Luke’s day on the Ayl
AND BAMFORD’S A HERO TOO
MARCELO BIELSA singled out goal-shy Patrick Bamford after Leeds moved a step closer to achieving their Premier League dream.
The Whites have struggled for form since the turn of the year and striker Bamford has been an easy target for a section of fans to aim abuse at.
Despite scoring 12 times this season, Bamford is currently without one in four games.
But he played a huge part in helping secure this gritty but potentially crucial win over promotion rivals Bristol City.
Luke Ayling scored the only goal of the game but Leeds could – and should – have had a lot more.
And despite having a one chalked off for offside and being kept out by a superb save from City’s Dan Bentley, Bamford won praise from the fans, who gave him a standing ovation when he was replaced late on.
And Bielsa agreed with them. He said: “This is a player who strengthens the team. He allows us to play with our style. He has a special role in the team and the organisation of the team is linked to him.
“Of course, I would like him to be more efficient. But he is in good condition every match to score. We hope he gets what he deserves.”
The Whites would have been boosted by the lunchtime game that saw leaders West Brom drop two vital points at home to Nottingham Forest.
That meant Bielsa’s side could trim the gap between themselves and Albion to four points, which they duly did.
In typical Leeds fashion they started like a house on fire and scored early on – but then failed to build up the big lead their dominance deserved.
Former Robins man Ayling – who made 80 appearances for City – scored a rare goal when he stabbed home inside the box.
The hosts bossed the rest of the first half but just could not convert any of the many chances they fashioned.
Bamford thought he had doubled the lead when he tapped home from a few yards out only to see the flag raised for offside.
And the dominance continued after the restart with only Bentley and the woodwork preventing a whitewash.
The keeper pulled off two outstanding saves. The first saw him deny Bamford from just a few yards out when he looked destined to tap in.
A minute later he made an even more scarcely-believable save. Costa latched on to a long pass and rounded Bentley only for the City keeper to somehow stick out a hand and divert it behind for a corner.
Jack Harrison thundered a shot against the bar but Leeds’ wastefulness did not come back to haunt them and they held out for the points.
Bielsa’s side now sit three points clear of third-placed Fulham.
He added: “The team showed character on the pitch and if there was tension they didn’t recognise that.
“The performance, in general for the team, was positive.”
Bristol City offered precious little all afternoon, although they had a decent claim for a penalty waved away just after the restart.
Lee Johnson and his coaching staff were fuming after the ball appeared to be blocked by Ayling’s arm inside the box. But ref Tim Robinson was undeterred and waved play on.
Johnson admitted that Leeds were deserved winners but was still livid over the penalty verdict.
“It was an unbelievably bad decision,” said Johnson. “It was a penalty, 100 per cent – I think everyone could see that. That could potentially swing the momentum of the game.
“The referee has to get that right in a game as big as this one.”