Jonny Buchan: Leeds United ace Patrick Bamford looks ‘frustrated’ after what happened
Patrick Bamford looked “frustrated” during the Leeds United game against Swansea City on Wednesday (29 November), according to Jonny Buchan.
Speaking on the Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on Thursday (30 November, 11:26), the BBC Leeds journalist pointed out an incident where the Whites forward, who came on for the final 20 minutes in the 3-1 victory, wasn’t on the same page as Jaidon Anthony and the move broke down.
He added that it’s “just not happening” at the moment for the 30-year-old as he is still looking for his first goal of the season since returning from injury a couple of months ago.
“Bamford looked frustrated to me,” said Buchan. “Even just in those 20 minutes, he looked frustrated. I think the near-post chance he had is a bit behind him, so I think it’s harsh to say he should finish that one because it is a tricky one.
“But the one for me is, where the ball is played through to Anthony and Anthony’s through on goal and he’s got Bamford to his front left, but Bamford never gets back in an onside position, so I don’t know what he’s wanting to happen there.
“He’s not making a distracting run taking a player away with him and he’s not getting into an onside position so it can be played through to him. When the ball is finally played, he’d stopped and that’s when it goes away. It’s just not happening at the minute. You feel for him. We’re getting frustrated at it, imagine how he’s feeling.”
Needs a goal
It has to be an incredibly frustrating time for Bamford at the moment after he hasn’t made a single start for Leeds so far this season.
Since returning from injury at the end of September, the forward has been limited to just a few minutes each game off the bench in his 10 appearances.
It’s clear to see that he’s extremely low on confidence and he desperately needs to find the back of the net to give himself a boost, which could lead to more minutes in the side and potentially more goals.
The Englishman has shown previously that he can be a real asset at this level, but he just needs to keep working hard and be patient.
The form of Georginio Rutter and Joel Piroe isn’t going to make his life any easier, but Bamford just has to keep believing and getting himself in the right areas.
In other Leeds United news, a Whites player is surely set for a January exit after the latest Farke snub.