With
three wins out of four in March, Aitor Karanka’s Middlesbrough side are
looking to emerge from the pack to claim promotion to the Premier League. If
they’re to get there, much will depend on their top scorer Patrick Bamford,
writes Adam Bate…
Against the backdrop of jeering from the Derby supporters at the iPro
Stadium on Tuesday, it would have been easy for striker Patrick Bamford to
be cowed.
Instead the 21-year-old – who is on loan at Middlesbrough from Chelsea – was
inspired by the atmosphere, netting a wonderfully composed winner to keep
his team on course for a return to the Premier League.
Bamford’s reception was to be expected given his loan spell at Derby and
self-declared status as a lifelong Nottingham Forest fan but Steve McClaren
was magnanimous. “That is the sort of quality that he is capable of
producing and that was what made the difference,” said McClaren of Bamford’s
neat work in rounding Lee Grant to score the only goal of the game.
“Nobody can be surprised by Patrick's goal,” added Boro boss Aitor Karanka
of his Chelsea loanee. “He has taken the main responsibility for scoring and
he has the confidence to make the most of his chances.” That maturity in
front of goal that belies his age has certainly been a feature of Bamford’s
performances for Boro so far this season.
With 16 goals, 14 of them in the Championship, he ranks among the top 10
scorers in the division and the youngest player to reach double figures.
However, it’s not just the quantity of the goals but the significance of
them that sets Bamford’s contribution apart from the rest. The youngster is
developing a knack for scoring the goals that matter.
Opening goals
To illustrate the point, 10 of his 16 efforts have been the opening goal of
a game. That’s not only more than Championship top scorer Daryl Murphy but
any player in the division. Four of them were inside the first 10 minutes of
matches, setting the tone for the entire game, while three of the six that
weren’t opening goals were equalisers instead.
Breaking the deadlock
Bamford is a clutch player. He’s shown that in the biggest games – a penalty
in the final minute of extra time in the Capital One Cup against Liverpool
and what turned out to be the winner in the FA Cup away to Manchester City.
With the promotion race heating up, he’s responded with a brace against
Ipswich and the aforementioned goal against Derby. That ability to step up
is going to be crucial in the coming weeks.
Karanka’s men must still face Watford, Wolves and Norwich in the run-in but
before that there is the small matter of a showdown with Bournemouth at Dean
Court on Saturday. With Boro in second spot and their hosts just two points
behind them in third, the pressure is on. But Bamford appears to thrive on
it.
“It’s so close between the top five or six clubs in the division so every
game and result counts between now and the end of the season – it keeps you
focused,” he told the FA upon being called up to Gareth Southgate’s England
U21 side. He’ll link up with the squad after the Bournemouth game with an
international against Germany to look forward to in front of his own fans at
the Riverside.
“Patrick is in really good form,” said Southgate this week. “He’s picked a
really good moment. He’s played out wide and through the centre, which is
his preference. He’s a goal scorer and someone who doesn’t need too many
chances to make his mark. He’s playing with a lot of confidence and is
enjoying more and more responsibility in the side.”
That responsibility will be keenly felt on Saturday as Middlesbrough will
need him to deliver once again against the Cherries. For the young man with
an old head on his shoulders, it’s a challenge you’d expect him to relish.
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