The ball fell to Patrick Bamford at the back post after a flick on from a Leeds United corner and the no.9 simply had to brush the ball into the net – but he fluffed his lines and Michael Owen gave his take on the chance, on BT Sport.
Bamford, 29, was free as a bird at the back post with the scoreline reading 1-1, in injury time. Luis Sinisterra gave Leeds the lead inside 20 minutes with a superb header – after a Kevin De Bruyne-esque cross from Jack Harrison.
But Jamie Vardy had come off the bench to equalise on 79 minutes. Marc Roca’s header was well-saved by Daniel Iversen, when he should have scored. Then, the moment fell to Bamford. A glorious chance inside the six-yard box.
Speaking after the full-time whistle on BT Sport, England legend Owen said he felt sympathy for £74k-a-week star Bamford – and the chance was not easy. He says if the chance fell to him on his weaker foot, he would have missed.
“It does come at him fast and the ball is slightly behind him. It’s on his weaker foot, there’s a lot going against him. If he knocks that in, everyone will say – well he was expected to score. But it’s not that easy. It’s not that easy.
“We saw with Leeds’ first goal. Sinisterra makes it look easy. All his momentum is going the wrong way. You don’t have to connect perfectly with it, just smother it. If it was on my left, I would probably have missed it,” Owen said.
Owen give his take as Bamford misses golden Leeds chance
It was a season-defining moment. If Bamford knocks that in, Leeds go four points clear of Leicester and have a bit of belief going into the final five games of the season. But, Bamford scuffed an effort wide, and now, the opposite.
Leeds remain a point above the drop zone – but with a really tough run in. Bournemouth away on the weekend will be very tough. Then, Manchester City, West Ham, Newcastle and Tottenham. It is going to be incredibly hard, now.
