Game Summary:
Rochdale 2, City 1
Who says lightning never strikes twice? It's certainly not Stuart McCall and his beaten Bantams after their last play-off hope disappeared at Spotland.
Super sub Adam Le Fondre came off the bench to settle the match with a late strike - just as he had done when Rochdale won at Valley Parade in February.
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In this edition:
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A bit of City humour... http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
Next game(s) : Upcoming fixtures
2007/2008 fixtures now out
FL2 Table Table
Must be a midlife crises - I'm on facebook !
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Highlights (UK only) Virgin Media
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Match Stats
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Game Statistics
Dale / City
23 Goal Attempts 15
10 On Target 5
5 Corners 3
15 Fouls 10
3 Yellow Cards 1
54 % 46
Rochdale: Lee ,Ramsden ,Stanton ,McArdle ,Kennedy ,Muirhead (Dagnall ,58 ) ,Jones ,Perkins ,Rundle ,Higginbotham (Le Fondre ,79 ) ,Thorpe
Subs not used: Holness,Basham,Button,
Bradford: Loach ,Starosta ,Wetherall ,Bower ,Heckingbottom ,Colbeck ,Johnson (Moncur ,89 ) ,Penford ,Nix (Rhodes ,74 ) ,Conlon ,Thorne (Medley ,80)
Subs not used Evans,Williams,
Bookings: Muirhead ,Perkins ,Ramsden (Rochdale) Colbeck (Bradford)
Attendance: 3811
Referee: A Haines ()
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T&A )
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Le Fondre does the damage again
By Simon Parker
Rochdale 2, City 1
Who says lightning never strikes twice? It's certainly not Stuart McCall and his beaten Bantams after their last play-off hope disappeared at Spotland.
Super sub Adam Le Fondre came off the bench to settle the match with a late strike - just as he had done when Rochdale won at Valley Parade in February.
City still had time to hit the woodwork in a frantic finish which also saw the ball cleared off the line but they left a pulsating encounter with nothing.
Times had certainly changed since City's last trip to Spotland three years ago, when they strolled to a 5-0 Carling Cup win with a Dean Windass hat-trick.
Now it was Dale who started favourites as they looked to celebrate their centenary season with only the club's second promotion.
City began the night eight points behind their eighth-placed hosts and had played a game more. A victory was a must to keep alive the feint dream of sneaking into the play-offs.
It could not have started in a worse fashion. The game was only 21 seconds old when David Perkins, their chief tormentor at Valley Parade in February, was at it again.
The bleach-haired midfielder wrestled possession from Eddie Johnson on the edge of the City box and fired through the midfielder's legs and past the unsighted Scott Loach into the far corner of the net.
It was a stunning blow for City and their army of travelling fans, although at least there was plenty of time to come back.
They were almost level as early as the eighth minute from a superbly-worked free-kick routine after Barry Conlon was upended by Rory McArdle 25 yards out.
Johnson and Kyle Nix both shaped to shoot but instead stepped over it for Paul Heckingbottom to chip into Johnson's path as he burst into the box. The midfielder's cross-shot flew past Tommy Lee but crashed against the post.
The City fans were still in good voice despite the early shock, although Johnson's attempt to latch on to Heckingbottom's long throw-in brought only mocking cheers from the home crowd as he sliced towards the corner flag.
Joe Colbeck got into the game with a dangerous cross to the far post which was well claimed by Lee, the Keighley-born stopper who had played so well at Valley Parade for Macclesfield way back in August.
Adam Rundle looked a threat on Rochdale's left wing and he teed up Perkins for another try which fortunately flew high over Loach's bar.
But the City keeper had to be alert a minute later to tip over a Ben Muirhead cross from the other flank which was heading goalwards after clipping Heckingbottom.
Perkins obviously planned to shoot on sight and surged forward to try his luck again after Nix sold Johnson short on the halfway line.
The game was flying along at a good tempo and Tom Penford volleyed wide after another Heckingbottom long throw into the danger zone was only half-cleared.
Dale right back Simon Ramsden picked up the first yellow card after half an hour when his cynical trip halted Nix's attempt to break the home offside trap. This time the free-kick was nowhere near as impressive and Lee remained untroubled.
