Bamford strikes again to hand on-song Leeds place in top 10
Leeds United tend to be defined by their past, but their future has become clearer and brighter this week. As they broke into the top 10, perhaps it looks better than at any point since David O’leary’s reign.
As Marcelo Bielsa continued to drop his strongest hints yet that he will commit to a fourth year at Elland Road, his side were excellent, energetic and emphatic in overwhelming Southampton, even if the modest manager said: “The difference between the two teams was not as big as the scoreline.” But he has been a difference-maker and, in his own inimitable way, he indicated his eagerness to stay.
“If the club offer me an extension and I delay it, that would seem as though the club is more interested in me than I am in the club, but that is not the case,” added Bielsa after victory took Leeds to 35 points. It is more than they got in the whole of their last season at this level and they have almost booked their place in next year’s Premier League with three months of the campaign to go.
If it represents remarkable progress for a promoted team, so does Patrick Bamford’s tally. A well-taken opener means only Mohamed Salah and Bruno Fernandes have more Premier League goals. Strange as it would have sounded 12 months ago, Bamford, with 13, is the top flight’s joint top-scoring Englishman.
No player has struck more for Bielsa in his long managerial career than Bamford and he was clinical when he met Tyler Roberts’ defence-splitting pass with a shot he angled into the far corner of Alex Mccarthy’s net. Then goalscorer doubled up as goal-saver, Bamford clearing Jannik Vestergaard’s header off his own line.
Stuart Dallas took Leeds’ second goal superbly after a pass from Helder Costa, a catalytic half-time substitute. And yet they were all overshadowed by a rampant Raphinha, who ought to have ended the evening with multiple assists and scored himself, bending a freekick past Mccarthy.
The Brazilian had been denied by one of the tackles of the season.
When Southampton were caught on the counter-attack, Oriol Romeu was left isolated against Raphinha but made up several yards and produced a magnificent last-ditch challenge.
Sadly for the Spaniard, his heroics were in vain and he hobbled off. “His ankle is not looking good,” said manager Ralph Hasenhuttl. Defeat left Southampton with a solitary point from eight games.
Leeds United (3-3-3-1): Meslier 7; Llorente 7, Cooper 7, Struijk 6; Ayling 7, Klich 6 (Alioski 59), Dallas 8; Harrison 5 (Costa 46, 7), Roberts 6 (Hernandez 74), Raphinha 9; Bamford 7. Subs Casilla (g), Gelhardt, Cresswell, Jenkins, Casey, Huggins. Booked Raphinha.
Southampton (4-2-2-2): Mccarthy 7; Bednarek 6, Vestergaard 7, Salisu 6, Bertrand 6; Ward-prowse 7, Romeu 7 (Djenepo 70); Armstrong 6, Tella 7 (Minamino 58); Adams 6, Redmond 6 (Ings 58). Subs Forster (g), Stephens, Ramsay, N’lundulu, Jankewitz, Chauke.
Booked Vestergaard, Djenepo.
Referee Andre Marriner (West Midlands).