before Pablo Hernandez twisted and turned in the opposition area, evading several defenders before firing agonizingly wide.

Despite that miss however, the silky Spaniard would add to his earlier assist for the opening goal with United's second of the match just four minutes later. Hernandez, who had looked lively ever since his side had kicked off the half, latched onto a superb through ball from the tireless Eunan O'Kane before keeping his composure to slot the ball past Davies and into the net with an ice-cool finish; confidence personified. 2-0 Leeds, and any hopes of a visiting comeback were looking certain to have been erased.

Barnsley were rather rattled by that second blow from their opponents, and they could have been further behind just a minute after Hernandez's showpiece; Chris Wood firing over the bar after a neat right-wing cutback from Hadi Sacko. Wood would then have a further opportunity to score an eighth goal of the season just six minutes later; but once more, he snatched at his chance and blazed a wild effort well over from the edge of the box.

In an attempt to regain a foothold in the match, Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom threw on ex-Inverness striker Marley Watkins in place of the ineffective Armstrong with 65 minutes played.

Just five minutes later, and his side halved the deficit. A low Kpekawa cross from the left was inadvertently turned into the Leeds net by Charlie Taylor to make the score 2-1, and so begin a painful period of uncertainty for the hosts. Garry Monk responded by sending on Swedish striker Marcus Antonsson in place of the speedy Sacko with just over 15 minutes of normal time to play.

The former Kalmar striker nearly made an instant impact just three minutes after coming on; the Swede denied by an exquisite Davies save after neatly exchanging passes with Hernandez.

Substitutions for either side followed; with Kemar Roofe replacing Hernandez for Leeds and Tom Bradshaw coming on in place of Ryan Kent for Barnsley with just eight minutes of normal time to go.

Just moments after those tactical adjustments, Rob Green was called into a rare save, denying Barnsley talisman Hourihane, who had fired toward goal on the volley, with his legs. Pontus Jansson then made a crucial intervention to clear a powerful effort off the line just seconds later. Nervy.

Leeds made their final permitted substitution with added time on the horizon; Ronaldo Vieira replacing the ever diligent Stuart Dallas. Four minutes of added time were signalled, and Leeds managed to successfully negotiate this period to secure victory in their last match ahead of the international break.

FT - Leeds United 2-1 Barnsley - Bartley (36'), Hernandez (54'), Taylor OG (70').

A deserved victory for Leeds who battled well for the three points. Pontus Jansson and Kyle Bartley were colossal at the back once more, marking a usually potent Barnsley attack into sheer silence. Barnsley failed to create anything clear-cut when they were in the ascendancy and they were rightly punished when Bartley brought the ball in for the opening goal. When Hernandez doubled the lead you felt that it could be curtains for the visitors, and it would have been if Chris Wood had managed to convert one of the two glaring opportunities that fell to him shortly after the Spaniard's second Leeds strike. Charlie Taylor's unfortunate own goal made life more difficult than it should have been but nevertheless, Leeds held out to deservedly secure a pivotal three points.

Kyle Bartley and Pablo Hernandez's goals

Man of The Match

MOTM - Pablo Hernandez, Midfielder, Leeds.

The 31-year-old, formerly of Swansea City and currently on loan at Elland Road from Qatari moneybags Al-Arabi, played a starring role for Leeds on the day. He assisted Kyle Bartley's first-half opener with a sumptuous delivery from a corner, before clinically slotting the ball home to double United's advantage just nine minutes into the second-half. His vision and skill on the ball was also clearly visible to everybody in attendance, and he is good value for this accolade.

Media: Victorious Leeds United head coach Garry Monk and losing manager Paul Heckingbottom

Garry Monk speaking to the BBC:

"The way we started the second half - that first 20 minutes - was some of the best football we've played. We looked so aggressive and threatening all the time.

"We got the second goal and at that point you can sense blood. We should have got the third that would have killed the game but for one moment we switched off.

"Overall we're very pleased with the result and with the way this period of games has gone.

"It's a shame the international break has come. The last one we went in with a loss and felt it had come at the right time, but now we want the games to keep coming."

Paul Heckingbottom, also speaking to the BBC:

"It's not been a nice week.

"We just got on with it and tried to win, but it's not been nice.

"It was never in doubt that the players would give me application, effort and keep on doing what we do. That's what's brought us success and that's what we'll keep relying on.

"But there's definitely more positives than negatives from that performance."

Match Statistics and Facts

Stats - (Leeds/Barnsley)

Possession - 46/54
Shots - 10/10
On Target - 5/3
Corners - 6/5
Fouls - 8/9

Referee - Simon Hooper

Booked - Taylor (Leeds)

Attendance - 27,350

Writer's View

A fabulous victory and a highly credible showing on the team's behalf to round off what has been for the most part a wonderful month for us. We fought tremendously hard for the points and we got what we deserved, in my opinion. I also take the view that the blossoming of several key partnerships within the side has been crucially important to our success in recent weeks. You have the rock-like solidity and combative commitment of Pontus Jansson and Kyle Bartley at the heart of the defence, the integral industry and enthusiastic energy of Eunan O'Kane and Kalvin Phillips in the middle of the park, and the almost telepathic combination of the speed demon Hadi Sacko and the skilful Spaniard Pablo Hernandez.

In the short term, these partnerships will continue to bear fruit in the form of points for Leeds United, of that I've no doubt. However, questions must be asked of the club's long-term prospects; Jansson, Bartley, Sacko, and Hernandez, four of the heroes I have just heralded, are only contracted to the club on loan deals. In addition, Garry Monk is only on a one-year rolling contract. Despite recent results, an air of short-termism is still present and their futures must be decided sooner rather than later, or we run the risk of being left in the dust, trailing our divisional rivals with regards to the quality we can field in our lineup and the calibre of coach in our dugout.

But for now, we can sit back and reflect with glee on what has been a largely fruitful month in terms of results. Two home victories over Blackburn Rovers, coupled with our delightful display in Cardiff as well as a further two home victories over Ipswich and Barnsley on Saturday have ensured that there is something of a buzz emanating from Elland Road at present. We've often been dazzled by false rays of hope in recent years, and so the priority now must be to maintain this momentum and ensure that history does not repeat itself. That is in the best interests of both the club, and us, the supporters. This can only be achieved by securing our stars for the long-term. Whether Massimo Cellino will see to this however, is a question I pose with extreme caution.

Photo: Action Images

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