PATRICK BAMFORD joined an illustrious band of brothers — after spoiling Southampton’s fan-reunion party.
The 27-year-old’s strike was his 16th Prem goal of the season and tenth away from home.
He is just the fourth player to hit double digits on the road in a Prem campaign for Leeds — joining Mark Viduka, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Michael Bridges.
And with Gareth Southgate set to name his Three Lions squad for the Euros on Tuesday, the striker is doing all he can to earn a call-up.
Substitute Tyler Roberts grabbed a second in injury time to move Leeds up to eighth, with their third win on the spin.
Boss Marcelo Bielsa said: “Patrick had a very generous performance with a lot of effort. He has had a season where he has shone.
“Everything he has achieved this season is because of dedication and effort to show all of his abilities.
“I am sure he will be very positive about the campaign, be what may.”
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Southampton made three changes to the side that saw off Fulham with Takumi Minamino, Danny Ings and Nathan Redmond dropped.
Leeds followed suit with Pascal Struijk, Mateusz Klich and Illan Meslier sitting it out — meaning No 2 Kiko Casilla made just his second Prem start of the season.
And the Spanish keeper was called into action in the opening few minutes as he tipped over Che Adams’ close-range header from James Ward-Prowse’s lofted cross.
The Saints were thriving off the support of the lively 8,000 fans inside St Mary’s — and were doing to Leeds what they normally do to others with a frantic high press.
Nathan Tella fed Theo Walcott over the top and he rounded Casilla — but the angle was too tight to tap into the empty net.
Leeds began to find their feet, but not with any great purpose, as Stuart Dallas’ scuffed volley wide of the post was their best chance of a rather poor half.
Ward-Prowse almost saw all of that early work undone as a flailing arm to the face of Diego Llorente was enough for VAR to give it a check in the 34th minute.
But the hosts finished the half well, with Adams forcing Casilla down to his left with a shot from Tella’s pass.
Adams did not return after the break, replaced by Ings who is still finding full fitness after a recent hamstring injury.
But Bielsa had read the riot act at half-time, as Alex McCarthy made fine stops to deny a Dallas volley and a Bamford strike.
Then came a tale of two possible penalties in the space of a minute.
Dallas hacked down Moussa Djenepo within inches of the box and had ref Peter Bankes dithering.
And from the resulting free-kick, Leeds broke with Raphinha putting Bamford through on goal.
He was clipped by an onrushing McCarthy but bizarrely decided to stay on his feet. Leeds were now beginning to gain control — and were rewarded in the 73rd minute as Southampton were punished for backing off Rodrigo.
His cute dink found Bamford who made no mistake on this occasion, finishing between McCarthy’s legs.
VAR checked for offside but the run was timed to perfection.
The net bulged again for Leeds in the final minute of normal time, Bamford teeing up Raphinha, only for him to be deemed offside.
But Leeds found the target once more and this time it counted — Roberts scoring his first Prem goal by firing home from a rebound. Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “I don’t think we could have played any better in that first half.
“Still, something was missing. But next season, I think we will have the chance to beat them.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
