'Right place, right time' - Modest Patrick Bamford makes Lionel Messi quip and hails Leeds United team mates

That's the message from a modest Patrick Bamford who has hailed Leeds United's collective effort in creating so many chances in the absence of a Lionel Messi.

Whites no 9 Bamford took his tally for the Premier League season to 15 when netting United's second goal in Saturday's 3-1 victory at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

The goal scoring opportunity was laid on a plate by a precise cut back from Gjanni Alioski who was played in on the overlap by Jack Harrison down the left hand side of the Spurs box.

It was, says Bamford, just what Marcelo Bielsa's Whites work on in training in a bid to create flowing team moves that lead to chances - and not rely on the brilliance of a Messi.

Leeds have now scored 53 goals this season - the eighth best tally in the division.

"We haven't got like a Lionel Messi or someone like that who is just going to dribble around people so the majority of our goals are team goals," said Bamford, speaking to BBC West Yorkshire Sport after the victory against Spurs.

"We work on a lot of stuff on training, overlaps and just things like that and for me it's just putting myself in the right place at the right time and hoping the ball comes.

"All the goals were good."

Stuart Dallas and Rodrigo joined Bamford on the scoresheet as Leeds produced an altogether different performance to January's reverse fixture against Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Back then, Spurs recorded a 3-0 victory under Jose Mourinho who then found himself sacked in April and replaced by interim boss Ryan Mason.

"We knew it would be different from the last time because of the change of manager," said Bamford.

"They started pressing higher and then we knew that eventually they are going to tire and we will be able to beat their press.

"We guessed we would be fitter than them because we are quite a fit team so it was ultimately like staying in the game and they were going to have their periods which they did in the second half.

"Then it was just sticking through and making sure that we saw it out."

Pressed on Leeds being a hard team to play against, Bamford said: "I wouldn't fancy playing against us.

"In the last game we had an off day against Brighton and we wanted to put that right.

"I think we were back to our usual selves.

"We let them back in a little bit in the second half but I think that most of the game or the majority of the game we dominated."

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/glen-hoddle-makes-jack-harrison-prediction-as-former-england-boss-and-rio-ferdinand-hail-leeds-united-winger-3230143

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964

A message from the Editor:

Leeds has a fantastic story to tell - and the Yorkshire Evening Post has been rooted firmly at the heart of telling the stories of our city since 1890.

We believe in ourselves and hope you believe in us too. We need your support to help ensure we can continue to be at the heart of life in Leeds.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/why-yorkshire-evening-post-needs-your-support-laura-collins-yep-editor-2913382

Subscribe to our website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app.

With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Click here to subscribe.

For more details on our newspaper subscription offers click here.

Thank you Laura Collins