MX23RW : Sunday, May 5 15:54:22| >> :120:30835:30835:

Patrick Bamford: 'Leeds are getting better and better'

Patrick Bamford: 'Leeds are getting better and better'
© Reuters
Leeds secured a ninth-placed finish in their first season back in the Premier League.

Patrick Bamford believes Leeds are still improving under Marcelo Bielsa and his coaching staff.

Leeds secured a ninth-placed finish in their first season back in the Premier League following a 3-1 win against relegated West Brom at Elland Road on the final day.

Bielsa's side lost just one of their last 11 matches and only Liverpool collected more points in the top flight during that period.

"We're getting better and better the more we work under Marcelo and while it is hard and very demanding, the boys love him, everyone is so appreciative of what he has done for us and the team," Bamford told the club's official website.

"As a team we couldn't have really asked for more, what we have done in our first year back in the Premier League, it really is quite special.

"That's testament to the boys and the coaching staff, everybody has put so much work in, so we'll have a well-deserved break."

Bamford converted his 17th league goal of the season from the penalty spot after Rodrigo's header and Kalvin Phillips' free-kick had given Leeds a 2-0 half-time lead.

Hal Robson-Kanu took advantage of a defensive lapse to score West Brom's consolation in the closing stages.

"It was good, we wanted to finish on a high," said Bamford. "There was a little bit of sloppiness at the end from us which gave them a goal, but apart from that it was a good performance."

Leeds played in front of their fans for the first time in over 14 months and Bamford added: "Everyone went out there and enjoyed it with it being the last game of the season and we wanted to put on a display for the fans.

"I know there were only 8,000, but it was a great noise and it's going to be great when everyone is back in."

West Brom, whose immediate return to the Sky Bet Championship was confirmed two weeks ago, are in the hunt for a new manager.

Departing boss Sam Allardyce said after the defeat to Leeds his successor would inherit "a very talented Championship squad" and defender Conor Townsend said they were determined to bounce straight back.

"The Premier League is the best league in the world and I don't want us to be out of it for long," Townsend told the club's official website.

"Everyone in that dressing room will be determined to hit the ground running next year.

"We've got to use the experiences we've had this year, both good and bad, and put them to good use for the start of the new season.

"We've got a big year ahead of us and we want to bounce straight back up."

ID:448938: cacheID:448938:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4021:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester City's Sergio Aguero is thrown in the air by teammates as they celebrate winning the Premier League after his last match at the Etihad Stadium as a Manchester City player on May 23, 2021
Read Next:
PL Team of the Week - Aguero, Mane, Bale
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
5.30pm
Auger-Aliassime
Rublev
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester463141189414897
3Leeds UnitedLeeds462791081433890
4Southampton462691187632487
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4621121370472375
6Norwich CityNorwich4621101579641573
7Hull City461913146860870
8Middlesbrough46209177162969
9Coventry CityCoventry4617131670591164
10Preston North EndPreston46189195667-1163
11Bristol City461711185351262
12Cardiff CityCardiff46195225370-1762
13Millwall461611194555-1059
14Swansea CitySwansea461512195965-657
15Watford461317166161056
16Sunderland46168225254-256
17Stoke CityStoke461511204960-1156
18Queens Park RangersQPR461511204758-1156
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn461411216074-1453
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds46158234468-2453
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth461312215970-1151
RBirmingham CityBirmingham461311225065-1550
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield46918194877-2945
RRotherham UnitedRotherham46512293789-5227


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!