Leeds United v Barnsley: Must-win clash for both derby rivals at Elland Road - YEP jury

MATTHEW EVANS

Paul Heckingbottom has the dubious record of having steered two sides towards the foot of the Championship this season and I suppose we should be thankful that United are not in the position that Barnsley find themselves in ahead of tomorrow’s game.

Of course that’s not to say that this is all Heckingbottom’s fault. What he had to work with at Barnsley was, by all accounts, less than ideal and followers of Leeds United’s season have been quick to criticise Andrea Radrizzani, Angus Kinnear, Victor Orta and nearly every player at some point or another. It can’t be that everybody at the club is useless and the fact is that nobody knows precisely who is to blame. While it must be sorted for next season, we should be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water.

Tomorrow’s game is a Yorkshire derby against a side scrapping for their lives.

A side that inflicts humiliation on us on a yearly basis and is out for revenge against our manager. The likely outcome is obvious.

Prediction: Leeds United 1 Barnsley 2.

DAVID WATKINS

It would be easy to write off this game as meaningless for Leeds, important as it is for the Tykes as they continue to battle against relegation. But the game is pretty important for Leeds too.

We are in desperate need of a victory and a rip-roaring performance to steady our ship and to bring to an end this appalling run of results. The mere thought of not winning again this season and going into the summer break on the back of this unheralded sequence brings me out in a cold sweat.

With so many players still missing through injury or suspension though, it won’t be easy to get anything from a Barnsley side on Championship death row. They have a recent record almost as bad as ours, with just two wins in 16 games but I’m sure the desire in the Barnsley camp to get one over on their former gaffer will be just as powerful as Heck’s desire to get the fans off his back. I’m torn between accepting that Barnsley’s need is greater and the thought that we’ve actually played some decent stuff at times recently without any reward. I’m going with the positive outlook.

Prediction: Leeds United 3 Barnsley 1.

KEITH INGHAM

In a season that promised so much but delivered a mid-table place for the first team it is very pleasing that the youngsters in the under-23s and under-18s are showing what hard work and endeavour can get you. The senior squad could well do well to copy their efforts.

Barnsley are in the bottom three for a reason, they have won only eight games so far this season and one in the last six games. They did get a much needed point in a relegation ‘six-pointer’ with Bolton last Saturday.

With only three games to play it is to be seen if Paul Heckingbottom increases the number of youngsters in the 18 for the Barnsley game, Sam Dalby has done superbly in his games with the under-23s and surely he’s a better option than Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Jay-Roy Grot!

Eunan O’Kane could be fit and offer an alternative to either Ronaldo Vieira or Kalvin Phillips. Paudie O’Connor and Tom Pearce played well enough at Villa to keep their places in the starting XI, Pontus Jansson or Matthew Pennington could partner O’Connor at centre-back.

It’s a game that Leeds should win, but it’s a derby and Barnsley are fighting for their Championship lives, so another ‘limp’ performance by Leeds could heap more pressure on a head coach that has not convinced the masses in Leeds 11 that he is the man to continue in his duties after the season finishes.

He needs a win and he needs one tomorrow!

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Barnsley 1.

MIKE GILL

The penultimate game at Elland Road tomorrow brings a visit from a struggling Barnsley side.

Football has a habit of producing fixtures like this. For Paul Heckingbottom, the timing of this clash is not ideal. Although he will say that it is just another game, the need to win this one sits heavily on his shoulders.

Although they are in the drop zone, Barnsley have a game in hand over Bolton and Birmingham who have two more points than them.

This represents a real opportunity for them to avoid relegation.

Heckingbottom achieved great things at Oakwell under tough circumstances but never really managed to consolidate their position in the Championship.

Current manager Jose Morais has not fared any better and their recent form shows just one win in the last six outings, taking six points.

United, sadly have only taken four points out of their last six games and need to win this one.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Barnsley 1.

SHAUN SMITH

It’s showdown time down at Old ER. The Barnsley gang are in town, desperate men who have hit rock bottom and will stop at nothing to get what they want.

It’s up to one man to shoot them down, Paul Heckingbottom. They may be kith and kin but it’s kill or be killed for Heck. He used to run with the Barnsley Boys but he’s got a badge now and that badge means something round these parts. Well at least to some it does. Some of the townsfolk are saying that he ain’t man enough for the job, his posse can’t shoot straight, that we need a new sheriff and he ain’t got what it takes to run a hell-or-high water town like ours. Well, Heck thinks different; he’s got big plans and those Tykes might be his own flesh and blood but it’s going to be their blood that’s getting spilled come tomorrow. Sometimes, a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do and there ain’t no room for sentiment. This is Heckingbottom’s town now and he calls the shots and he ain’t in no mood to take a bullet.

Prediction: Leeds United 1 Barnsley 0.