Leeds
United climbed to third in the Premier League as Patrick Bamford’s second half
hattrick helped inflict Aston Villa’s first defeat of the season on Friday.

Having
previously scored one goal in 27 Premier League games, Bamford notched up his sixth
goal in as many games this season, becoming the first Leeds player to score in
the first three away games of a top-flight season since Gordon Hodgson in
1937-38.

“It’s a
dream come true. When the third went in it was elation. I will be telling my
kids about this,” AFP quoted the 27-year-old as saying.

The
hattrick capped a long journey to the top for the 27-year-old, having endured
harsh criticism for his finishing earlier in his career.

He went on
seven loan spells during his stint at the Chelsea youth academy, before moving
on to Middlesbrough but it was under enigmatic coach Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds
that he developed into the player he is today.

“It is
testament to how the team has worked. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to score.
Marcelo has put a lot of trust in me. People say Bielsa is a myth but we have
shown Leeds are here to compete,” Bamford said.

Although
Bamford recognises Bielsa’s influence in his rise, the Argentine manager
insists Bamford deserves all the praise for turning around his career, saying
the renaissance was down to hard work and humility.

“Very happy
for Patrick because he scored some wonderful goals. Apart from that a noble
player who sacrifices a lot for the team. He’s generous also. I think his
development is more to do with him and less to do with me,” Bielsa said.

Leeds’
third league win since their promotion from the Championship was the perfect
response after losing against Wolves on Monday.

“It
was an important game for us and a deserved triumph. We scored first and were a
little bit lucky they didn’t score some of the chances they had,” Bielsa
said.

For Villa,
their four-game winning run came to a halt as they missed the chance to start a
season with five successive victories for the first time in their history.

Villa
only escaped relegation on the final day of last season, so the first defeat
could serve as a reality check for Dean Smith’s team after their unexpectedly
strong start.

Smith had warned
his players they would get “a bloody nose very quickly” if they
rested on their laurels, but they did not heed the warning as Bamford delivered
the knockout punches.

Leeds could
have been ahead inside the first four minutes when Bamford headed just wide
from Ezgjan Alioski’s deep cross and Villa nearly took the lead against the run
of play when Jack Grealish saw his shot superbly cleared off the line by Luke
Ayling’s last-ditch intervention.

Grealish
carried Villa’s main threat and the winger’s penalty appeal was rejected by VAR
after he went down under minimal contact from Helder Costa.

Showcasing
the skill that has prompted many to question England manager Gareth Southgate’s
decision not to use him more often, Grealish twisted past the Leeds defence
with some nimble footwork before Illan Meslier smothered his shot.

But Bamford
broke the deadlock in the 55th minute with a close-range finish after Villa
keeper Emiliano Martinez parried Rodrigo’s shot into his path.

Trailing
for the first time in nine league matches, Villa were finished off by Bamford
in the 67th minute, as he rocketed a blistering strike into the top corner from the
edge of the penalty box.

Bamford
completed his hat-trick in the 75th minute when he took Costa’s pass and worked
a yard of space inside the area before curling his shot past Martinez