Sky Sports pundit Alan McInally has blasted Patrick Bamford for not doing enough in the second-hald of Leeds United’s 2-1 defeat to Wigan on Friday.
Bamford started the game at Elland Road and did put Leeds ahead in the first 45 minutes not long after Pablo Hernandez missed a penalty kick against the Latics.
However McInally was concerned by the performance of the Leeds striker in the second-half as Marcelo Bielsa’s side had plenty of chances to score against Wigan, but simply failed to take them.
“It just wasn’t going for them today,” McInally said on Sky Sports News after the match on Friday [05:15pm].
“Patrick Bamford in the second-half didn’t do enough for me, he really had to do more.
“He’s leading the line for them, he’s got to be a pivot point for them and I don’t think he was that today.
“It’s a bad day for Leeds United.”
OPINION
Bamford has been in good form for Leeds in the last couple of months, but even though he scored against Wigan on Friday, he was nowhere near his best and Bielsa is bound to be concerned by his lack of quality in the final third after the break. Leeds needed to win that game against Wigan. They peppered the away side’s goal with chances but really struggled to craft a clear cut chance for them to score. Kemar Roofe missed one of the biggest chances when he headed the ball straight at the Wigan goalkeeper, but Bamford really didn’t do a lot. It is definitely a worry for Leeds because Sheffield United are now above them at the top of the Championship standings. Unless the Whites improve quickly, they are going to have to earn promotion via the play-offs, and that will be tough. Aston Villa, West Brom and Middlesbrough are all potential play-off opponents for Leeds, and if they are not in good form, they won’t want to play against any of them.