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January 2009 Transfer Window: A summary of all City related transfers/loans will be sent Feb 3rd (approx).
Please see the last article for how to support Mike Harrison and the City Gent fanzine.
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Coca-Cola League Two
Luton Town (2) 3 Hall 4, 90, Wasiu 37
Bradford C (0) 3 McLaren 47, Furman 57, Conlon pen 90+.
Luton: Logan, Asafu-Adjaye, Spillane, Roper, Davis, Hall, Gallen (Nicholls 71), Jarvis, Martin, Wasiu (Parkin 75),
Henderson (Howells 90).
Subs Not Used: Brill, Gnakpa.
Sent Off: Martin (90).
Booked: Roper, Spillane, Nicholls, Parkin.
Bradford: Evans, Arnison, Clarke, Lee, O'Brien, Law , McLaren, Furman (Bullock 77), Daley (Colbeck 85), Thorne
(Conlon 74), Jones.
Subs Not Used: Bower, Michael Boulding.
Booked: Law , Arnison, Thorne.
Att: 6,053
Ref: Trevor Kettle (Rutland).
Game Statistics
Hatters / Bantams
7 Goal Attempts 15
5 On Target 6
3 Corners 6
18 Fouls 14
4 Yellow Cards 3
1 Red Cards 0
47 % 53
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On the following link there's an interesting 6minute post match
interview with Stu.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7849367.stm
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http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/yorkshire-soccer/McCall-pleased-with-City-spirit.4911589.jp
McCall pleased with City spirit
Luton Town 3
Bradford City 3
Bantams manager Stuart McCall was left with mixed emotions after seeing his side grab a late equaliser from the penalty spot in a thrilling match against bottom club Luton Town.
McCall, who was sent to the stands after the Hatters' second goal by referee Trevor Kettle, said he was proud of the way his side had stuck to their task at Kenilworth Road.
"I'm really proud of them because they stuck together and it would have been a travesty if we lost the game after creating about 24 chances on goal.
"The negatives are that we conceded three goals from set pieces.
"But the positives are the way we responded and the number of chances on goal that we created."
Referring to his dismissal, the City boss added: "Luke O'Brien's tackle was never a foul in the run up to the goal, but I was sent off for encroaching on to the pitch not for arguing – it was ridiculous."
Trailing 2-0 at the break to goals by Town's Asa Hall and Sunday Waisu, Bradford regrouped in the second period and pulled one back within a minute of the restart when Steve Jones' corner was tucked home by Paul McLaren from close range. And City were level on 57 minutes, as Jones and Nicky Law combined to set up Dean Furman, who arrowed in a superb left-footed effort.
But when Luton's Hall headed home his second from former Leeds United skipper Kevin Nicholls' free-kick in the 90th minute, it looked like all City's hard work would come to nothing.
But Jones was tripped in the Town box in the sixth-minute of stoppage time and substitute Barry Conlon kept his cool to convert the spot-kick, with Luton's Chris Martin dismissed for disputing the decision.
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http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcmatch/4074540.Penalty_point_is_least_City_deserve/
Penalty point is least City deserve
7:20am Monday 26th January 2009
Luton 3 City 3
Some points are bigger than others, even for the current League Two draw specialists.
And if City do finish the season in a promotion spot, they will recall this one as the giant of the lot.
Good teams are not judged on when they are playing well but how they react to adversity. The true test of character and determination is how you respond when the chips are down.
On the face of it, a draw away to the bottom side – albeit a team in a totally artificial position – is hardly cause for celebration. Even given Luton's decent record against the top sides, City would have been eyeing a much-needed win before the game rather than a fifth draw in six.
But given what was thrown at them – as much by the officials as the opposition – this result should not be underestimated.
Stuart McCall's squad may have its faults but a lack of bottle is not one of them. Anyone who witnessed their second-half display at Kenilworth Road will testify to that.
For the first 45 minutes, their world was caving in. Two down to two soft goals and a manager consigned to the stand; well, an empty hospitality box 11 anyway.
