Bamford details what Mike Dean said after contentious decision v West Ham

Patrick Bamford has backed referee Mike Dean despite a number of decisions going against Leeds United in the 2-0 defeat to West Ham on Monday night. 

Leeds had two goals disallowed and Kalvin Phillips was booked in what talkSPORT's Adrian Durham said was a "joke" of a decision.

Durham said it was a "massive dive" and that Dean was "gullible" and fell for a loud shriek from Pablo Fornals.

Talking on the latest episode of the official Leeds United podcast Bamford said, "The referee said that he 'went in aggressively with his foot high'.

"There were a couple of them in midfield, Coops had one against him, so I don't know what's going on. But he's actually alright Mike Dean, he's a good one."

Talking about the VAR decision that saw Tyler Roberts' goal chalked off for offside Bamford said, "I touched it [the ball]. I had to or Cresswell was going to head it.

"But I thought when I touched it that Costa was miles offside so running back I thought it's one of them but I had to touch it.

"But then I got back in the dressing room and saw it, it was worse... I was annoyed about the one at Wolves with my knee, but it was ten times worse than that."

Fantastic insight

Bamford is a very nice man.

He speaks his mind on the podcast and getting an insight into what's going on and what's being said in the Leeds' games this season is fascinating.

We're a bit surprised that he came out to bat for Dean, though, especially after some of the decisions on Monday.

The Phillips booking was ridiculous and you can see from the still below that the foot wasn't high and that both players went for the ball at the same height.

However, it's maybe an indicator that Dean's reputation on the pitch isn't as bad as it is off it.

The offside goal had nothing to do with Dean. The linesman flagged and the real error came from VAR ratifying it.

The sheer volume of talk about VAR this season makes us believe that changes will be made.

Some already have and Robin Koch's handball in the first game of the season wouldn't be given now. That's another decision that Leeds aren't going to get back.

In other Leeds United news, Super Computer predicts where Leeds will finish in PL after 4 defeats in last 5 games