Patrick Bamford causes a stir with his goal celebration as Leeds beat Forest in friendly

Patrick Bamford causes a stir with his goal celebration as Leeds beat Nottingham Forest in a pre-season friendly played at Burton Albion.

The 29 year old could be seen cupping the ears after scoring, and it has really triggered quite a lot of gossip on social media.

It was a really strong performance from Daniel Farke’s side as they prepare for life back in the Championship, to see them come away with a more than deserved two-goal victory, after second half goals from Patrick Bamford and Ian Poveda.

 

65′ Goal! Bamford picks up on a Forest mistake and rolls it past the keeper! 0-1 pic.twitter.com/WH9vn7URCr

— Leeds United (@LUFC) July 27, 2023

There was a moment of respect prior to kick off, both Farke and Forest boss Steve Cooper walked into the centre circle with the captain of each side, Liam Cooper and Joe Worrall, to lay flowers and shirts in memory of Trevor Francis and Chris Bart-Williams, the two ex-Forest players who sadly passed away earlier in the week.

When the match started, Leeds nearly found themselves 1-0 up inside the opening two minutes when Luis Sinisterra picked up a good lay-off from Bamford and a left-footed effort was tipped onto the post by Ethan Horvath.

Then moments later, Ryan Yates was the first to go close then for Forest, only hitting the side netting. Illan Meslier was tested in the Leeds goal minutes later though when he denied Danilo’s header.

Jamie Shackleton also forced a save from Horvarth before Taiwo Awoniyi chipped the ball over when well placed at the other end.

Poveda put in a lively shift, creating a good chance with Dan James, only to see a sudden block deny the strike from the latter.

The deadlock broke on the 66th minute, with an excellent finish from Bamford, cleverly intercepting a back-pass, composed himself and comfortably put the ball past substitute goalkeeper George Shelvey into the far corner.

Leeds continued to put pressure on, and Poveda, who was a constant threat, saw his shot go narrowly wide of the goal.

Chris Wood produced a chance for Forest, only to see Charlie Cresswell put in a solid last ditch challenge to deny the striker a clear effort on goal.

With 10 minutes to go, Leeds made it 2-0 and through Poveda after Gray pressed forward through midfield and passed the ball to Rutter, who laid it on a plate to Poveda, controlling, went forward and hit a low one into the corner with his left-foot.

Forest: Horvath (GK) (Shelvey 60’), Worrall (C), Mangala (Aurier 60’), Williams, Kouyate (Aguilera 60’), Awoniyi (Ui-Jo 45’), Yates (Elanga 60’), Freuler, Danilo (Scarpa 60’), Boly (Panzo 75’), Powell (Wood 60’). Subs not used: Bott (GK), McKenna, Abbott.

Leeds: Messier (GK), Ayling (Gray 45’), Ampadu (Gyabi 56’), Cooper (C) (Struijk 67’), Bamford (Rutter 67’), James (Gnonto 67’), Sinisterra (Poveda 45’), Byram (Hjelde 67’), Gelhardt (Joseph 67’), Cresswell, Shackleton. Subs not used: Klaesson (GK), Van den Heuvel (GK), Bate.

Venue: Pirelli Stadium

Attendance: 5,114

Referee: C. Pawson

Booked: n/a

As mentioned, Patrick Bamford causes a stir with his goal celebration as Leeds beat Forest in a friendly…

@JBennett_1919: He’s actually a fucking prick. Cupping his ears to fans in a pre-season friendly after missing chances to secure our place in the prem. fuck off. Keep fucking off. And when you get the fuck off… keep fucking off. #lufc

@MattySpeakman: Cupping his ears! If he’s our starting number 9 my head will be gone. Begging for a striker with some actual mental fortitude, like a fucking child. #lufc

@maverickrhino: Fingers in the ears again Patrick? Really? That really won’t end well, why would you think that’s a good idea? Guaranteed to bite him back. #lufc

@Sean_FootyMad: 😂 Bamford giving out this in a friendly. Roll on the Championship season! ⚽️

@hopey550: Shows how easily affected he is by anything. Would have been 2-0 up and cruising against Newcastle if he didn’t feel the need to force some confidence with the pen he missed. Pre season doing that ffs 🤣

@LUFCBenF: Covering his ears because he got gifted the ball 10 yards out in a friendly I seriously can’t be arsed #lufc

@benALAW1: Get him sold. And get Piroe in. We need a fresh start and so does he.

@AndRusso_16: We create, create, create…then score capitalising on a mistake by their defender. The unpredictability of football! #LUFC

@Townend1919: Embarrassing that hes celebrated and the fact hes done that

@nathdalton1: He’s done this in front of the Leeds fans, I can’t get on board with it. Had a dog shit season last season & missed crucial opportunities for fun. Fingering your ears in a pre season friendly is brave imo, asking for grief. (Not the grief aimed at his family, not a fan of that.)

@Walesy1981: Fans in the ground saying it was aimed at Forest fans. Wet wipe Leeds fans, mostly of a certain age (20s) who aren’t at the game giving him abuse! The Keyboard warrior generation. Probably the type to throw a full pint in the air when England score.

@CraigLUFC77: Well, well, well.. I just knew that would stir some crap up.. fans pile on.. just because they don’t like someone. When he scores his 20th of next season you’ll be all supporting him.

@HarrySmith_21: Finger to the ears 🤣 mate your one of the reasons we are in championship

@hawky9393: Good goal, better celebration.. Relegated due to 28 players, 4 managers and one owner making poor decisions.. But paddy who’s been injured for most of the season gets the blame.

@dfacey10: Why the finger to ears?? Doesn’t help himself at all

@SneakyScoffer1: Imagine cupping your ears in a friendly where you’ve done absolutely nothing except being played through on goal by an opposition player… He literally has zero shame.

@Pitbulls_Ghost: THE biggest reason we got relegated. Done FUCK ALL this game, literally put into an unmissable chance by their full back, scores a tap in, in a friendly, then cups his ears to our own fans. Bloke really is an unlikeable sack of shit.

@AO1865: Fingers in ears in a friendly, in front of your own fans, ooft. Controversial considering you’re one of the main reasons your clubs playing championship football this year… that said, like the look of Leeds, they’ll be fine this year, some unbelievable energy in that side.

@_billyreid: Fingers to his ears in a friendly after we’ve been relegated. This man has no shame

@THEBIGPEANUT257: How about the fact that his family got abused and threatened by so called Leeds fans could be part of it. He wasn’t the only reason we got relegated as the whole team was shocking in the PL.

@FogalandBarnes: A top player, and a great guy, who if he is kept fit, will score 20 goals this season in the championship. People forget, he got LUFC promoted with his goals and assists and scored some huge goals in the first season in the premier league.

@McGheeT92: Everybody is way off the mark, he was directing that at forest chilllll

@DaveDuracell: Haha the ears celebration, clearly doesn’t like what the fans have said this past 4 months then 🤣

@karly057: He’s had that celebration planned for months but he couldn’t score when it mattered

And here’s a funny moment which saw Luke Ayling respond to a chant from Forest fans about whether he is a boy or girl…

Hang it in the Louvre😂 pic.twitter.com/9bHV3yvLa4

— Alex 🇧🇷 (@AO1865) July 27, 2023