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Patrick Bamford draws loud but mixed reaction from Leeds United crowd in Huddersfield win
There was “booing” for Patrick Bamford when he came on for Leeds United against Huddersfield but he also had “plenty chanting his name”, according to Phil Hay.
The Athletic journalist reported via Twitter from Elland Road on 28 October where the English forward came off the bench in the second half of a strong 4-1 win, in his first appearance since missing a crucial penalty in the 1-0 defeat at Stoke City in midweek (25 October).
Hay himself had expressed surprise ahead of the weekend that the penalty issue hadn’t been addressed with Bamford in the summer, in the wake of the 30-year-old receiving personal abuse after missing a previous pressure kick against Newcastle during last season’s relegation battle.
It appears there was a mixed reception from the Elland Road crowd for the striker on Saturday, with chants of his name audible on the match broadcast and Leeds Live’s Beren Cross reporting “Bamford’s name being loudly sung around all sides of Elland Road after coming on for [Georginio] Rutter”.
Although BBC Radio Leeds‘ Jonny Buchan reported live on the station following the final whistle a message he had received saying there were “definitely audible boos in the East Stand” (2.45pm).
Majority support
The abuse that Bamford has received has gone way too far in recent months and it seems like most of the Whites support in the ground this weekend are aware of that and have looked to head it off.
Fans are entitled to make their feelings clear up to a point on the day, although booing a player for missing a penalty is unlikely to inspire the lift in confidence he surely needs.
It might however stop him from trying to take further kicks that he clearly would be better off leaving well alone, and if he can take heart from most of the crowd signing his name to start finding the net again without penalties it would be the ideal outcome.
Having been overtaken by Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter under Daniel Farke, and with the likes of Mateo Joseph coming through behind, it may be that Bamford doesn’t remain at Elland Road for the long-term now anyway.
In some ways he would likely be better off with a fresh start even allowing for all that he has achieved as a Leeds United player.
The Marcelo Bielsa squad is gradually moving on and his opportunities are now being increasingly limited due to the form of his teammates rather than the miserable injury luck he has had.
If he does go there will be some who would be glad to see the back of him but it sounds like the lion’s share of the fanbase recognise what he has done for the club and the difficulties he has been through along the way.
In other Leeds United news, Adam Pope has shared a Crysencio Summerville injury update for Leicester after the Huddersfield win.