A penalty from Luciano Becchio gives Leeds United the advantage at half-time in the Yorkshire derby with Barnsley.

Jacob Mellis had a good chance for the visitors in the fourth minute but the forward fired his effort over the bar after he made space for himself inside the box.

Barnsley were a threat from set pieces throughout the first half and Mellis was once against guilty of wasting a brilliant chance as he struck his effort straight at Paddy Kenny from close range.

Becchio had a great chance to give the hosts the lead midway through the first period but his header from 12 yards sailed over the crossbar following good work from El-Hadji Diouf.

Rodolph Austin threatened to give Barnsley the lead before the break with a curling shot from just outside the area but Kenny was able to watch the ball land safely wide.

However, Becchio had the chance to make the breakthrough when Lee Peltier was brought down by Stephen Foster and despite claims from the visitors that the challenge was made on the edge of the box, the Leeds striker chipped the ball straight down the middle of the goal.