OPINION
Five games, five wins is the rallying cry from Leeds at the moment, with their fate back in their hands after the midweek fixtures.
Marcelo Bielsa said it first before Tyler Roberts echoed his call to forget the other results and take charge of their own promotion.
Leeds are more than capable of doing it, despite tough games against Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa. They’re the two hardest games they’ve got between them and the top-flight, and crucially, both of them are at home.
Currently, the man being tasked with the goals that will deliver the wins is Patrick Bamford. He’s kept Kemar Roofe out of the side since the top-scorer returned from injury. And he proved that he’s got them in him with a brace against Preston on Tuesday.
He’s still not been totally convincing though. He missed a one-on-one for his hat-trick on Tuesday and he almost cost his side the points when he missed a penalty against Millwall.
At his best he’s a brilliant striker, intelligent enough to create space in the box and capable of finishing with his feet or his head. He creates plenty of chances and compensates well for his weakness – strength and holding the ball up.
At worst, he’s ineffectual and anonymous in games. That’s why it’s so important for 20-year-old Roberts to start delivering, starting tomorrow against Sheffield Wednesday.
Roberts hasn’t scored since October when he got three in the space of four games. That’s all he’s got for the season and that’s not enough for a player with Roberts’ talent. He’s been playing well recently and has pushed on from the mid-season period that saw him dropped from the team.
But, if he wants Leeds to win all five games remaining, he needs to find his scoring boots. Bamford can’t do it on his own and Pablo Hernandez is currently the only other player banging them in for Leeds.
It’s time for Roberts to step up.