Patrick Bamford has shared what it was like watching Leeds United’s play-off semi-final victory over Norwich City from the stands.
The Whites ran out comfortable 4-0 winners over Norwich at Elland Road on Thursday night to book their place in next Sunday’s Wembley final, where they will face Southampton.
Bamford was, unfortunately, out of both legs due to a knee injury he picked up almost a month ago in Leeds’ 4-3 victory away at Middlesbrough.
With 11 wins from the 15 matches Bamford has started, Leeds have statistically been a better team with him in it this season, but thankfully, he wasn’t missed against Norwich.
However, his replacement Joel Piroe produced arguably his best performance in a Leeds shirt, while also getting on the scoresheet for the second time in as many starts, suggesting he is coming into form at the perfect time.
Bamford shares what he thought of Willy Gnonto cross just as it left his boot
Alongside Sam Byram, who was a late omission, and Pascal Struijk, Bamford was forced to watch the game from the West Stand, just by the dugouts.
With that in mind, Bamford will have had the perfect angle for both of Leeds’ first two goals, which came via a brilliant Ilia Gruev free-kick, and the head of Piroe.
Willy Gnonto was the man who put it on a plate for Piroe, as his cross from the right found him inside the six-yard-box, with neither Norwich’s defence or goalkeeper able to deal with it.
Speaking on the latest episode of the ‘My Mate’s A Footballer Podcast‘, Bamford actually thought Gnonto’s cross was going to balloon into the stands from where he was sat.
However, he was left wowed when the £3.8 million man’s cross landed on the head of Piroe, which gave him the easy task of putting it into the net.
He said: “We’ve got a lot of players who, as you saw on Thursday night, when they are in tune are really good. Willy’s ball for Joel. The angle I was sat, I was kind of behind it but low by the bench.
“He’s kicked it and I’ve thought that’s gone sailing into the stands. And then it’s just dropped on Joel’s head and I was like, ‘wow’. But the defenders on that one probably had a go at him [the ‘keeper], for not coming and getting it.”
Gnonto cross was just third assist of the season
Having got himself back into the side in early February following Dan James’ injury, much of Gnonto’s joy this season has been in front of goal, rather than creating.
Only Crysencio Summerville, Piroe and James have more goals than Gnonto’s eight in the Championship.
However, Thursday’s cross for Piroe was actually just his third assist of the campaign, which is certainly a statistic he will be looking to improve.
Clearly he has that sort of ability to deliver in his locker and hopefully there will be many more of them to come in a Leeds shirt.
