Leeds must end an Oakwell jinx if they are to pick up three points at Barnsley tomorrow afternoon.

United have not won at the ground since November 1997, under the stewardship of George Graham, and even then had to come from 2-0 down to claim a 3-2 victory thanks to Derek Lilley’s winner.

Last season’s 2-0 loss was preceded by a 4-1 reverse on New Year’s Eve in 2011 and a 5-2 defeat in September 2010.

Now Brian McDermott is calling on his players to restore some pride and said: “We have to go and do our job.

“I know our history there isn’t great but we have to do ourselves justice. We’ve had too many games where we have let ourselves down and we want to restore our pride.

“The club is back on an even keel and we have to look forward to these last four games. They (Barnsley) are fighting for their lives but this is a derby and we want to do well for the fans.”

Barnsley avoided relegation on the final day of last season and they are once again threatening to stage their own version of the Great Escape.

The second-bottom club have won three of their last six games and beat fellow strugglers Charlton in midweek to improve their chances of staying up.

They will go into tomorrow’s game boosted by Tuesday’s 2-1 win and will be backed by a vociferous crowd, with McDermott warning: “It’ll be a good atmosphere but we have to handle that.

“Danny Wilson is a top bloke and a top manager. Barnsley won’t be looking for any sympathy about their position. We just have to do what we have to do and get the right result.

“We expect a typical derby game. We have to be ready for a physical encounter and we want to get the points.”