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BBC pundit would be unhappy with 'desperate' Patrick Bamford in dressing room after what he did for Leeds United
Patrick Bamford is “obviously desperate” but the missed penalty in the Leeds United loss to Stoke City would have left Ross McCormack unhappy with the striker in the changing room after the game.
The BBC pundit said live on Radio Leeds ahead of kick-off for the 4-1 win over Huddersfield on Saturday 28 October that he was “surprised” to see the 30-year-old was taking the penalty in the 1-0 midweek defeat because his record from the spot is poor, but understood why wanted to.
However, with Daniel Farke suggesting Bamford isn’t one of the designated takers McCormack said he “wouldn’t be too happy” with him behind closed doors after the final whistle.
McCormack said (11.47am): “Firstly I was surprised, as a lot of people were, that he was taking it given his record of taking penalties at the club.
“Secondly, I can understand why he wanted to take it. He’s obviously desperate, he wants back in amongst the goals, he sees players in front of him doing well, getting plaudits, scoring goals, and he was probably looking at it thinking, ‘This is a goal for me and it could kickstart my season’.
“So I get it, but what I don’t get is the manager’s half-alluded to [the fact] that he wasn’t the penalty taker, so for me I wouldn’t be too happy with that in the changing room after the game.
“Penalty taker takes the penalties and that’s it, there’s no grey area.”
After Jonny Buchan suggested Bamford hadn’t actually touched the ball before claiming the penalty McCormack added: “It’s very easy to say [players should always score] but better penalty takers than Patrick Bamford have missed.”
Missed opportunity
Some of the wrongs have been righted by the big win over Huddersfield in the following game but the loss at Stoke was a missed opportunity both collectively and personally for Bamford.
Had the late kick been scored, after the striker had been fouled, it would likely have brought three points with it and Farke would now be on a five-game winning streak.
And Bamford would have had a weight off his shoulders after previous high-profile misses amid two miserable seasons for Leeds United.
It is understandable that Bamford wanted to take the chance, and in some ways it is commendable that he was willing to step up.
But it looks to have been proven beyond doubt that for the foreseeable future he isn’t the right man to take pressure penalties.
The grey area comes from the fact that Farke’s designated taker, Joel Piroe, had gone off, and the alternative in Jaidon Anthony also wasn’t on the field, so the squad is unlikely to be too upset with Bamford even if some fans still may be.
Still, 99% of the fanbase would have had more confidence in Crysencio Summerville on the night, who is in excellent form and wanted to take the kick, so the lesson should now have been learned.
In other Leeds United news, Adam Pope has shared an injury update on star man Summerville after he went off early in the Huddersfield win.