Patrick Bamford has been described as “a joke” after appearing to criticise Jesse Marsch’s tactics following Leeds’ 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Marsch was sacked as Leeds manager on Monday after defeat at the City Ground extended a winless run to seven games.
The American’s tactical set-up had been questioned by his striker Bamford, who suggested that Forest’s centre-backs had enjoyed a straightforward afternoon as they “just had me to concentrate on”.
“We needed more runners running past me to drag [Forest’s centre-backs] out of position and create a bit more space,” Bamford further explained.
“The whole game was literally two v one, which made it difficult, and unfortunately I couldn’t find the answers to solve that.”
Former Norwich, Celtic and Blackburn striker Chris Sutton believes that Bamford was wrong to make his criticisms public.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sutton suggested that the 29-year-old would have known where his comments might lead with Marsch under pressure.
“Keep it in the confines of the dressing room if that’s the way you feel,” Sutton said.
“He’s unburdening himself of any responsibility. I don’t like that.
“He’s not daft - he knows the implications that it will have. It will be taken as a criticism of the manager and his tactics. He’s a joke for bringing that into the public domain.
“[Bamford] doesn’t strike me as somebody who wouldn’t understand where comments like this would lead.
“He’s criticising the manager, the tactics. Things like this snowball. It’s great he’s honest - but it’s only going to cause trouble.”
Sunday’s defeat leaves Leeds 17th in the table and without a Premier League win since early November.
Michael Skubala, who has been working as coach of the club’s under-21s, has been placed in caretaker charge and will oversee the midweek encounter with Manchester United.
