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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

The academy graduate who could delay Leeds United's promotion to the Premier League

Barnsley head to Elland Road with intentions of spoiling Leeds United's promotion plans.

That's the warning from Tykes captain and former Whites midfielder Alex Mowatt - an academy product and favourite of Neil Redfearn.

Following West Brom's goalless draw with Fulham earlier in the week, Marcelo Bielsa's side require just four points from their final three games to seal a return to the Premier League.

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Facing the division's bottom side does give United the edge on paper, but Mowatt believes Barnsley can turn the table upside down by springing a shock against his former club.

"It’s a big Yorkshire derby, we respect Leeds; they’re top of the league," Mowatt told the club's official website. "But we’re going there for three points.

"This is my club though. My only focus is on us and keeping us in the Championship. I’ve been here three years and I know what survival means for our club.

"We’re a young side, we’re fit and with our high-press we hope to catch Leeds out. The belief is still there in our side. We’ve had positive results since the restart, it’s not like we’ve struggled in the last six games.

"It’s not over, and I can’t wait to go to Elland Road and get that result for us."

"I wouldn’t say we lack bravery," he added. "I think we’re creating chances still. But we need to start putting them away.

"We should have beaten Luton and Wigan, in my opinion – we deserved to on the balance of play. But if you are wasteful in front of goal, you don’t get rewarded."

Not only do Barnsley face Leeds, but they end the season against another automatic promotion hopeful in Brentford which means they will have a huge say at the top of table.

"We’ve got the toughest run-in on paper," Mowatt said. "But we seem to have performed well in games against the so-called better clubs, the bigger sides, so hopefully that’s the case starting on Thursday.

"We think staying up this year would be a bigger achievement than actually getting here, considering everything. But we need to get a move on, start taking our chances."

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