Perfect time for Bamford
BEES BROUGHT TO KNEES
TIMING is everything for a striker – and supersub Patrick Bamford picked the perfect moment to mark his comeback with a late, late equaliser.
Just 45 seconds of the five minutes of added time remained when Bamford netted on his return after nearly three months out with an ankle injury.
It was not one of his best finishes as he kneed home Luke Ayling’s flicked header, but it saved Leeds from defeat by Brentford after being the better team for most of the 90 minutes.
The point nudged them clearer of the relegation zone ahead of successive games against Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Brentford had taken just four points from their previous 21 so manager Thomas Frank was delighted with his side after losing striker Ivan Toney to coronavirus on the eve of the game.
Ayling also impressed for Leeds after being out since September with a knee injury but, as Bamford and Ayling returned, Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper limped off with knocks.
Leeds dominated the first half and deserved to take the lead. Pontus Jansson headed Raphinha’s cross straight back to him and the Brazilian sent a glorious ball across the six-yard box, where Tyler Roberts slid in his second goal in 42 league appearances.
Alvaro Fernandez pushed over Roberts’ 20-yard drive before denying Leeds again from Ayling’s header.
Brentford offered little before they equalised after Phillips was hurt.
Sergi Canos’s cross deflected off Diego Llorente and Shandon Baptiste shot home from just inside the area.
Shell-shocked Leeds fell apart. Canos missed with a back-post header but fired the Bees in front after Bryan Mbeumo slipped the ball through to him on the counter-attack. Canos appeared to be struck by an object from the Leeds fans as he celebrated.
But Bamford sparked pandemonium inside Elland Road with a later leveller.