The recently impervious defence had been breached by two set-pieces; one to an unmarked header, the next from an uncharacteristic rush of blood by Rhys Evans.
It was bad enough to concede in the first five minutes for the second week running. Paul Arnison gave away a sloppy corner and nobody picked up Asa Hall as he glanced home.
Then City's afternoon got a lot worse. Within minutes of Matt Clarke missing an identical chance to the one Hall had buried, Luton were breaking menacingly. As the last line of defence, Luke O'Brien had it all to do to halt Ian Henderson at full pelt. He did so with a well-judged slide tackle.
Assistant referee Mike George was right on top of the incident – and flagged for a foul. O'Brien was booked and McCall, in his fury, came on to the pitch to demand words with whistle-blower Trevor Kettle.
McCall was promptly banished from the dug-out and while he was clambering over the wall to find a new home, Sunday Waisu seized on Evans' indecision to turn home Rossi Jarvis' set-piece.
The Luton crowd went wild and the unprintable songs about the 30-point deduction boomed out. "You might as well go home" they taunted the stunned City fans.
Some of those travelling fans would have been there on City's last visit in October 2004 – a 4-0 thrashing accompanied by the farcical refereeing of Joe Ross. This was turning into deja vu.
Peter Thorne, playing in a rejigged frontline alongside Steve Jones, was a foot wide with a flick from his partner's cross but City were staring down the barrel at the break.
At least McCall was allowed into the dressing room at half-time to lay down the law. It was probably as big a speech as he has given all season.
He went round the room to talk individually to every player, reminding them of the comebacks against Accrington and Chesterfield. It could still be done.
McCall wanted to see that belief in their eyes.
He said: "It's easy to go in and say the right things like 'let's have a go' and that but I told them that words are cheap and you will be judged by your actions.
"They had to believe in each other and believe that we could come back. And I'm so proud of them for doing that.
"To come back from 2-0 down and then again in the last minute shows tremendous character. In terms of what this could do for the squad, this result could be a big turning point of the season."
City's recovery got the perfect spark within 90 seconds of the restart as Paul McLaren punished his first club from Clarke's powerful header.
And unlike Accrington the game before, the fight back did not end there. With confidence surging, City were a side transformed from the downtrodden bunch just before the break.
Conrad Logan nervously pushed away a 35-yard belter from Graeme Lee, only to be beaten again before the hour mark.
Dean Furman, getting only his second start in three months, took Nicky Law's pass and shifted it from right to left foot before smacking the bottom corner of the Luton net.
But City weren't content with a point and continued to roar forward for fun.
Law, playing wide on the left, was instrumental in most things; Omar Daley, a bit-part figure for the first 45 minutes, suddenly switched into overdrive.
One electrifying burst saw the Jamaican nick possession near his own six-yard area and race from one box to the other. If the finish had matched the run, the goal of the season contest would have been done and dusted.
Chances came thick and fast; none better than the free header for substitute Barry Conlon which he somehow planted wide.
But a third goal wouldn't come and you feared a sting in the tail a minute into the four added on when Clarke upended Sam Parkin to the right of the penalty area.
City thought Kevin Nicholls had overhit the free-kick but Hall came powering in beyond the far post to crash in his second of the game.
Surely it was the killer blow for City's comeback. But as the time ticked on, Arnison pumped one last desperate ball towards the box. Conlon won the flick-on and Jones had his legs taken by Chris Martin amid a bundle of bodies.
Kettle whistled City's way for seemingly the first occasion all afternoon. Mayhem ensued as players jostled around the box and Martin was red-carded.
It took over four minutes for order to be restored. Then Conlon, the coolest head in the house, sent Logan the wrong way and rolled home the equaliser as if it was a pre-season tap-in.
The lone figure in hospitality box 11 punched the air. The locals wanted to punch the referee.
His final whistle signalled scenes of chaos, with Luton still arguing bitterly that it was not a penalty.
Objects were thrown at Kettle as he dived for the players' tunnel and livid home skipper Nicholls had to be restrained by police.
But both sides at least found common ground on one thing – the performance of the referee.
