Patrick Bamford admits Wigan Athletic win was ‘strange game’

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You can forgive Leeds United fans for starting to feel apprehensive when they went 1-0 up through Patrick Bamford against 10-man Wigan Athletic yesterday afternoon. The last time that scenario occurred, things went wrong for Marcelo Bielsa’s men. 

It was on Good Friday when two goals from Gavin Massey saw Wigan beat Leeds 2-1 and essentially kill their hopes of automatic promotion from the Championship. 

Speaking after the game, Bamford commented on the similarities between the two games. As quoted by Wigan Today he admitted the parallels made things strange for a while but he was pleased to have avoided a similar upset. 

“It was a strange game. Sometimes when the opposition goes down to 10 men it can be difficult.

“It’s weird because you have all the ball when it feels comfortable. But then one mistake and you never know what can happen.

“We handled it well and it’s a good three points.”

Bamford went on to score a second goal in the second-half that killed off the game and left Leeds United top of the Championship table on seven points. 

TBR’s View

The fact Leeds did not capitulate in a similar fashion just highlights the immense pressure they were under over Easter last season. 

With Norwich City and Sheffield United staying strong, a depleted Leeds squad simply fell apart against Wigan and again on Easter Monday at Brentford. 

The two results killed Leeds automatic charge for promotion and, after play-off defeat to Derby County, condemned the Whites to another season in the Championship. 

But putting that ghost to rest today could go a long way mentally for Leeds as they start the new campaign with a bang.