Leeds United: Outrageous Patrick Bamford stunner hides surprise recent Whites weakness
Leeds United don’t lack much in their armoury this season but it appears an ability to score from range is something they are very much missing.
Under Daniel Farke the Whites have been extremely impressive this term, especially since the start of 2024, as they have bounced back from a chaotic summer to reel in surprise package Ipswich and pull to within three points of runaway Championship leaders Leicester City.
Between Crysencio Summerville, Dan James, Willy Gnonto (especially away from home), Joel Piroe, Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter the German has a formidable set of options to score goals, and for the most part they haven’t disappointed.
But in light of the dynamism shown by this squad it is a surprise that they have only managed to find the net once from outside the box from their past 112 attempts (0.89%).
Opta’s Jonny Cooper shared via Twitter on 9 March that Patrick Bamford’s wonder-goal in the 3-0 FA Cup win at Peterborough United on 7 January is the single Leeds United goal scored in that run, admitting: “It wasn’t bad, mind.”
Daniel Farke’s Leeds United surprisingly wayward from distance despite immense form
The official Emirates FA Cup YouTube channel referred to the stunning third as an “outrageous” goal, as he took an Ethan Ampadu pass on his chest and volleyed it into the far corner on the turn with his left foot.
So if the Whites were saving up for a long-range strike of that quality then the hopes among the fanbase will be that the next one is just as good given the dearth of examples since.
It is hard to criticise this Leeds side much at the moment when they are maintaining such relentless form while their rivals are starting to falter, with the 3-2 loss away to Chelsea the only reverse this calendar year, but perhaps distance shooting is a weakness.
Since creating chances from close range has proven to be a strength it may not matter, and it certainly hasn’t lately, but if teams look to sit back behind the ball during the run in the Whites might need to find another long-range thunderbolt to settle a game or two.
In other Leeds United news, a permanent transfer that looked odds on may now not happen after the effects of a medical condition.
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