Patrick Bamford ruffling feathers but Leeds United striker sorry for 'embarrassing' actions against Aston Villa

A more physical and spiky element was introduced to the no 9’s repertoire, very much by design.

That art of ruffling feathers has often been in evidence with Bamford particularly enjoying this season’s celebrations at Luton Town and Reading.

Yet events in last April’s madcap 1-1 draw against Aston Villa are viewed rather differently with Bamford “embarrassed” by his actions after an altercation with Anwar El Ghazi and wishing to let El Ghazi know he is sorry.

Bamford has added a more prickly side to his game in his second season at Leeds with the striker determined to flourish following two spells on the sidelines injured last term with the forward finally fully back up and running last Spring.

Yet Bamford admits he regrets his actions in April’s explosive encounter with Villa in which El Ghazi was sent off.

United’s Mateusz Klich first sparked a furious reaction from Villa’s players when playing on and scoring a 72nd-minute opener with Jonathan Kodjia down injured.

Klich said he was unaware Kodjia was injured but a mass melee then ensued with Conor Hourihane ending up on the deck before Bamford himself went to ground after an altercation but minimal contact with El Ghazi.

A perplexed El Ghazi was then given a straight red card with Bamford and Hourihane also booked before Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa ordered his players to allow Villa a walked in equaliser scored by Albert Adomah.

Reflecting on the incident in United’s latest ‘Ask’ series in association with Deliveroo, Bamford was asked about his favourite act of winding up the opposition so far and said: “I’ll tell you my least favourite first. It was the Aston Villa game, at the end of last year. I look back at that and I actually feel embarrassed.

“I don’t mind the throwing Hourihane on the floor, because he had hold of Klichy, but when I went down, that was embarrassing.

“Because it was a year ago, I saw it pop up on Twitter, I wanted to message El Ghazi to say sorry but he doesn’t follow me so I couldn’t.

“My favourite bit is either where I scored against Luton away, just because the video is brilliant where you can see little kids giving me the v signs. Not that I think that’s the right thing by the way.

“Or probably Reading away as well. I didn’t even score, but we were just celebrating and for some reason Reading fans just seem to love a little chant at me, so I remember doing the talking sign to them, saying ‘keep talking, because we’re still winning’.”

‘Give it to Bamford’ sang a section of Royals fans in United’s 3-0 win at the Madejski in March 2019 as the striker missed a series of chances in the second half with United already 3-0 up and cruising to victory.

Another Whites triumph followed at the Madejski eight months later before Leeds won by the same score in February’s reverse fixture at Elland Road.

The victory put then second-placed United five points clear of third-placed Fulham and three games later the 2-0 win at home to Huddersfield Town had left the Whites top, one point clear of West Brom and with a seven-point cushion in the division’s automatic promotion spots.

Now Bamford only hopes that his second season at Leeds can conclude with the most enjoyable moment yet and the aim ever since the striker signed from Middlesbrough in July 2018 - promotion to the Premier League.

The striker says he is now a different player to the one who first joined Leeds and the one who spent much of last season looking on at the goals scored by Kemar Roofe who has since moved to Anderlecht.

“I knew when I came to Leeds, I came to be the main number 9,” said Bamford.

“Last year, with injuries and Roofey playing well, it was like I didn’t get a full season under my belt and get to where I wanted to be.

"So this year I was like, you know what, I need to bring something else. Hopefully I’m scoring goals all the time, and hopefully I’m playing well, but there needs to be something else that gives me an edge that helps the team out. Even if it’s just ruffling the away fans.

“My mum hates it, she goes mad at me for it, but I say ‘look it’s on the pitch’. When I’m off it, I’m just normal, but on the pitch, I need to do anything that can get an edge against the opposition. I’ve actually started to enjoy it.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty.

So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes - from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Laura Collins

Editor

READ MORE: https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/opinion/were-therewithyou-now-your-yep-needs-your-support-too-laura-collins-yep-editor-2521777