Not surprisingly, Luton boss Mick Harford was particularly scathing against an official he has history with.
Harford blasted: "He was despicable and I'm not bothered if they charge me because it's the truth.
"I know that referee well. When I was Rotherham manager, he sent off three of my players at Barnsley as well as me, they scored with the last kick when the ball never crossed the line and two weeks later I got the sack.
"I feel sorry for the 6,000 people who've paid money to see an incompetent referee. I'm just voicing their opinions."
Let's hope that come May, City might have different reasons to look back on this eventful barny in Bedfordshire.
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http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/4074649.Conlon__Luton_dirty_tricks_didn_t_faze_me/
Conlon: Luton dirty tricks didn't faze me
7:30am Monday 26th January 2009
Ice-cool Barry Conlon admitted his last-gasp leveller at Luton was the biggest penalty of his career.
And the Irishman revealed how he refused to fall for the home side's mind games as a dramatic clash descended into mayhem.
Conlon's spot-on finish earned City a 3-3 draw in a pulsating contest that also saw Stuart McCall sent to the stand by controversial official Trevor Kettle.
The penalty, awarded when Chris Martin tripped Steve Jones, capped another tense fightback. City had trailed 2-0 at the interval and then fell behind again in stoppage time.
Conlon had to wait over four minutes to take it while players from both sides had to be pulled apart and Martin was sent off.
He said: "There was chaos going on all round the edge of the box but I daren't get involved. It would have been easy to help the other lads but that would have distracted me.
"I had to keep an eye on the Luton keeper, who was trying to put me off. I could see him putting divots on the penalty spot and rubbing mud on the ball.
"He kept asking me where I was going to put the kick but I didn't get mixed up with the mind games. I knew it was do or die and I'm pretty pleased with myself for putting the penalty away.
"We deserved at least a point and there was a real sense of achievement afterwards. We can go to Bury tomorrow on a positive note now."
Luton accused Jones, who was playing as a striker, of diving but he said: "I went to strike the ball and someone took my legs away. It was a definite penalty.
"But the ref didn't have the best of games so I was still very surprised he gave it."
McCall was dismissed for encroaching on the pitch to protest about a foul given against Luke O'Brien that led to Luton's second goal.
The City boss, who watched the rest of the match from an empty hospitality box, admitted: "I might not have learned how to shoot, pass or head as a player but one thing I could do was tackle and that's the best one made this season.
"Slide tackling is a dying art and anyone who has played the game could see that it was a beautiful challenge.
"I've never been as high then as low and as high again in 90 minutes of life. But I'm so proud of my players for coming back like that."
Skipper Graeme Lee felt that McCall's departure provided an extra spur for City to hit back.
He said: "The gaffer is as passionate as the players and we felt everything was going against us.
"He was still lifting us at half-time and it shows we've got the strong characters to bring things back. We're all in it together and the belief is there.
"I thought it was brilliant how Baz kept calm for the penalty. He was lining it up while everyone was having a tussle behind him."
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http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/luton-sport/Hall-admits-to-rollercoaster-ride.4912715.jp
Hall admits to rollercoaster ride of emotions
By Mark Wood
Asa's double is marred by penalty decision
Hero and villain Asa Hall believes there is no way the Hatters should have been robbed of victory on Saturday by a Bradford City penalty in the 96th minute.
Hall, 22, had looked to have given Hatters victory with a sensational injury time header, only to be penalised for a bizarre penalty seconds later by referee Trevor Kettle, as tempers reached boiling point at Kenilworth in stoppage time.
Town had led 2-0 at the break through goals from Hall and home debutant Sunday Waisu, but the Bantams staged a terrific second-half fightback to claim a draw, in a game that was fantic and chaotic from start to finish.
And Hall admitted the rollercoaster ride of emotions he and his team-mates had endured was difficult to take.
He said: "To have gone up again in the 90th minute and have it taken away is devastating really.
"To go from the elation of scoring and the noise in the ground and for the ref to do something like that is unbelievable."
