Gary Lineker can’t believe Patrick Bamford controversy in Leeds United loss v Fulham, MOTD pundit calls argument ‘ridiculous’
Gary Lineker and Jermain Defoe cannot believe Patrick Bamford had his goal taken away from him as Leeds United lost 2-1 to Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
Bamford, 29, thought he had pulled a goal back for Leeds in their 2-1 loss in London before the goal was eventually adjudged as an own goal by Joao Palhinha.
Lineker and Defoe, both former England strikers, stuck up for Bamford but after seeing replays of the goal, they both admitted that it was going wide and it was correct to be given as an own goal.
Speaking on Match of the Day on Saturday [BBC iPlayer, 22 April, 53m09s], Lineker said: “They had a go at the end, they got a goal.
“Originally it was given to Patrick Bamford and then it’s been taken away from him.
“As a member of the strikers’ union, I think we’re being a bit disappointed with this, wouldn’t we?”
Defoe then offered his thoughts.
“I can’t believe it’s not been given to him,” said the former Tottenham striker.
“You see here with that little flick there. It was going in inside of the post.”
Lineker then admitted it “might have been going a bit wide” before the MOTD jokingly edited the image to show it was going in, leading to laughter in the studio.
Defoe admitted it was “unlucky” and said that he thought when he first saw it, he thought it was Bamford’s goal.
Ex-Wales defender Ashley Williams then got involved in the discussion.
He said: “It’s ridiculous, I’ve had it all day. Two strikers – you were both claiming it from the production office.”
Who cares?
We lost. We’re not going to sit here being bothered about whether Bamford scored or not.
At the end of the day, the facts speak for themself and the striker has been injured way too much over the last two years and when he has been fit, he hasn’t scored anywhere near enough.
He’s no longer fit for purpose for Leeds United and either he needs to be sold in the summer or an upgrade needs to be brought in so he can be a back-up option.
Rodrigo is our best option up front but he’s gone off the boil since his injury while Georginio Rutter may as well be playing Under-21s football for the foreseeable future.
Even if we go down, can we rely on Bamford?
He was hardly prolific in the Championship despite all the chances he had in Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
He’ll turn 30 in September but will still have three years left on his contract at Elland Road.
It may be wise to try and cash in before it’s too late.
In other Leeds United news, one player had a 3/10 shocker in our ratings for the defeat to Fulham.