Leeds United v Barnsley: Split loyalty's not an issue for former Tykes boss Heckingbottom

There was a tinge of relief in Paul Heckingbottom's smile when it was pointed out that he and Leeds United cannot physically relegate Barnsley.
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They can increase the likelihood of Barnsley’s demise but having burned bridges at Oakwell by abandoning the club two months ago, it would not have suited Heckingbottom to land the fatal blow tomorrow.

Leeds United’s head coach lives locally still and was back at Oakwell last Saturday for Barnsley’s 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers, his first visit there since he quit to take charge of Leeds in February. He might have felt a division of loyalties at Elland Road this weekend were his new job going to plan but Heckingbottom’s record makes the opposition irrelevant. A good result for Barnsley will pour vitriol on him.

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Leeds were coming apart at the seams when they approached Heckingbottom to replace Thomas Christiansen, trapped in a poor patch of form and crippled by indiscipline, but the month-and-a-half since has not been any better. The idea of a resurgent run to the play-offs was wiped out in a matter of weeks, put beyond much doubt by successive 3-0 defeats to Middlesbrough and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Heckingbottom is left to concentrate on the start of next season, a campaign which some doubt he will remain in charge to see.

Leeds United head coach Paul Heckingbottom.Leeds United head coach Paul Heckingbottom.
Leeds United head coach Paul Heckingbottom.

When he walked out of Barnsley, a departure which caught the board at Oakwell by surprise, did he think he was walking into a potential promotion bid at Elland Road?

“I was hoping, definitely,” Heckingbottom said. “But going in you do your homework. You see the injuries, you see the suspensions and you see the fixtures that were coming up.

“I said straight away that the first six games were going to define where we’d end up and unfortunately we found it too tough. We coped well in some games but were second best in two in particular where the gulf was too big. I think that was a fair reflection.

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“That was my dream, to come in, hit the ground running and be chasing things. But the longer-term goal, regardless of how that had gone, was improving things behind the scenes, improving how the club works and trying to create a bridge between the academy and the first team.

Tykes manager Jose Morais. PIC: Tony JohnsonTykes manager Jose Morais. PIC: Tony Johnson
Tykes manager Jose Morais. PIC: Tony Johnson

“Then we can create our own value rather than splashing cash the whole time, chasing the top teams. We can build something sustainable which we can build on and start challenging.”

Leeds are looking beyond the horizon of this season and the lack of competitive motivation at Elland Road, combined with the sense of lilting spirit amongst the club’s squad, gives Barnsley an opportunity this weekend. Barnsley have a precious game in hand over Bolton and Birmingham City, the teams directly above them, but are in a relegation position and have won only eight matches all season, six of them under Heckingbottom.

His replacement, the eccentric Jose Morais, is keeping the show on the road, but only just.

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Heckingbottom said he was hopeful of seeing Barnsley avoid relegation and confident that they would. “The game in hand’s a big one for them but you’ve got to go and earn it,” he said. “I’m saying I want them to stay up but I also want to beat them on Saturday, which would give them three games left. It’s going to be tough but other teams are dragged in there. They’re in a decent position.

Leeds United head coach Paul Heckingbottom.Leeds United head coach Paul Heckingbottom.
Leeds United head coach Paul Heckingbottom.

“At this stage form goes out the window and league position goes out the window. It’s just a battle and a scrap and we expect nothing less. There’ll be a frantic nature to the game at some points and there’ll be desperation because that’s what happens. It turns into a cup final, where it’s all about getting the win. That’s what changes it from a normal league game in mid-season.”

Heckingbottom’s ties to Barnsley are extensive and stretch back many years: a supporter first, a player second, an academy coach for a while and the club’s assistant boss before taking on the manager’s job in 2016. Despite that, he was pragmatic in response to a question about whether he anticipated abuse from the away end tomorrow: “Probably, yeah.”

“I’ve played against them before,” he said. “It’s nothing new. You can be team-mates first of all and then there’s a ball in between you and you’re going through each other to try and win it. It’s the same on the sidelines. You do all you can to win.

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“It was strange going back there (to Oakwell) on Saturday and watching. It’s the first time I’ve been back but when the whistle goes, that’ll be it. It’ll be red shirts and white shirts and you do your job. That’s the nature of it. Whether you’re playing or managing, you’ve got to be selfish. My job’s here and my job’s to get wins for this club.”

Tykes manager Jose Morais. PIC: Tony JohnsonTykes manager Jose Morais. PIC: Tony Johnson
Tykes manager Jose Morais. PIC: Tony Johnson

He has seen only two with Leeds, the second of them five games ago, and United’s season has petered out to the point where the club are marking time.

Heckingbottom went through a similar scenario with Barnsley last season, pushing impressively towards safety until mid-February before watching the club’s form fall away with one victory from their last 14 matches. The danger for him tomorrow is that his players are mentally elsewhere.

“Everyone has to guard against it, everyone at the club,” Heckingbottom said.

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“Things change tack and it sends a subconscious message to everyone that this season is over and you’re straight onto the next one.

“You have to be really careful that your actions as a club don’t promote that. But a derby game against a team scrapping for their lives – everyone will be up for it.”