And he was adament it was never a penalty, despite believing that he was the man to have been penalised by Kettle.
Asked whether it was a penalty, he said: "No chance.
"There were quite a few bodies in there really and the lad's gone down.
"I think the officials were poor today. We do think the officials aren't getting it right and decisions change games.
"We are feeling the pressure every week, but we are doing our hardest for the supporters."
But he did admit that Chris Martin was right to be sent off, if he did raise his hands in the ensuing melee that also saw Michael Spillane and Kevin Nicholls booked, while no Bradford City player was shown a card.
He said: "If he has put his hands up to his face then he does have to go and it was bit heated in the tunnel."
And while Hall admitted that he though Nicholls was going to go for goal when Town were awarded a later free-kick, he revealed he will always gamble on the opportunity to get a goal and admitted he has also targeted Martin's spot as the club's top scorer as he now stands on six goals in all competitions for the season.
He added: "I always gamble in case he doesn't shoot.
"It's my first in the league double which is nice. I would love to be top scorer, but I don't to tell Chris Martin that."
Manager Mick Harford was also full of praise for the dangerous midfielder, adding: "Asa pops up and scores goals from all over the place. His main strength is popping up in danger areas and getting on the end of things."
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BCFC fans view
Posted by: "Steve Whittaker" melton.bantam@dsl.pipex.com melton_bantam
Sat Jan 24, 2009 1:06 pm (PST)
What a day. Arrived in plenty of time to find Luton has bu**er all car parking. Apparently they have had 3 city centre car parks condemned. Cue lots of driving around trying to find a place. Sainsburys used to be a pay & park but these days you get 2 hours then a £70 fiine, all done by cameras. Hope no City fans got caught out by this. Finally managed to get parked and made it into the ground with 5 mins to spare.
Ground is a real throwback to the dark ages. Entry was gained underneath the upstairs bedrooms of the terraced housing that surrounds the ground.Inside it looks like it hasn't had anything done to it since Millwall fans wrecked it years ago. The stand is on par with Grimsby's with emphersis very much on the Grim. Cost £22 to get in and £3 for a pie which for second division is taking the P. Having said that Luton are running a plus points promotion with a season ticket for their 11 remaining home games costing an adult £180 !!!!! Don't anyone ever complain about City's prices.
Game started and once again we didn't seem to be at the races for most of the first half. Steve Jones could and should have done better after a couple of minutes Luton then took the lead after arond 5 minutes from a corner when yet again City showed their fraility in being unable to defend from corners and free kicks and the Luton player put a good glancing header in the back of the net under minimal pressure from any city player. City had their chances, a 30 yard blast over the bar from Graeme Lee and a little later Matt Clarke headed high over the bar when he had a free header. Then around 35 minutes Town broke from their area and just inside the city half Luke O'Brien made a tackle and won the ball. There was no reaction from any Luton player but for some inexplicable reason the linesman on the dugout side stuck his flag up for a foul. Cue the ref blowing and boking OB. Cue another cross into Citys area, cue laughable defending and an unmarked luton player stuck the ball past evens 2-0 Luton. Stuart went ballastic and was sent off the pitch. Instead of walking around to the stands Stuart turned and climbed the wall and plonked himself in one of the empty executive boxes that occupy that side of the Luton pitch. Luton could have gone even further ahead but their player luckily headed over. Just before half time in time added on city were awarded a free kick and Nicky Law tried a quick one only to get booked by the ref for his troubles.
Second half and almost immediatley City pulled one back Nicky Laws corner was headed across goal by Clarke and McLaren bundled over from a yard .City looked a different team Daley was playing as we want him to do. Gareme Lee saw his 25 yard free kick beaten by the Luton keeper. City equalised when after some clever play by Nicky Law who once again was excellent laid the ball back in the area and Dean Furman placed an excellent shot into the right hand corner of the net. 2-2 and we could hardly beleive it. With City in the ascendency we I really beleived we could go on and win this one. Yet more chances came City's way Daley, Jones and Conlon who had come on for Thorne all had chances to score. Barry perhaps hving the best chnace but it looked like the defender just managed to egt a bit on Barry and put him off.