Tom Kennedy's free-kick at the other end was more accurate but straight down the keeper's throat - but City still had their hands full when Dale roared forward in numbers and watched with relief as Rundle volleyed over from 12 yards from Kallum Higginbotham's neat supply.
City could not get a grip on Perkins, who was pulling the strings with his non-stop running in midfield as he had done in the first meeting. He seemed to have a hand in everything.
The Bantams looked for a lift as half-time approached and Johnson had an effort charged down. Hopeful appeals for handball from Penford's follow-up were ignored by referee Andy Haines.
The visitors were almost caught out when Rochdale broke again after another Penford shot was charged down. Higginbotham outmuscled Ben Starosta as the ball span into City's half and Muirhead was only inches away from crowning a slick move with a goal against his former club.
Conlon had battled away to win flick-ons and knock-downs and climbed well to flash a header wide in first-half stoppage time. Then Johnson failed to get any connection at all to a useful cross from Heckingbottom.
City had bounced back superbly from a goal down against Darlington three days earlier. Now they had to do the same against another promotion-chaser on their own manor.
Johnson registered their first shot on target straight away but his bouncing effort carried no threat to Lee.
City were grateful for David Wetherall's block to deny Lee Thorpe as Ramsden drilled a low cross into the six-yard box. The skipper got there at exactly the same moment as the striker to prevent a certain second.
Perkins was booked after upending Nix before Dale made their first change, replacing Muirhead - to a chorus of boos from the City fans - with Chris Dagnall.
The substitute had been on for barely 30 seconds when City hit back. Colbeck had been starved of possession but when he did get a chance to run into the box he was sent tumbling by Tom Kennedy.
It was a clear penalty and Peter Thorne calmly stepped up to slot home his 13th goal of the season as Lee went the wrong way.
Rochdale dusted themselves off and came again straight away. Dagnall, who hit a hat-trick as a sub inside eight minutes against Rotherham on Easter Monday, should have done better with a close-range stab and then Thorpe could not direct a low centre from Perkins.
An ironic Wembley chant broke out from the massed away ranks but Rochdale again went close to regaining the lead as Rundle nipped round the back of City's defence and drilled into the side-netting.
McCall made his first change with 16 minutes left as Alex Rhodes replaced Nix. Rhodes had proved effective in short bursts from the bench in previous matches and the City chief was hoping his extra pace could unlock Rochdale for a second time.
City were losing patience with the referee. Penford argued over a corner decision given against him and then Colbeck was booked for disputing a foul which looked to be a fair tackle.
Luke Medley came on for the last ten minutes for his first action since early November. Rochdale also made a change and brought on Le Fondre, who netted the spectacular stoppage-time winner in February.
Perkins almost came up with a goal to match with eight minutes left, flicking up the ball with one foot and then volleying with the other. Loach was well beaten but luckily the ball flew just the other side of the far post.
But City's survival proved shortlived as, with two minutes to go, Thorpe's flick-on found Le Fondre and his snap-shot gave Loach no chance.
City threw everything at Dale's goal in stoppage time. Bower headed against the bar, Penford saw a shot clawed away and Conlon also hit the bar and was denied on the line as well but the ball just would not go in.
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Official match report
n/a
Misc. Report(s)
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/s/1043748_hatters_and_dale_in_fight_to_finish
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/rochdale/s/1043449_rochdale_2_bradford_1
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Donovan Ricketts looks to have played final game for Bantams
Posted on: Tue 01 Apr 2008
Donovan Ricketts looks to have played his final game for Bradford City
after he was refused entry back into England on Friday on his return
from international duty last week.
A sharp-eyed immigration officer at Heathrow Airport noticed that while
Ricketts had a valid passport and a work permit had been issued in 2006,
he hadn't completed the necessary requirement of having his passport
stamped to allow him to be employed in the UK.
Ricketts was promptly put back on a plane to New York in the hope that
he could have his passport stamped there at the British Embassy but more
bad news followed when the club contacted the British Immigration Agency
in Sheffield and they advised that as Ricketts had not completed the
paperwork within six months of the date of issue of the Work Permit,
they would view it as now being invalid.
