Kilgallon signed for Sheffield United last January from Yorkshire rivals Leeds United and has yet to net his first goal for the club; until today! Last week at Norwich City he bundled the ball home in the final minute of the game to equalise, only to see his effort wrongly disallowed for offside.
He got on the end of a Keith Gillespie free-kick to head home in this Yorkshire derby, which the Blades have not won since February 1996 when, under the leadership of Howard Kendall on loan striker Brett Angel netted the only goal of the game at Bramall Lane.
After that defeat at Carrow Road last weekend, Blades boss Bryan Robson made wholesale changes; with Billy Sharp installed in place of Chris Armstrong with the former Scunthorpe United forward linking up with James Beattie.
The Blades aim this season is to bounce back and win promotion to the Premier League; a win against the Tykes could add as an impetuses to achieve this goal.
At the other end Barnsley boss Simon Davey brought in Dutch left full-back Marciano van Homoet who made his debut following the injury to Robert Kozluk and the suspension of Dominik Werling.
Within nine minutes of the start the Blades took the bull by the horns and almost took the lead when Nick Montgomery found his way into the box only to find him tackled from behind by Brian Howard with appeals for a penalty turned away.
The Blades played more direct football, United pressed forward once again via Michael Tonge firing a long range shot which was snuffed out by keeper Heinz Muller.
Moments later the German keeper, who is wanted by a number of Premiership clubs kept out defender Phil Bardsley who came close to scoring.
Then, Gillespie strung in a free-kick which was cleared by the Tykes defence, Kilgallon struck low which curled wide of goal, Montgomery picked up and his cross almost dropped at the far top corner with Muller scrambling to safety.
Ten minutes after the break the visitors carved out their first effort of the match; Martin Davaney found Jon Macken wanting; the former Manchester City striker headed back to Istvan Ferenczi but Kenny produced a great save to keep out the lanky Hungarian.
In the 64th minute Sheffield United finally took the lead, the Tykes conceded a free-kick 35 yards away from goal; Keith Gillespie lofted a dangerous cross which was eagerly met by the head of Matthew Kilgallon who steered the ball past a flapping Muller; this week there was no offside flag!.
The visitors made little attempt to get back into the game whilst United almost made it two-nil on 70th minute. Phil Bardsley, on loan from Manchester United ghosted through and shot low past the goal with Muller stood still.