Chris Wilder reveals chat with Leeds United’s Patrick Bamford over controversial chant

During Leeds United’s promotion celebrations at Elland Road, Patrick Bamford looked to have got his own back six years in the making on Sheffield United man Chris Wilder

Leeds and Burnley are back in the Premier League and their promotion this week came at the expense of Sheffield United and Chris Wilder.

The outspoken Sheffield United boss has done a remarkable job to steady the ship at Bramall Lane this season, but missed out on promotion and was unsurprisingly subject to taunts from both clubs that pipped his side to the finishing post.

Chris Wilder discusses Patrick Bamford ‘chant’ during Leeds United promotion celebrations

Cast your mind back to spring 2019, Wilder’s Sheffield United had just secured promotion at Leeds’ expense thanks to a controversial 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa, prompting Wilder to face the media during his squad’s booze-filled party.

In the process, he singled out Patrick Bamford and Adam Forshaw as “muppets” for their suggestion of the pressure being on the Blades during the run-in.

Six years later and Bamford looked to have finally got his own back, heading down the East Stand steps to get up close with the Leeds fans on the road outside the stand, starting off a chant (but opting not to continue) as the fans in front sang “Wilder is a w*****, du du du”, filmed and unfortunately for Bamford shared on social media.

Of course, Wilder was asked about it as he prepares his side for the final two games and following playoff campaign.

“I don’t need any of that [motivation],” Wilder said, per The Star. “I’m a big boy, you give it you take it. You give it out locally, you take it locally as I’ve always done. We have our moments, other teams have their moments.

“I had a conversation with Pat yesterday and I’ve no issue at all with it. I’m not sure about the words from a fellow pro, but I appreciate and respected him giving me a call and we had 20 minutes. I spoke to Daniel [Farke] as well and had a half-hour chat with him. He’s a top guy.

“They’re a top team and a top football club. I’m a big boy. I would in a heartbeat have swapped our position for theirs but it isn’t the case. 94 points for both of those teams is an incredible achievement. It was a tough campaign from the off for us and we’ve kept it alive to the 44th game. But ultimately we’ve finished in the position we will.”

Outside of being very annoyed at transfer activity from Leeds back in August, Wilder has been very classy whenever talking about Leeds, which is good to see.

He’s clearly been gracious in defeat this season and it’s a stark contrast to not only what he was like in 2019, but what many expected he would be like this season.

His muppets comment obviously struck a nerve, and he’ll have been expecting Bamford in particular to have something to say in response, and he’s taken it well.

Wilder is right to sit and be comfortable with the comments, though, given his ‘sausage rohl’ nonsense he aimed at Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl.