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BBC pundit Jon Newsome involved in on-air clash with Leeds United fan over Patrick Bamford
Jon Newsome was involved in an on-air debate with a Leeds United supporter regarding whether or not Patrick Bamford should have taken the penalty in the 1-0 loss to Stoke City.
Bamford skied his spot-kick 15 minutes from time at the bet365 Stadium in a miss made all the more costly five minutes later when team-mate Pascal Struijk scored an own goal.
The out-of-form forward has failed to score in five Championship appearances this season and has netted just three times in all competitions since the start of February.
A caller suggested on BBC West Yorkshire Sport Daily [25 October] that a player who has found the net more regularly should have taken the pen, but Newsome pointed out that finding the net from open play is not the same.
“Scoring penalties in a game is totally different to scoring in a game,” he said.
When the caller tried to argue his case, former Leeds player Newsome added: “Trust me. Scoring a goal is completely different to scoring a penalty – and I’ve done both.
“I’m telling you from experience, standing up to take a penalty is one of the most nerve-wracking things you’ll do as a striker.”
Hugely frustrating
With Joel Piroe no longer on the field, Bamford felt he had every right to take the penalty that he had himself won.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, of course, but that is now three penalties the former Chelsea striker has missed since the start of last season.
When you combine Bamford’s penalty record with his overall form, it made sense for somebody else to take the spot-kick.
Not only did Bamford fail to score at a point in which the match was locked at 0-0, he did not even so much as hit the target.
The fact Stoke went on to win 1-0 only added to the frustration of supporters, such as this caller, who had a fair point.
Not to disagree with former professional Newsome, but confidence surely plays a part when it comes to taking a penalty in situations such as this.
Having a free hit from 12 yards is of course different to scoring from open play, but Bamford simply cannot do either at the moment.
In other Leeds United news, Jermaine Beckford said he now expects Daniel Farke to take action after the penalty miss.