Patrick Bamford makes 'spent' Leeds United April admission and reveals Marcelo Bielsa's message for Tottenham

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PATRICK Bamford admits Leeds United's efforts in an arduous April ultimately took their toll in last weekend's defeat at Brighton for which the Whites arrived unknowingly "spent".

However, the Whites no 9 has revealed that head coach Marcelo Bielsa wants the disappointment "done and dusted" ahead of this weekend's clash against Tottenham Hotspur for which Bamford is "busting a gut" to return to the field.

Bielsa's side approached last Saturday's Premier League fixture at relegation-battling Brighton having taken five points from three consecutive fixtures against Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United on the back of a Yorkshire derby success against Sheffield United.

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Leeds arrived at the Amex on a six-game unbeaten run but never got going against the Seagulls and fell to a 2-0 defeat in a game in which the Whites managed just two attempts on target.

YARD OFF IT: Says Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford, right, pictured closing down Brighton's Lewis Dunk, left, in last weekend's 2-0 defeat at the Amex. Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.YARD OFF IT: Says Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford, right, pictured closing down Brighton's Lewis Dunk, left, in last weekend's 2-0 defeat at the Amex. Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.
YARD OFF IT: Says Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford, right, pictured closing down Brighton's Lewis Dunk, left, in last weekend's 2-0 defeat at the Amex. Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.

Speaking on the Official Leeds United Podcast, Bamford was asked if it was perhaps more difficult facing a side like Brighton on the back of tests against the division's top sides and reasoned: "I don't think it's about getting yourself up for the game specifically against Brighton.

"I think it's more the fact that you have put everything into the last four games.

"Out of the four games one is a Yorkshire derby, then you are playing Liverpool and Man United and Man City.

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"You are putting so much into that, you are concentrating so much in the weeks building up to them games and they are all so close together that when you have got through that period there is almost like that taking a deep breath and subconsciously I reckon you are kind of worn out without even realising it.

"When you go into the next game you are probably not even thinking 'I'm used up, I'm spent here.'

"But when the match turns out like that it is kind of apparent.

"It was one of them where I think the last few games kind of took their toll on the team, not just physically but I think mentally drained.

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"When I came off and I was watching we didn't look like our usual selves.

"We just looked a yard off it and just looked tired to be honest.

"We flew back afterwards thank God, imagine having a five and a half hour journey back after that.

Asked about Bielsa's thoughts in the aftermath of the defeat, Bamford said: "We analysed it all and he just said he wanted to get it all out of the way and done and dusted so we can concentrate on Spurs.

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"There were things that we didn't do right - we didn't move enough, we didn't attack the way we wanted to, we didn't defend the way we wanted to so you can pretty much sum it up by saying nothing went the way we planned.

"Personally, I feel like when you have a game like that, you are kind of busting to get back out there.

"You just want to get back on a good run again and play a match how you are supposed to play it, not like that."

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Thank you Laura Collins'

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