Patrick Bamford made his first appearance for Leeds United’s first-team since August as they went back to the top of the Championship.
Leeds fans have not seen Bamford play for the first-team since August due to a long-term injury sustained in an under-23 game. But the appetite for his return was whetted when he scored a stunning hat-trick for Carlos Corberan’s men in midweek.
And he got the chance to make that comeback as he replaced Kemar Roofe shortly after the hour-mark against the Trotters. Within five minutes of coming on, he had his first league goal for Leeds.
The 25-year-old was played in by Pablo Hernandez and smashed the ball into the back of the net to give the visitors the crucial goal. And after the full-time whistle, Whelan lauded Bamford’s ability to make an impact at the vital moment.
“He’s one of these players that gives you that lift. He’s a great centre-forward. He does know where the back of the net is. He certainly did today,” he told BBC Radio Leeds.
“He didn’t have too many opportunities. That was the only that came around really. It was one of those horrible games, Bolton just trying to cut off all the space to Leeds, a lot of the balls were in the air. It was a little bit sloppy from both sides, but that one bit of brilliance, that one moment and they’re the ones that count. You’ve got to take those opportunities when they come your way because, games like this, you’re not going to get many.”
In previous years, the game at Bolton was the kind of clash that Leeds could have easily lost. They were not at their best, and conditions did not allow them to be. And of course, there are still a number of key players missing.
But under Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds are producing a number of wins when they are not managing to rediscover the fluency that saw them tear apart the likes of Stoke and Derby at the start of the campaign. The win against Bolton has perhaps done just as much to prove their promotion credentials.
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