Michael Duff would love to give Barnsley fans a ‘great moment’ by stunning Premier League Leeds United in the EFL Cup tonight but at the very least wants a much-improved performance from his side.
The Reds visit Elland Road in a 7.45pm kick-off in the second round Yorkshire derby.
Duff told the Chronicle: “I am not sure the supporters have had many great moments in the last 12 months, and even the year before there were no fans.
“So it’s an opportunity to put three or four thousand fans together in a local derby and partizan atmosphere and see what happens.
“We won’t turn up and roll over, because if we do it could a long night and we remember it for all the wrong reasons. We will be positive, try to put a stamp down and see what happens.”
Barnsley were humbled 3-0 at home to Wycombe Wanderers in League One on Saturday, with Duff questioning their work-rate and attitude.
That left them with six points from their five League One games this season after relegation from the Championship.
The following day, Leeds won 3-0 at home to Chelsea in the Premier League.
Leeds have so far collected seven points from their three Premier League games this season.
The Whites are now bossed by American Jesse Marsch who narrowly kept them up last season after replacing Marcelo Bielsa in February.
Duff said: “It’s a good one after Saturday. It’s free hit. These are the games you want to test yourselves in. We have sold a lot of tickets. The fans and players are still working each other out which will take time.
“There might be a few changes in our team but we just want to perform well. If we get a result, great. The players will be better just for playing in the game but we’re not going there to make numbers up.
“Whatever team Leeds plays will be good. Jesse has got them back to a high-energy, pressing team similar to what has gone on here in previous years - it’s the Red Bull model.”
Goalkeeper Jack Walton added: “Everyone wants to play in these sort of games.
“It’s a good test against a Premier League team. We’re looking forward to it. It’s a Yorkshire derby, we’ve sold a few tickets and it’s good away day for the fans. We want to go there and give a good performance.
“We’re going there to win. It’s an opportunity to put a marker down for ourselves, with a. good performance then hopefully the result will come.
“They are a Premier League team so no matter who plays it will be a tough night.”
The Reds won 1-0 at Championship Middlesbrough last week in the previous round with Josh Benson netting in injury-time.
Barnsley have met Leeds 64 times, winning 20 and losing 27 including the last four.
They have never faced each other in the League Cup before.
Barnsley have lost their last three visits to Elland Road, the most recent time in July 2020 when a Michael Sollbauer own goal put Leeds on the brink of promotion to the Premier League.
Reds duo Liam Kitching and Clarke Oduor came through the Leeds academy.
Kitching never made an appearance before move to Forest Green then Barnsley while Oduor played once in the FA Cup before making the short journey to Oakwell.
