Leeds United: Derby victory at Barnsley would complete '˜good week' '“ Christiansen

Head coach Thomas Christiansen said victory in Saturday's Championship clash at Barnsley would still mark a good week for Leeds United with the Dane predicting a 'good moment' for the Whites at Oakwell.
Thomas Christiansen.Thomas Christiansen.
Thomas Christiansen.

Three days after Sunday’s morale-boosting 2-1 success at home to Middlesbrough, United slipped to their eighth defeat from their last 11 league games at leaders Wolves on Wednesday evening as a 4-1 loss at Molineux saw the Whites slip to 10th place.

Leeds sit three points adrift of the division’s play-off places but also just three points ahead of 15th-placed Norwich City.

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But Christiansen believes that an away win at Barnsley in Saturday’s Yorkshire derby at Oakwell would leave Leeds reflecting on a good week as a whole by taking six points out of a possible nine. It would be a good return,” said Christiansen.

Diogo Teixeira da Silva scores Wolves' third goal against Leeds United.Diogo Teixeira da Silva scores Wolves' third goal against Leeds United.
Diogo Teixeira da Silva scores Wolves' third goal against Leeds United.

“This is our target, this is our mission and this is what we go for. We will be ready.”

Reflecting further on Wednesday’s loss at Molineux, Christiansen added: “I believe that the players know what they did well on the pitch, the response that they did, the confidence that they have from me and that we are a good team. We keep on fighting and this will be a good moment also on Saturday. We just need to have more of the ball but when we played more than eight or nine passes we created also some problems and we have the quality in the team to do that. This is what we are going to do on Saturday.”

Barnsley sit 17th after Tuesday night’s 1-0 loss at home to second-placed Cardiff City but the Tykes would move level with United if they beat the Whites at Oakwell and win their game in hand.

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Christiansen will also be forced into making at least one change with 19-year-old midfielder Ronaldo Vieira now serving a one-game ban for being sent off after receiving a second yellow card at Molineux.

Diogo Teixeira da Silva scores Wolves' third goal against Leeds United.Diogo Teixeira da Silva scores Wolves' third goal against Leeds United.
Diogo Teixeira da Silva scores Wolves' third goal against Leeds United.

United had given themselves hope of achieving a positive result at Wolves after Gjanni Alioski had netted in the 48th minute to reply to first-half strikes from Barry Douglas and Ivan Cavaleiro for the hosts.

But Vieira was sent off after receiving his second booking on the hour mark and Wolves put themselves out of sight with a fine finish from Diogo Jota in the 72nd minute, a goal followed by a Helder Costa penalty four minutes later.

“Of course Ronaldo will be out,” said Christiansen.

“We need to make at least one change and we are going to see which is the change that we are going to do and try to make the best decision.”

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The Whites head coach also said he would wait and see if he would once again be without German striker and top-scorer Pierre-Michel Lasogga who has missed United’s last two games with Christiansen reporting the forward as being ill.

Asked about the latest situation with Lasogga, Christiansen said following the defeat at Molineux: “We will see that when we come back.”

“Let’s talk about the players we have now today and from tomorrow we will see the rest.”