Patrick Bamford’s ‘tap-in’ against Sheffield Wednesday may not get the plaudits or TV replays his wonder goal against Peterborough United in the FA Cup earned, but for Daniel Farke it highlighted the same ‘world class’ attributes the Leeds United No 9 has.
The striker has blossomed in the second half of the season to become an integral part of Farke’s side, and was on hand to convert Junior Firpo’s delightful cross to give Leeds the lead on the stroke of half-time in Friday night’s 2-0 win at Hillsborough.
Bamford was in the headlines back in January for a fabulous goal at Peterborough in the FA Cup, but while this one was a very different effort, Farke insists it had all the marks of a ‘world class striker’. It took the 30-year-old to eight for the season, and four in the last five games, and the Leeds boss is fully aware of his value to his side.
“Everyone speaks about the goal Bamford scored at Peterborough in the FA Cup – a worldie – but this goal tonight is for me also like a world-class striker goal,” he said.
“To have this instinct. Will Junior be there with the cross? To have the movement away from the opponent at the far post and then you still have to have the concentration to get the ball down.
“It wasn’t that easy to score and this is a sign of a top-class striker. When it counts you have to be there and you have to be clinical, so we are all happy that we have Patrick and also have him in his best shape.”