The only other option for City would have been to apply for a new Work
Permit for Ricketts but they have been advised that it would be turned
down for three reasons as his contract with the Bantams is up in three
months time, due to the lack of competitive games Jamaica have played
they are now longer in the top 70 in the FIFA rankings and Ricketts is
no longer City's main goalkeeper.
Ricketts has now returned home to Jamaica.
City back on an even keel
City are set to break even for the first time since they were a top-flight club.
But Julian Rhodes today warned fans: "We can't afford to get carried away."
The club were last in profit in 2000 after beating the drop from the Premier League.
And Rhodes hailed the contribution of Bradford's fans for snapping up the cheap season-ticket deal as a key factor in the current financial recovery.
City's debts have been consistently trimmed since they came out of administration for a second time in 2004. Last year's £500,000 loss up to the end of June was over £1million down on the previous 12 months.
To level out again is a milestone, though Rhodes insists there is plenty of hard work still to be done.
"Breaking even was the objective of the grand plan and we appear to have financially bottomed out, subject to everyone putting the work in," said the joint-chairman.
"People here have got their eye on the ball and we can't afford otherwise. It's not easy to maintain our position when you have the huge outgoings (£1.2million stadium overheads) that we have every year.
"You've got to keep on top of it. If something falls out, like one tenant goes, then they have to be replaced very quickly.
"But we are utilising the facilities as much as possible, which was not the case before when we spent that many years just trying to survive.
"We're now trying to get people in from Monday through to Sunday, not just for 23 games a season, but that takes time to get going.
"Cash is still tight and March is a very difficult month. It's a rent quarter and, with the season-ticket deadline not until June, it's always the worst time.
"But our sponsors have always been superb in their support by paying money early to help us through. Only last week, Bradford & Bingley agreed to pay next season's sponsorship."
City's gates have dwarfed other clubs in the bottom division - and all except Leeds and Nottingham Forest in League One. It has justified Rhodes' gamble to slash season-ticket prices, an offer that is currently being repeated for next term.
"Yes, the whole season-ticket scheme and the way it was backed has been instrumental," said Rhodes.
"The Football League have confirmed we will have taken more money through the turnstiles and ticket sales than any other League Two club.
"And by the end of the season, we will have taken more in League Two than we did last season in League One.
"The whole idea of the scheme was to allow people to come at accessible prices while also maintaining our income levels - but we've actually boosted those, which is fantastic.
"We were one of the strongest financially in League Two this year with the fourth-largest budget. If we can do that next time with Stuart McCall's experience having had a season at this level, he's going to be much better equipped. The whole focus now has to be getting it right on the pitch.
"Hopefully people will stay with us. It's all dependent on buying the season tickets and then being in a position where it can snowball.
"Unfortunately, as we get the finances sorted, we've been going the wrong way on the pitch.
"I'm convinced that if we go back to League One, we will be one of the strongest there and certainly have one of the biggest fan-bases. We are a big club. It's up to us now to prove that."
City's booming crowds have caused a stir nationally. A League One club is set to follow suit with a similar season-ticket scheme after seeing it take off at Valley Parade.
But Rhodes admits the dream of City buying back their home from former chairman Gordon Gibb's family pension fund remains just that for now.
He said: "I've left it to Mark (Lawn). I don't think it's any great secret that if I was to attempt to open up any dialogue it might not happen.
"But from what I understand, I think Mark's getting a similar reaction; which is no reaction.
"You have to consider, though, how much it would cost to buy back. You'd have to borrow that money, which you cannot do free of charge. So that outlay would have to be compared to the rent we're paying.
"It's nice in the long term to think we could buy the stadium back but, as it stands at present, I don't think it's feasible."
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Bower reaches double figures
By Simon Parker
Mark Bower reaches a decade as a City player tomorrow but admits: It doesn't feel that long.
The local-born defender will step out against Morecambe at Valley Parade, ten years after making his senior debut against Norwich.
Bower said: "It's been a very eventful period for the club in that time, although it has flown by for me. The last ten years have certainly not been dull with everything going on.
