Patrick Bamford’s 16th Premier League goal this season has helped Leeds United to beat Southampton in front of 8,000 fans at St Mary’s Stadium.
Bamford, who had previously missed an opportunity when he beat only goalkeeper Alex McCarthy. He throws the ball into the net, following Rodrigo’s ball against the Saints.
Leeds added a moment to injury time after Bamford’s strike was driven by McCarthy, with Tyler Roberts turning back.
Southampton’s best chance came early, but Che Adams‘ head was cut short by Leeds goalkeeper Kiko Casilla.
The win lifted Leeds above Arsenal and Everton to eighth place and ensures Marcelo Bielsa‘s side finish in the top 10.
Southampton remains 14th in the Premier League with one game left in the season.
Leeds continues to have a good season.
He pressed his ball past McCarthy with a solid angle. Bamford’s goal was an unusual moment of quality for scrappy.
But a fun game on the day when fans returned to the Premier League.
This was only the third time fans were at Southampton’s home game in 2020-21. After 2,000 of them watched a 3-0 win over Sheffield United on December 13 and a 1-0 defeat by Manchester City six days later.
But they came home disappointed as Bamford got one and made one to continue Leeds’ good season.
After winning the Championship in 2019-20 and eliminating 16 seasons in the top flight. Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds team has gained a lot of fans with the attacking style of football.
The win means they could only be the fifteenth team since the Premier League began in 1992-93. To finish in ninth place after winning promotion last season.
And the season may even end in European studies, even though they need results to do their best.
Suppose Leeds gets a big win at home against West Brom. Seventh place West Ham have lost both of their last two games. And Everton and Arsenal have not recorded another victory.
Bielsa’s side could secure seventh place and a place in next season’s Europa League conference.
For the 27-year-old Bamford, who England has not approved, a good season has now taken him to fifth in the Premier League.
Behind Harry Kane of Tottenham, Mohamed Salah of Liverpool (both with 22 goals), Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United (18 goals), and Tottenham’s Son Heung-min (17 goals).
The fans create a good atmosphere, but the guests win.
Although it was raining just before the start of the game, the game started with bright sunshine on the south coast. And spectators helped create a beautiful atmosphere.
The Leeds goalkeeper has been handed his second Premier League debut. Bielsa has kept his pre-match promise and left out German defender Robin Koch and Polish midfielder Mateusz Klich to prepare for the late Euro 2020 this summer.
Casilla was called to the scene as she was supposed to cut her head off at Adams only in the second minute.
Ahead of the game, they announced that Theo Walcott had agreed to sign the Saints on a two-year contract. When his Everton loan deal expired, and the England international had a good chance of scoring.
He took the ball around Casilla in the penalty area, even though Spain forced him to extend it. And with a keen eye, Walcott had to pass, with no Southampton player at the end of his cross.
Santa’s manager Ralph Hasenhuttl brought in outstanding striker Danny Ings during the break and James Ward-Prowse. Before the game, who won the Player of the Year award broke an arrow early in the second half.
Leeds did not shoot towards the first half but grew into the game after the break.
Leeds did not shoot towards the first half but grew into the game after the break. And they gave the Saints a warning when Bamford exploded and met only McCarthy. To pull the ball too far and end the room.
The striker then collided with Mohammad Salisu of Southampton and needed treatment. But recovered and scored the game’s first goal, with McCarthy’s legs, in the 73rd minute.
Ings, like Bamford, who is battling for England’s Euro 2020 team this summer, had a chance to get a draw.
But they missed out and unscathed were caught in a counter-attack with McCarthy. In line with Bamford’s Roberts strike to secure his first goal of the season.
Great time for everyone
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, speaking to the fans, said: “It was amazing for me. When I came out at the start of the game, it was a good idea to see them sitting there.
“It looked very crowded even though there were only 8,000, but it was unbelievable. It’s a big-time for everyone. We tried hard to beat them because they were good and supported us until the end.
“We totally forgot how fun it was to bring them back and how nice to see them. It gives us something to look forward to the next season.”
As a result, Hasenhuttl added: “A challenging expected game with an excellent first half for us but without a goal.
“We can’t play better than that. We did it in the first half. I didn’t feel like we had a lot of chances to go in the second half. But they had another gear we didn’t have.”
Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa to Patrick Bamford: “Patrick has worked very hard with a lot of effort and time to shine. I’m sure he will be optimistic about the campaign he has, whatever it may be.
“Everything he has achieved in this season is due to all the dedication and effort that he has put into showing out his skills.”
In Roberts’ first Premier League goal, Bielsa added: “I was glad that he scored because he had played so many games and couldn’t do it.