With the game into extra time and nearly over, Matt Clarke brought down a Luton player on the edge of the box. Cue a cross over and cue yet again a goal scored against us from a free kick/corner. Good header but woeful defending. Just what do we do on the training ground? Joyous scenes from the Luton fans who thought they had sneaked all 3 points.
But this game had another twist and in the 3rd minute of added time off down the other end with the ball went City. Jones went over in the box and City had a penalty. The furious Luton players surrounded the ref and some further argy bargy occured with some of the City players but I didn't notice what sparked it off. The linesman came onto the pitch and we ended up with 3 Luton players being booked and one being sent off. All this took up a good 5 minutes and the longer it went on the more I feared for the result but credit to Barry Conlon as he cooly slotted past the luton keeper to send the City fans into rapture. Just time for the restart before the ref blew to end this rollercoaster.
Not said much about the ref today as I am mindful this is a family group but he has to be the most incompetant pi77ock I have seen in charge of a game for many a year. He was absoloutley awful for both sides with more bias towards the Luton but at the end of the day both sets of fan were baying for his blood. It was just comical to hear a Luton fan moaning they would have won if we hadn't bought the ref as I walked back to my motor. Listening to the local radio on the way home Mick Hartford the Luton manager was insensed by the refs performance and he also said that OB's free kick should never have been given.
So yet again we fail to capitalise on those around us losing and down the table we drop. We really need to egt something from Bury and sort out our home form. I miss the next 3 games through work & play. I will be dialled in to the internet in Austria and hpe I return with City once again in th eascendancy.
Regards
Steve
The Melton Bantam
Posted by: "Adam Cooper" coops1279@yahoo.co.uk coops1279
Sat Jan 24, 2009 3:18 pm (PST)
Attended the game myself and there was even more action after the final whistle.
The Luton players were still furious at the decision and the referee and continued to argue with him but slowly the players left the pitch leaving the officials in the middle waiting to return to the dressing room.
The Luton fans were waiting to give them an earful and the stewards pulled out the extendable tunnel for their safety but this didn't stop all manner of things being thrown in their direction and the police shielding them into the tunnel which was being rocked by the Luton fans.
The Luton captain, Kevin Nicholls, was actually still on the pitch behind the officials having clapped the fans etc.
I'm not sure what caused it - whether he was unhappy with the fans reaction to the ref, or whether someone had said something to him - but he suddenly tried to start fighting with some fans near the tunnel and had to be held back.
He kept going though and it took four coppers to get him down the tunnel and even then it took some effort.
It was all very bizarre and there were plenty of police and blue lights after the game although I didn'tsee any trouble - perhaps it was all to get the ref safely away from the ground!
Adam
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Posted by: "MIKE HARRISON" Miketallgent@btinternet.com
Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:31 am (PST)
All
If I can further pick up on the recent goodwill shown towards City Gent and myself, I have just received an email informaing me about the Football Fans Census/New Football Pools Fanzine Awards for 2009.
I'm pleased to see that the good people at Football Fans Census have changed the categories and there are now seperate awards for print and online fanzines. In the print category there is just one award for the best fanzine in the football league and I'd like to think that City Gent will have a good chance of winning. But, I'm not complacent and as last season I need to encourage City fans must log on to vote for both City Gent but also for Boy From Brazil in the online category
http://www.footballfanzineawards.com/index.php
Also, if more City fans register on the Football Fans Census, City should rise up the league table that they have for fans registered to the site.
http://www.footballfanscensus.com/fan_league.html?survey_id=total
City currently lie in mid table of division one with 1.1% of the total fans registered. If we can encourage more City fans to register, we could easily get City promoted into the Premier League! I wonder how many fans equtes to 0.2%? We'd need an extra 0.7% to leapfrog L**ds.
Typically, voting ends on Feb 6th and this has happened again in between issues of City Gent, so I'm going to have to start making some leaflets! And try and get another article into the T&A!
Mike Harrison
Editor - The City Gent
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