Leeds chief gives critical fan furious riposte after late Bamford equaliser
On the pitch and in the directors’ box, they know how to do late drama at Elland Road. After successive injury-time rescue acts, there was the sight of the Leeds chief executive restraining Victor Orta, their transfer chief, as he argued with a supporter.
Marcelo Bielsa’s team may not be the entertainers of last season, but they have a knack for exciting finales. After snatching a last-gasp victory against Crystal Palace, they needed Patrick Bamford to earn a point in the 95th minute here. No team in the Premier League have scored more often when the game goes into time added for stoppages.
It felt like victory as Bamford, returning after more than two months out with an ankle injury, ran off to celebrate after using his knee for the equaliser with almost the last touch of the game. Orta felt it was time to give a riposte to criticism he heard from the crowd, with security and chief executive Angus Kinnear holding him back.
Bamford’s return for Leeds is timely, given in their next run of games they face Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool. While he was in the treatment room, Leeds managed only eight goals in 11 games, but it took him less than half an hour to get back to scoring after being introduced as a substitute.
“I felt rusty as hell,” Bamford said. “Sometimes, when you’re out injured you become a better player all of a sudden. There was a bit of pressure but to score is always nice, especially as it rescued a point.”
Leeds could also face a Football Association investigation after Sergi
Canos was floored by an object thrown from the crowd after helping inspire a turnaround for Thomas Frank’s team and scoring to put them within sight of victory.
Tyler Roberts had earlier opened the scoring for Leeds with only his second goal in the Premier League. Raphinha crossed and Roberts slid in to side-foot into the net.
With Ivan Toney ruled out after testing positive for Covid-19, Frank’s team relied on attacking as a group and swung the game around with neat passing in dangerous areas.
Their equaliser stemmed from Rico Henry chasing down a seemingly lost cause on the left and keeping the ball in play. It allowed Canos to cross, and the ball flicked off Diego Llorente for Shandon Baptiste to volley into the bottom corner.
Brentford had taken advantage of
Kalvin Phillips picking up an injury, scoring when the England midfielder was struggling. He was taken off and headed straight down the tunnel for treatment, with the visitors then adding their second goal.
“Yes, it had an influence, which isn’t to say we shouldn’t be in a position to play with one player less,” Bielsa said.
For his goal, Canos exchanged passes with Baptiste and Bryan Mbeumo, whose reverse ball opened up the Leeds defence. As Illan Meslier rushed out, Canos found the roof of the net. But Bamford had the last word, forcing the ball in off the bar.
Despite the draw, Frank felt it was points dropped, considering the way his team played without Toney. “At this moment, my feeling is definitely not to celebrate,” he said.