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Chris Watson

'Let it go' - Patrick Bamford sends Aston Villa fans this message ahead of Leeds United fixture

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford says he still get trolled over his "stupid dive" against Aston Villa.

Bamford had to serve a retrospective two-match ban following the incident in the highly controversial 1-1 draw at Elland Road in April 2019.

He went down holding his face during a melee between the two set of players in the Championship encounter.

Villa's Anwar El Ghazi was sent off as a result but later had his red card overturned on appeal.

The brawl had broken out after Mateusz Klich scored for Leeds while Villa forward Jonathan Kodjia was down injured.

The visitors had stopped playing, expecting the home side to kick the ball out of play so that Kodjia could receive treatment.

Marcelo Bielsa on Aston Villa's progress

Klich's goal stood but Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa ordered his team to allow Villa to equalise straight from the restart.

Bielsa won a FIFA Fair Play award for his actions - but the match still seems to have sparked something of a rivalry between the clubs, now, of course, both in the Premier League.

Bamford scored a hat-trick as Leeds won 3-0 at Villa Park in October and the sides meet for the return fixture at Elland Road on Saturday (5.30pm kick-off).

Asked about the recent history between the teams, Bamford told the Official Leeds United Podcast: "I don't know, it seems like over at least the last couple of seasons, we've almost become rivals with Villa, and I don't know why.

"I think maybe the fact that there was that whole thing where I did that stupid dive and we had to give them a goal, and that kind of kicked it off, or what?

"That was one game - surely you let go of that? That happened ages ago.

"I still get sent flipping GIFS or memes of me falling on the floor from that game.

"I'm like: 'Come on, let it go. I've said sorry'."

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