Leeds United 1-0 Burnley: Bamford on target as resilient Whites hang on to pick up maximum points

Leeds United returned to winning ways on Sunday, as they defeated Burnley 1-0 at Elland Road, writes @jonnychick__.

Striker Patrick Bamford netted the only goal of the game from the penalty spot which takes his season tally into double figures.

After the crushing 6-2 defeat to rivals Manchester United last weekend, a bounce-back was needed by Leeds United. The first half was saw the fearless side to Leeds and the Whites went into half-time one goal to the good.

The second half, however, was a complete contrast. Burnley dominated the ball and kept pressing into the Whites' penalty area. The lack of clear cut chances created from the away side was their downfall, which is a testament to the fantastic performances of goalkeeper Illan Meslier and defenders Luke Ayling, Pascal Struijk, and Kalvin Phillips in the Leeds backline.

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa made just one change to the starting eleven, replacing club captain Liam Cooper, who was out with an abdominal strain, with 21-year-old prospect Pascal Struijk.

Sean Dyche named two changes to his Burnley side by bringing in Eric Pieters and Josh Benson for Roby Brady and Dwight McNeill.

Much like the game against West Ham United a couple of weeks ago, Leeds were awarded an early penalty. Again it was Bamford who was brought down in the box by Clarets goalkeeper Nick Pope after a long ball from skipper Luke Ayling found the run of the Leeds number 9.

Bamford is brought down by Nick Pope (gettyimages/Pool)

Midfielder Mateusz Klich is usually the on to take Leeds United's spot-kicks, however on this occasion, it was Bamford who stepped up and riffled the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net, sending Pope the wrong way to give Leeds the lead inside five minutes and to grab his 10th goal of the season.

The game's most controversial moment a quarter of an hour after the opener. Striker Ashley Barnes had the ball in the net for Burnley but the referee gave a free-kick to Leeds United for a foul on Illan Meslier by Ben Mee. Replay's show that the Whites may have got away with one, as no clear foul by Burnley's captain can be seen.

Leeds continued to press in search of a second goal when Raphinia burst into the penalty area after a mistake a defensive mistake from Burnley. His cut-back found Jack Harrison who saw his effort accidentally blocked by teammate Patrick Bamford.

Former Leeds front-man Chris Wood led the line for Burnley alongside Ashley Barnes and he could've scored against his old side at the end of the first half. A hanging ball into the penalty area met the head of Wood who headed just over the bar from close range.

The home side continued to create more chances. Raphinia's left-footed curling shot from the edge of the area was saved down low by Nick Pope and Rodrigo headed over the bar from close range.

Half-time score: Leeds United 1-0 Burnley

Leeds started the second half sloppily, giving away possession carelessly and putting themselves on the back foot. But for all their possession and waves of attacks, Burnley struggled to create any clear cut chances.

Bielsa turned to Pablo Hernandez and Ian Poveda to give Leeds some attacking intent. Gjanni Alioski acrobatically sent Hernandez on the counter-attack and the Spaniard's low shot was saved by the fingertips of Pope in the Burnley goal.

Despite a late onslaught of set pieces from Burnley, Leeds held on to secure back-to-back home wins for the first time this season and their fifth clean sheet of the campaign.

Leeds players celebrate after hard fought victory over Burnley at Elland Road (gettyimages/Pool)

The three points move Leeds up to 12th place in the Premier League table on 20 points, nine points above the relegation zone. The Whites still have one more game to play before the turn of the year, as they travel to the Hawthorns to face West Brom in two days' time.

Full-time score: Leeds United 1-0 Burnley

Match information

Leeds United vs. Burnley

English Premier League

Sunday 27th December 2020

Elland Road

Leeds United (3-1-3-3): Meslier (GK), Ayling (C), Struijk, Phillips, Dallas, Klich (Shackleton 66'), Alioski, Raphinia (Poveda 70'), Rodrigo (Hernandez 59'), Harrison, Bamford. Unused substitutes: Casilla (GK), Roberts, Costa, Davis, Jenkins, Casey

Burnley (4-4-2): Pope (GK), Taylor, Tarkowski, Mee (C), Lowton, Pieters (Rodriguez 74'), Brownhill, Westwood, Benson (Stephens 74'), Wood, Barnes. Unused substitutes: Peacock-Farrell, Norris, Bardsley, Long, Dunne, Mancini, Mumbongo.