Leeds are aiming for an immediate return to the Premier League, and they made a step in the right direction at Hillsborough on Friday evening.
Leeds United’s promotion campaign remained on track with a 2-0 away win over Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night, with to goals from Patrick Bamford and Willy Gnonto.
Bamford scored just seconds before halftime, and Gnonto added his ninth of the season on 58 minutes. The win moves the team into the top two in the Championship for the time being, ahead of the remainder of the weekend’s fixtures.
The crown is on the line, with the gap behind Leicester reduced to two points ahead of the Foxes’ trip to Hull City. Daniel Farke has been hailed for his efforts at Elland Road this season, with the Whites establishing stability at the perfect time.
Sections of the national media reacted to Leeds’ victory over Wednesday, with one player in particular receiving high praise.
“Bamford is crucial to the promotion bid.”
Ross Heppenstall, The Daily Mail
“You can say anything you want about Patrick Bamford, as many have during his six seasons at Leeds United, but you can’t ignore his importance to the club’s promotion campaign right now. Fans confronted the striker outside his home after he missed a penalty against Newcastle last season, ending the club’s three-year Premier League run.
“Last night, though, the renascent frontman, 30, scored his eighth goal in 13 appearances since the turn of the year to put Daniel Farke ‘s men on their way to an 11th league win in 12 games.”
Who can stop Leeds?
Phil Hay, The Athletic
“Sheffield Wednesday won the league for the 11th time in 12 games last night, and many types of data show the same thing: two points dropped from 36, three goals conceded in that time, Farke manager-of-the-month for the third time in four, and images of him with the trophy looking less delighted each time.
“How do you break such suffocating dependability? Because if Leicester, running Farke’s side as hard as they did a fortnight ago, can’t cross the line against them after 90 minutes, who in the division can?”
“When Leeds knew they had won it.”
Dan Long, Sky Sports
“Ethan Ampadu hooked off the line [on 77 minutes] when Wednesday substitute Michael Smith attempted to pounce after Meslier had saved a bouncing ball but, in truth, a Wednesday comeback never looked on the cards after that, meaning Leeds managed to secure their ninth clean sheet in their last 12 games.”
