Leeds United were left to spend at least a second season in the Championship back in May when Daniel Farke’s side were beaten by Southampton at Wembley.
Russell Martin’s Saints seemed to have the measure of Daniel Farke and Leeds and secured a third win of 2023-24 against Leeds, having previously beaten Leeds both home and away during the normal season.
It was the first time a Championship side had accumulated 90 points without then going on to secure a place in the Premier League. But the form of Ipswich, Leicester and then Southampton proved too much.
Now, Farke and Leeds will be eyeing a place in the top two this season and have made a solid start to life in 2024-25, following last Friday’s win over Sheffield United. Leeds currently sit in third place in the table.
Leeds would be in the Premier League if one player was available
Indeed, Leeds are three places and three points better off than they were after 10 Championship games last season. That is despite losing Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville and Archie Gray this summer.
But Farke told Monday’s press conference that Leeds would have gone up instead of Southampton or another of the two promoted sides if Patrick Bamford had remained fit for the Championship run-in.
“Patrick has been struggling in the last months with injuries and this is what we have to rebuild. But no-one has to be concerned about his mental position, he is an unbelievably smart guy, an experienced guy.
“From the first day I walked in, I haven’t hid my appreciation of him. He’s a top class player. I’m 100% sure with a fully fit Patrick Bamford, we would be in the Premier League because we missed him in the run-in. It’s no coincidence including point average when he started.”
Leeds points with Patrick Bamford starting last term, and without
During the Championship run-in last term, Bamford was in excellent form. Many forget just how hard he works when playing, he scores a decent amount of goals and occupies two centre-backs to create space.
| Starts | Wins | Draws | Losses | PPG | |
| Bamford starting | 15 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2.4 |
| Bamford not starting | 31 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 1.74 |
The stats last season show simply, Leeds are a better side when Bamford starts. Of course, he will need time to get back to his best and now, Leeds have two in-form strikers in Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph.
But Leeds are a better side when Bamford is fit, even if he is not scoring goals. It will be interesting to see when Farke can afford the striker some game time especially, given he is third choice at this moment.
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