Patrick Bamford explains Leeds United's second-season challenges and key momentum shift - Leeds Live 30/9/21
The Whites are winless after six Premier League matches but there are several mitigating factors
Patrick Bamford has outlined the several factors that have
made Leeds United's second Premier League season far more difficult.
The Whites are still chasing their first victory of the
season and remain winless from their opening six games.
A trip to Watford this weekend could bring that run to an
end and lift Leeds from the bottom three.
After a lightning-quick start to the previous campaign,
Leeds have taken longer to hit their stride this time around.
Commonly known as 'second-season syndrome', Bamford has
explained that injuries and a shift in momentum have contributed to a tougher
start for Leeds.
"I think as soon as you come up in the first season,
you have momentum where you are riding the crest of the wave, it's almost not real,"
Bamford told the Official Leeds United Podcast.
"You play without expectations, not that there is
pressure now, but there was no fear, no nerves. Everyone is just taking it in
their stride.
"We had the surprising factor that nobody knew really
what we were about. I think this year, partly because we haven't had a full
team this season which doesn't help, also people know what they will get with
us.
"They plan for that and that means as players we have
to be bang on it all the time, we can't make even a little mistake. What we
learned from Saturday is that Illan (Meslier) is unbelievable.
"Even though we were good first half, they could have
had three or four but he bailed us out. Crowds play a part and make away games
a little tough."
"You could say we didn't deserve to lose the
game," he added when asked about the dressing room mood.
"It was a game where there were loads of chances for
both teams. The important thing for the lads is they know the chances are there
to score. It was getting to that final bit.
"We played until the final 30 metres, which is how it's
been all season, really good, and it's just that last pass or converting that
chance or the possession into an actual chance, which we have struggled with.
"I know the boys are thinking that it's early on, we
knew the second season would be harder. Nobody is panicking."
