‘I’ve got myself in my own fantasy team!’ Leeds’ Patrick Bamford regrets not shooting for third goal
Patrick Bamford jokingly admitted he nearly went for goal instead of passing to Jack Harrison for Leeds‘ third goal at Leicester – because he has himself in his Fantasy Football team.
The Leeds striker put in a man-of-the-match display in the 3-1 win over Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes on Sunday afternoon, scoring one goal and laying on assists for Harrison and Stuart Dallas’ strike.
For the third goal, Bamford broke clear on the counter-attack but opted to square the ball to Harrison to tap into an empty net, rather than going for goal himself – a decision the 27-year-old nearly didn’t take.
Patrick Bamford said Fantasy Football was on his mind during Leeds’ third goal at Leicester
Bamford opted to square for Jack Harrison (right) to tap into an empty net instead of shooting
When asked about his two assists on Sunday, Bamford told Sky Sports: ‘Hopefully you’re seeing that every game but yeah it was nice to get the assists.
‘I think a lot of the boys expected me to shoot on the last one but Jack had it on a plate so I couldn’t shoot.
‘I’ve got myself in my own fantasy team so! But if I shoot there and I miss it’s not worth it so for the team we needed that extra comfort.’
Before laying on the ball for Harrison, Bamford netted a superb second goal for Leeds – a fine left-footed strike from just inside the penalty area that flew into the top corner of Kasper Schmeichel’s net.
Bamford (second left) had already put Leeds 2-1 in front with a superb left-footed effort
The goal was his 11th goal of the season and ended a barren run of four games without one.
Bamford admitted he was relieved to end the goalless streak, though he claimed producing a good performance was more important.
He added: ‘I would love to say I don’t think about it (the goal drought) but all strikers do.
‘As long as I keep putting myself in the positions, today was more important to give a good performance as I’ve been a little bit off it and that’s been the main aim for me and then it’s always nice to get a goal.’
Bamford ended a run of four league games without a goal in the 3-1 win on Sunday afternoon
Leeds had fallen behind to Harvey Barnes’ early goal and it appeared as if their winless run against the bigger Premier League sides would continue.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men had already been beaten by Chelsea, Tottenham Manchester United and Liverpool this season and they also failed to pick up three points against Manchester City and Arsenal – but they fought back to down the Foxes and claim an impressive victory on the road.
The Whites now lie 12th in the top-flight table, 15 points above the relegation zone and they also have a game in hand over 10th place Arsenal – who are two points above them.
Bamford scored and laid on two assists in a man-of-the-match display for the Whites
Bamford said afterwards: ‘It was a hard game, they’re (Leicester) a top team and they’re third in the table. We had to concentrate and really fight for it and we did in the end.
‘Massive, I think that I know we have only take a point before but we came close against Liverpool and then against Man City we got a point. And Man United and Tottenham we were off it.
‘But today we showed we can compete. The boys should be very proud of themselves.’
