Reading proved no match for Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds on Tuesday night as the Whites moved back to the top of the Championship table, and Patrick Bamford was influential to the result.
The 25-year-old may have been unable to continue his goal streak having fired home four in his previous four games, but the ex-Middlesbrough man did pave the way for Pablo Hernandez to lash home his second of the night.
His cut out wide to the Spanish wizard standing in acres of space was not what stood out most of all for some members of the Elland Road faithful, however, as it was his cheeky input in Mateusz Klich’s opener that caught their eye.
Bamford will not be acknowledged officially for his input in the goal, with the assist instead given to Luke Ayling – who also teed Hernandez up for his first of the night – but fans could not hide their love for the striker’s generosity.
After making a great run towards the penalty spot and distracting Royal’s centre-back Matt Miazga, Bamford would have been forgiven for looking for his seventh league goal of the campaign, but instead dummied the ball and left the 23-year-old flat-footed as Klich ran in behind to drill home into the bottom corner of Emiliano Martinez’s net.
The Polish centre-mid’s strike spring boarded the Whites to go on and move ahead of Norwich for the time being, with the Canaries playing Hull City on Wednesday night, and United fans were quick to praise Bamford for his clever thinking.
Here’s what the Elland Road faithful had to say on Twitter:
Bamford’s dummy????????
— PhilHayFanPage (@PhilHayFanPage2) March 12, 2019
Bamford step over ????????????
— Andy wedge (@andywedgelufc) March 12, 2019
How clever is Bamford in the box…….deserves an assist.
— Keith Dixon (@dixonkeith44) March 12, 2019
TBH Lord @Patrick_Bamford dummy even I went for him and I’m sat on the couch… pic.twitter.com/UmtNJeiVlm
— Michael Winter (@larch13) March 12, 2019
That dummy from Bamford was absolute filth
— Craig Prakhill (@GreggParkhill) March 12, 2019
Lord Bamfordshire is so cool. Probably plotting his next Betty’s Tea Shop visit during that dummy. #lufc #bamford #LeedsUnited
— Carl Harriman (@mrh2802) March 12, 2019
Wonder if Bamford had his pinky out when he did that naughty little dummy #lufc #MOT https://t.co/3qjWz1x9VD
— Dan Ellis (@dannyellis1994) March 13, 2019
Lovely finish from Klich but that was a delicious dummy and intelligent play from Lord Bamford #MOT #LUFC
— SJWilson30???????? (@SJWilson30) March 12, 2019