Leeds United captain Liam Cooper has revealed that striker Patrick Bamford was full of remorse after finding out the details of his recent suspension.
Bamford was banned for two matches after the 25-year-old successfully deceived a match official when going down under contact from Aston Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi in the sides’ 1-1 draw at the beginning of May.
As quoted by Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Phil Hay, Cooper – speaking to reporters at a press conference – also backed his teammate to use his “unbelievable confidence” to bounce back.
“Pat came straight in and apologised to me and the staff,” the captain said. “Sometimes in the heat of the moment you make stupid decisions but for the last 10 days he’s worked hard.
“We all know what he can do. He’s got this unbelievable confidence in him.”
Cooper on Bamford and his ban for simulation: "Pat came straight in an apologised to me and the staff. Sometimes in the heat of the moment you make stupid decisions but for the last 10 days he's work hard. We all know what he can do. He's got this unbelievable confidence in him."
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) May 13, 2019
OPINION
Luckily for Bamford, Leeds got away without having him for the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final against Derby on Saturday since Kemar Roofe stepped up and delivered the all-important goal for the Whites. But with manager Marcelo Bielsa confirming earlier in the press conference that Roofe will miss the second leg, the roles have been reversed. Now it is Bamford’s time to step up. Wednesday’s second leg at Elland Road is the perfect opportunity for the forward to show that he can bounce back from – as Cooper puts it – a “stupid decision” – that cost his team in the game against Villa. It has been a rocky ride for Leeds in recent weeks, with Bielsa’s side blowing their chance at automatic promotion after gaining just one point from a possible 12. But all that must now be forgotten, for there is nothing they can do about that now. All sights must be set on Wednesday’s tie, which is looking like it will be one of -if not the most important – games of the season for Leeds. And Bamford could play a starring role in proceedings.