L2 v Notts County (a) L1-3 Feb 28th 2009
"All week the talk had been about making amends for the 1-4 defeat at Underhill. Instead they were picked apart by a Notts County side that had previously managed only one win over top-half opponents in 17 attempts. "
Notts County: Pilkington, Tann (Strachan 87), Edwards, Johnson, Clapham, Forte, Thompson, Nowland (Wedderburn 77), Weston, Forrester (Butcher 83), Facey.
Subs Not Used: Canham, Fairclough.
Booked: Forte, Thompson.
Goals: Forte 11, 31, Facey 45.
Bradford: Evans, Rehman, Lee, Clarke, O'Brien, Bullock, Furman, Law, Jones, Thorne, Michael Boulding (Colbeck 46).
Subs Not Used: Convey, Arnison, Conlon, Nix.
Goals: Thorne 85.
Att: 5,138
Ref: Karl Evans (Greater Manchester).
Stats
Magpies / Bantams
6 Goal Attempts 12
3 On Target 6
3 Corners 4
14 Fouls 14
2 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0
Attendance 5138
******
Also:
Stuart McCall has vowed to get disillusioned fans back on side.
Omar Daley - out until CHRISTMAS?
THE MAGICIAN IS SET FOR HIS DOUBLE CENTURY
===========================
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/bradford/Notts-County-3-Bradford-City.5028196.jp
Notts County 3 Bradford City 1: McCall left puzzled
BRADFORD City manager Stuart McCall demanded his players stand up and be counted after seeing his side humbled by three first-half goals.
The Bradford chief was almost lost for words after the Bantams slipped to a second successive defeat to leave their hopes of automatic promotion in tatters.
Notts County winger Jonathan Forte finished-off a rapid counter-attack early on, then claimed his sixth goal in seven games after lashing home Myles Weston's cross.
Delroy Facey scuffed in the third from close range to complete the rout before Peter Thorne stole a late consolation.
The mauling comes on the back of a 4-1 thrashing at Barnet, on Bradford's previous away trip, and McCall said: "We have to make sure we're in the top seven come May – and performances like that won't help.
"I can't stand here and say it was a decent performance, because it wasn't, but I won't slaughter my players. What I say to them will be kept in the dressing room.
"It's a test of my character, as well as the team's, and we have to stop conceding soft goals. They had three shots and scored three times. It's mystifying."
Bradford rarely threatened the Notts goal, with just Michael Boulding's header testing Kevin Pilkington before the break.
The energetic Joe Colbeck and Nicky Law did their best to pick through County's resolute
backline, but had little joy until Thorne converted Colbeck's
centre, claiming his first goal since November and his seventh strike past the Magpies in four meetings.
Notts County: Pilkington; Tann (Strachan, 87), Edwards, Johnson, Clapham; Forte, Nowland (Wedderburn, 77), Thompson, Weston; Forrester (Butcher, 83), Facey. Unused substitutes: Canham, Fairclough.
Bradford City: Evans; Rehman, Lee, Clarke, O'Brien; Jones, Bullock, Furman, Law; Thorne, M. Boulding (Colbeck, 46). Unused substitutes: Convey, Arnison, Conlon, Nix.
Referee: K Evans (Greater Manchester).
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/4163696.City_fail_to_master_basics/
City fail to master basics
1:37pm Sunday 1st March 2009
Notts County 3, City 1
The oldest club in England gave City the oldest lesson in football.
Three shots on target for Notts County produced three goals. You don't get a more clinical exhibition of finishing than that.
So you can have all the possession in the world – and City had plenty on Saturday. It doesn't matter a jot.
The object of this game will always be about putting the ball in the net; something Notts County did whenever it mattered.
"It sounds simple but if you can take away those three isolated incidents, there was nothing in the game," admitted Stuart McCall afterwards.
"We weren't overrun, we weren't outplayed or outfought. We had 20-odd crosses to their seven but the harsh reality in football is that you've got to take your chances.
"Notts County took the only three they had in the game and they've gone off happy. We're hugely disappointed."
Not as much as the 1,231 City fans who had travelled in the hope of seeing the Barnet debacle cleared straight out the system. Another huge following; another huge letdown.
This was not on the same scale as Underhill. City could not possibly play as badly again. In fact, for the first ten minutes they were well on top and showed no hint of a hangover from the excesses of the previous week.
