Bamford sparkles for Leeds after England omission
PATRICK Bamford responded to his omission from the England squad with a goal as Leeds ended their misfortunes in the capital with an entertaining 2-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The defeat saw the Cottagers fail to grasp the opportunity to move out of the relegation zone for the first time since December.
After Bamford’s 29th-minute opener, Fulham’s Joachim Andersen got the equaliser with his first goal for the club, before Raphinha scored his sixth Premier League goal of the season, slotting the ball past goalkeeper Alphonse Areola for Leeds’ winner.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men had lost all five of their games in London this season, and were winless in their last 16 visits to the capital in all competitions, losing 14.
Leeds’ intensity proved too much for Fulham, who remain in the drop zone ahead of the crucial clash between Brighton and Newcastle today.
Bamford said: “The lads deseve a lot of credit, they had to do a lot of my running tonight because I was struggling from the get-go. It was a matter of time for how long I could last and at 77 minutes the legs packed in.
“For the majority of it we controlled the game. We created a lot of chances, I think the result was fair. Fulham are a lot better team since when we last played them and I think they’ll be fighting and might get out of it – you never know.”
On his exclusion from the England squad, he said: “Every player who gets called up thoroughly deserves it.
“I think a few who thought they might get called up didn’t and are disappointed. I just need to keep working and see if I can get my name in contention for the Euros. If I keep going as I am I think I’m in with a shot. If you told me at the start of the season I’d be linked with England I’d say you were bonkers.”