Patrick Bamford claims Leeds ’ success is a fitting reward for all the staff who suffered during the bad times.
Leeds’ win over Southampton has guaranteed them a top-half finish in their first season back in the Premier League after their painful 16-year exile.
Leeds have endured a first relegation to League One, administration and numerous false dawns since 2004 and many of the staff at Elland Road and Thorp Arch experienced those lean years.
Bamford, 27, who scored his 16 th Premier League goal of the season against Southampton, has dedicated Leeds’ success to them.
“It’s fantastic for the club as a whole, the management, the staff and everyone, who works behind the scenes, down to the kitchen staff at the training ground,” said the striker.
“They’ve been at the club for 16 years. Some of us players have been here for two or three years, so we don’t know what it was like.
“But everyone else in the club has suffered and they deserve it. This is for them, they stuck with us through the hard times.”
Leeds will record their best finish since coming fifth in 2002 and Tyler Roberts claims they have shocked everyone.
Leeds were not expected to do so well having been out of the top flight for so long and Roberts claims they always strive to improve.
“I don’t think anybody really expected us to finish in the top 10, but we’re the sort of team who will always look up,” said the Wales striker.
“We always try to push forward and get even higher, so if we can finish higher it will be even better.
“It’s a great achievement from the boys, I think it’s credit to the way that we set up and play each game.”
Roberts, 22, has hugely relieved to break his Premier League duck on his 26 th appearance and revealed he has been working on his finishing.
“I was frustrated it hadn’t come before,” he said. “It’s a big weight off my shoulders and the emotions came out.
“I’ve been practising my finishing, so I when I got the chance, I was ready for it.”
