A number of Leeds United supporters were calling for Gaetano Berardi to lose his place prior to the 2-0 win at Barnsley on Saturday.
Summer signings Samu Saiz and Gjanni Alioski once again hogged the plaudits as Leeds United made it two wins from three games, with a 2-0 triumph away at Yorkshire rivals Barnsley on Saturday afternoon.
But the impressive performance of Gaetano Berardi at left-back should not go unmentioned. The versatile Swiss may be one of the most popular player on the Elland Road terraces, but even the most ardent Berardi enthusiast would have struggled to defend his recent displays.
Wolves clearly targeted him as the weak link in Leeds’ comprehensive 4-1 battering at Molineux on Tuesday night, with mistakes creeping into the usually solid and consistent defender’s game.
In fact, prior to Leeds’ tricky trip to Oakwell on Saturday, there was no shortage of Leeds supporters clamouring for the seldom-seen Manchester United loanee Cameron Borthwick-Jackson to be handed a run-out at left-back in his place.
It almost goes without saying, then, that a much improved performance against Paul Heckingbottom’s Barnsley could hardly have been better timed.
Berardi was back to his dependable and solid self, winning his personal battle with the hosts’ dangerman Adam Hammill and setting Leeds on their way to a first clean sheet since the 3-0 win at Bristol City over a month ago.
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