Ian Wright sends message to Patrick Bamford after Leeds United striker's hat trick against Aston Villa

Arsenal legend Ian Wright had a very special message for Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford after the Whites front man slotted three goals past Aston Villa.

Bamford's hat trick were the only goals in a 3-0 win over Aston Villa to secure all three points for Marcelo Bielsa's men.

The man, the myth, the legend himself was incredibly gracious in defeat, despite chatter leading up to the game about 'those' comments made by Gabby Agbonlahor.

Bamford posted on Instagram: "What a team performance from start to finish, a very special night #mot"

After Bamford tweeted the link to his Insta, Wrighty popped up to respond with a string of love heart emojis from his official account.

Other fans then piped up to call Ian Wright a 'not so secret Leeds fan'.

Fan Tom Broxup added: "It’s all coming good for Bamford Wrighty. Give Eddie a call would love him in our side again too."

After the game, Bamford told BT Sport: "Crucial. I think we look back at the Wolves game and we were possibly a little bit unlucky to come away with nothing I think.

"Maybe we deserved to win it but they played a good solid game and then we had to bounce back tonight.

"Villa are on a very good run, they are a good team.

"Someone was saying in the press that Bielsa was a myth but I think we showed everyone that Leeds are here and we are here to compete and give a good showing of ourselves."

Reflecting on the feeling of bagging his first ever Whites treble, Bamford smiled: "Nice, especially in the Premier League.

"It's what you dream of when you are growing up isn't it so it means a lot to me."

Leeds were without key duo Liam Cooper and Kalvin Phillips but took full control after Bamford's second-half opener and the striker added two more goals to complete what was a very comfortable night in the end for the visitors.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith told his men at full-time of his frustration with their reaction to going behind, but pointed out that they hadn't experienced it this season until tonight and credited Bielsa's men for their second half display.

"You have to give credit to Leeds," he said.

"They were excellent with their first touch passing and their running. They comfortably beat us in the second half.

"After that first goal we felt sorry for ourselves.

"You can get a bop on the nose if you're not at it and we got that in the second half for sure."

Leeds felt fortunate to be able to substitute Pascal Struijk on 21 minutes because the Dutchman, playing in place of the injured Phillips, could well have been sent off. He followed up a yellow card for a foul on Jack Grealish with another tackle that Bielsa deemed 'dangerous' and had to be replaced with Jamie Shackleton.

That and a VAR check that ruled Grealish had not been fouled in the penalty area by Helder Costa were the main talking points of the first half but Smith had little to say on either.