Patrick Bamford vindicates Bielsa’s decision ahead of Leeds win

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Some Leeds United fans may have wondered whether Eddie Nketiah would start their latest Championship fixture.

One of the tough decisions facing Marcelo Bielsa ahead of Leeds’ Championship clash with Stoke City on Saturday was whether to keep faith with Patrick Bamford or reward Eddie Nketiah for his winner by handing him his first league start for the Whites at the bet365 Stadium.

Nketiah was the name on everyone’s lips after he found the back of the net to decide Leeds’ clash with Brentford in midweek. And with Bamford coming in for criticism at times, there may have been some who would have been hoping to see Nketiah named in the starting lineup over the 25-year-old.

But Bielsa stayed loyal to Bamford and left Nketiah on the bench for the third league game running. And while there is no doubt that Nketiah’s time will come this season, it is fair to say that Bielsa’s decision was vindicated as Bamford produced a brilliant display against the Potters.

It looked like it was going to be a tough afternoon for the Whites’ top goalscorer as Stoke prevented Leeds from playing their natural game during the opening stages of the contest, and Bamford often became isolated.

However, the Whites grew into the game and Bamford produced two moments of outstanding quality during the second-half to ensure that Leeds would pick up the emphatic win.

The first came when he slid Gjanni Alioski in for Leeds’ second goal. It is almost difficult to believe that he was looking to set the Macedonian up as there were four Stoke players stood between Bamford and the left-back as the ball left the striker’s foot. But he found the corridor of uncertainty, and Alioski was there to convert the chance.

And it was Bamford who put the exclamation mark on the win as he produced a superb finish after Alioski’s effort had been saved by Adam Federici. The striker took his time as the ball came down and unleashed a thunderous shot into the bottom corner to notch up his fourth goal of the campaign.

Bamford did little wrong against Brentford, but the excitement surrounding Nketiah would have probably tempted some managers to throw the youngster straight in in some capacity – perhaps even by playing both men against Nathan Jones’ side. Bielsa held his nerve, and once again, his decision could not have turned out any better.