Leeds United picked up a win in the Championship yesterday, with Paul Heckingbottom getting one over his old side Barnsley. Goals from Tom Pearce, his first for the club, and Ezgjan Alioski gave the West Yorkshire side all three points. It was only Leeds United’s third win of 2018. But once again Leeds did so largely without their January transfer window signing Adam Forshaw.

Forshaw came into the game in the 84th minute. It is now the first time he has enjoyed a win as a Leeds player.

When Leeds turned over Forshaw’s former club Brentford in a 1-0 result back in February the midfielder was with his wife, who was giving birth. He was also injured when Leeds beat Bolton Wanderers on Good Friday, with a calf problem.

In fact, until yesterday’s cameo appearance, Forshaw had a record of played nine, lost five drew four and conceded 20.

Of course, this is not a case of pinning the blame on the new boy. In general, Leeds’ entire first-team squad has performed badly since the turn of the year.

However, since his January arrival, Forshaw has been well received by Leeds fans for his performances. In a season where the likes of Eunan O’Kane, Kalvin Phillips and Ronaldo Vieira have been roundly criticised the new recruit was getting off very lightly.

(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

When you consider the fact he has not yet made a real contribution toward Leeds United winning a game, it is perhaps a shock to see him being so well received compared to the other central midfielders at Leeds.

O’Kane has had a poor season whilst Phillips just looks like being an inconsistent player. Vieira has struggled with tendonitis but, in recent games, has rediscovered his form.

Forshaw has not particularly performed any better than the other central-midfield options at Leeds, in particular, the younger pair, and he will need to improve next season if he is to have a major impact on the Leeds first-team.

Leeds United picked up a rare 2018 win in the Championship yesterday, defeating relegation-threatened Barnsley 2-1 at Elland Road. A first senior goal from Tom Pearce gave Leeds the lead before youngster Paudie O’Connor put the ball in his own net to level the scores. But Ezgjan Alioski finished from close range after Kemar Roofe’s excellent run to give Leeds the win they deserved against the Tykes.

For Leeds boss Paul Heckingbottom it was obviously a very important game. Barnsley, of course, was his last club and so defeat would have made him look a fool for jumping ship to West Yorkshire.

His Barnsley past has also seen him linked with plenty of the players in red, so Leeds fans got a chance to see them in action.

(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Oli McBurnie and Tom Bradshaw have both been linked with moves to Elland Road recently, as has defender Andy Yiadom.

The Ghanaian full-back is out of contract in the summer and, as reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post last month, Leeds are set to offer him a deal at Elland Road.

The versatile 26-year-old, who can play as a full-back or winger on either side of the pitch, looks to be a good recruit for Leeds on paper.

Leeds have had issues at the back this season, with injuries, suspensions and poor form all impacting the likes of Gaetano Berardi, Laurens De Bock, Vurnon Anita and Luke Ayling.

After excelling in the lower leagues with Barnet he has become a staple of the Barnsley defence. Such consistent form saw him pick up his first caps for the Ghanaian national team.

But based on his performance yesterday, fans were not overly impressed with the idea of him becoming a Leeds player.

(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

In the second-half he struggled to deal with Leeds attacker Roofe, who had one of his best games in a Leeds shirt for some time. It was his mistake that allowed Roofe to power into the box and lay on Leeds’ winning goal for Macedonian attacker Alioski.

Yiadom did not have a particularly poor game but Leeds fans are just hoping for a little more than a player who has battled relegation his entire Championship career.

If Leeds are going to fight for promotion, the feeling is that more illustrious options should be considered by the Elland Road management.

Here is some of the best fan reaction to Yiadom’s display against Leeds United…

Only 20 mins but if #LUFC interested in yiadom and mcburnie based on what I’ve seen let’s get a proper a coach and pass they are very poor

— Leeds Fan in Chicago (@ChicagoWhite) April 21, 2018

Yiadom though, no thanks. #lufc

— Craig Reeves (@vivareeves) April 21, 2018

Interesting only two Orta signings started today….McBurnie & Yiadom pretty unimpressive @WYSdaily #lufc

— Mark Philmore (@IdlePastimes) April 21, 2018

Yiadom was awful today and he was playing in his best postirion

— Aaron (@AaronLUFC__) April 21, 2018

3pts but another inept performance against a poor team. If we’re really after players like Yiadom and Mcburnie we’re going nowhere #lufc

— markcally (@markcally8) April 21, 2018

Watching 3 players from BFC who have been linked with LUFC. #lufc Bradshaw. No thanks. McBurnie, yes please. Yiadom ‘doubts it’.

— Dr.T (@DoctorT1992) April 21, 2018

Pmsl …Yiadom really was below average yesterday . Marriott untested at this level just as roofe was .

— wayne mace (@lufc_macey61) April 22, 2018

In the summer Leeds United needed to find a player to replace their outgoing £15 million striker Chris Wood. The New Zealand international had scored 30 goals in the season previous, so Leeds had big boots to fill. The man they tasked with achieving the feat was German striker Pierre Michel-Lasogga.

Signed from Hamburg on loan, it looked a good deal. Lasogga had up and down points but, at the start of March, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds were in talks with Hamburg regarding a permanent stay.

As it was, nothing could be put together and Leeds fans will be relieved that is the case.

(Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

At the time the YEP state Lasogga was being chased permanently the German was in fine form and was increasing his popularity with the Leeds fans. He had just scored five goals in seven games. Add that to the five he already had and Lasogga’s stats looked reasonable with 10 from 22 games.

But since then the German has been poor. He has failed to score in his last nine games and has lost his place in Paul Heckingbottom’s starting XI to Caleb Ekuban.

(during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Derby County at Elland Road on October 31, 2017 in Leeds, England.

Lasogga, who also would have commanded a hefty salary at Leeds, is simply not up to the task physically of being the goal-getter that Leeds need and the last two months have proved just that.

Leeds could have made a big mistake if they had secured the permanent move for Lasogga and have been left paying somebody who is clearly not good enough a lot of money.

This summer the West Yorkshire side need to finally replace Wood, the man whose goals guided them to their promotion chase last season.

But thankfully they did not manage to put a deal together for Lasogga in March, because he is simply not the man for the job.