"But it's been fantastic to have been here so long and to play for the team that I supported as a boy. I've met and played alongside some great people and it's the sort of thing that you dream of."
Bower was a raw 18-year-old when he was thrown on by Paul Jewell for the last 25 minutes at Carrow Road. With Wayne Jacobs limping off injured, the teenager found himself at left back.
He said: "I was thrown in the deep end a bit because I was up against Darren Eadie, who was one of the best right wingers in the division at that time. I also remember OB (Andy O'Brien) man-marking Craig Bellamy.
"We were under a lot of pressure because Norwich were going for the play-offs and hurled everything at us. It was 3-0 to us when I came on and they pulled a couple of goals back but we managed to hang on and win 3-2. I really enjoyed it.
"It was a great experience because I had only signed a contract a couple of weeks before and never expected to be playing. The manager took a few of us young lads down and it was the first overnight trip we'd ever been on.
"I thought we were just going along for the ride and to actually get on and play was brilliant. A week later I made my full debut and then we won the youth League Cup after that, so I look back on that time with a lot of fond memories."
Bower still had to bide his time before finding an established slot in the side. While City were playing in the Premiership, he was on loan at York.
"That stood me in good stead for 2002 when some of the big-hitters were leaving the club as the money troubles started and I got my chance," he said.
"We've had some ups and downs since but I've been lucky enough to play quite regularly in the first team."
Bower has had a mixed campaign after losing his place to Matt Clarke in November. Illness and injury disrupted his comeback bid and he needed a knee operation to remove cartilage after breaking down at Accrington on New Year's Day.
But he has returned to play the last four games, renewing his partnership at the back with David Wetherall.
Bower, now 28, admits the skipper's presence also helps when he sees the younger faces in the dressing room, saying: "The last couple of seasons it really has hit home that I'm one of the oldest.
"There's not that many in the squad with kids but, with Wethers still playing, I still feel quite young. When he stops in the summer, that might be different!"
Loach backs Thompson credentials
By Simon Parker
City transfer target Garry Thompson is the real deal, according to former team-mate Scott Loach.
All eyes will be on Thompson when Morecambe make their first-ever league visit to Valley Parade on Saturday.
City had a £10,000 bid dismissed as a "joke" by the Shrimps in January but are still thought to be favourites to sign the right winger when his contract runs out in the summer.
Goalkeeper Loach, who had a brief loan spell alongside him at Christie Park, can understand the appeal.
Loach said: "As a winger, he's got everything. Technically he's brilliant and you can also put him up front because he's a big guy who wins a lot of headers.
"Thompson scored a couple of goals while I was there and you can see why there is interest from Bradford because he's a top player.
"Morecambe have been on form all season and he's definitely up there as the biggest threat. I know they do look to hit him a lot with the ball and he is also a tough one on corners."
Loach made his league debut for Morecambe on New Year's Day - one of five different keepers they have used in their first season - but he was gone just over a week later after two more games.
No wonder he feels there is a point to be proved to boss Sammy McIlroy.
Loach said: "I just wanted a chance to play league football and after a couple of games I was buzzing, thinking there were still 20 more.
"But the gaffer there said he wanted a permanent goalkeeper. They had just lost Joe Lewis, who had joined Peterborough, and he wanted to look to the future of the club.
"It was a real kick in the teeth at the time but it's worked out well. They didn't want me so it's their loss and I'm happy where I am at Bradford."
Stuart McCall's pre-match plans have been hit by several injury worries and he expects changes from the side undone by a late goal at Rochdale.
Omar Daley is back from suspension while youngster Luke Medley, a midweek sub, is pushing for a longer run-out. But McCall understands the spotlight will be on an opposition player.
"Thompson has been their main creative source of goals of late, and has been scoring as well, but he's one of many good footballers they've got," said McCall.
"Morecambe had a good win over Rotherham last week but I think they will be kicking themselves because they were in a great position.
"We look back on certain games and they've probably had a similar six-week dip, otherwise they would be right up there challenging.
"But they're a good footballing team and it should be an open game. I just hope we can show some consistency.
"We've performed well for four games, so let's do it for the last six. We've got four at home and it would be nice if we could go out with double-figure points if possible."
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