But then one bad goal led to another. And another. Before you knew it, Notts County were three to the good and cruising and it wasn't even half-time.
So much for a team who had previously managed only one win in 17 attempts against sides from the top half of the table.
Vitriol poured down from the away stand. The pre-match anthems had been replaced by a biting blast of "you're not fit to wear the shirt". It must have been agony to the ears of the manager. Let's hope it hit home with his players.
The second half, admittedly, was better – it had to be – but then again County, knowing the match was as good as won, rarely got out of second gear.
For the second game in a row, City had to listen to mocking choruses of "ole" from the home supporters as the opposition played keep ball. Despite the black and white stripes, this was Notts County, not Juventus.
A fortnight ago, Valley Parade was a vibrant scene of celebration. Tuesday night could be a very different situation if City cannot deliver against Macclesfield.
They have only themselves to blame. The pressure has been self-inflicted by two shocking results.
It is the first time all season that City have lost two on the bounce, which shows the consistency they have displayed for much of it. But few would have expected their first double blow to be struck by two sides in the bottom ten.
Was the recent hat-trick of wins just an illusion? No wonder the supporters feel so low.
What happened to the defensive record of steel; the team that has twice gone four games without conceding a goal? That question will be bugging McCall even more than the worrying lack of a cutting edge going forward.
The loss of Omar Daley looks to have thumped a huge hole in City's attacking ambitions. Though, at least, the sight of Peter Thorne tapping in his first goal for four months will have raised hopes that he can now embark on another hot run to finish the campaign as he started it.
City certainly need a pick-me-up from somewhere. If not, with so many games crammed into March, their promotion dream could disappear swiftly down the gurgler.
The Bantams have not been scoring freely for a while but all the time they were keeping the back door nailed shut, it was not such a concern. But having leaked seven goals in two games, that is no longer the case. McCall suddenly has problems at both ends of the pitch.
Schoolboy mistakes led to County's opener after 11 minutes. City were on the attack at the time and looking menacing, with Nicky Law's free-kicks posing serious questions for a home back four that had only kept one clean sheet in the last ten outings.
Matt Clarke had already put one free header over when Law dropped another set-piece into the mix. Thorne had a couple of bites before County got the ball clear – and left the visitors dangerously exposed all upfield.
Dean Furman dived in – and missed – and the black and white shirts were off to the races.
What's the saying about magpies? One for sorrow, two for joy ... how about four against one as Luke O'Brien found himself submerged by a flock of them. Law gamely tried to make up the yards to help but where was the rest of the cavalry?
With the odds stacked so heavily in their favour, County finished the job, with Jamie Forrester squaring to an unmarked Jonathan Forte to guide past Rhys Evans.
Michael Boulding instantly headed straight at home keeper Kevin Pilkington but it had no power to trouble him. It was the most notable moment of the afternoon for either player.
City's attempts to equalise were more through hope than expectation. It was summed up when Steve Jones, who had another indifferent day, delivered his best cross of the game but the only head diving in to attack it was home skipper Mike Edwards clearing the ball out of harm's way.
County were hardly any better as the game, played on an awful pitch, descended into an episode of lump it long. But they upped their act when it needed to be in front of goal.
Just like Barnet, City struggled to lay a finger on either winger and both combined for the second after the half hour.
Miles Weston eluded Zesh Rehman to hang a cross towards the far post where Forte had time to take it neatly on the chest, wrong-foot O'Brien to get on his favourite left boot and lash through Evans.
The mood off the pitch was darkening fast and Jones felt the force when he took a wrong option and dribbled straight into trouble.
City desperately needed something from somewhere to offer a chink of light – and they almost cut the deficit as Law set off on a forceful drive into the left corner of the box. His cross bobbled to Boulding, who set up Lee Bullock for a drive that deflected a foot wide of the post.
But having nearly forced their way back into it, City were caught out again in the first minute of added time.
Weston was again the tormentor-in-chief, brushing past Rehman and drilling the ball into the danger zone. It struck O'Brien in the tangle of bodies and ricocheted for Delroy Facey to turn home.
Cue the derision from the packed away stand. Once again, the game was up for the shell-shocked Bantams.
McCall hauled off the anonymous Boulding to bring on Joe Colbeck and the winger's energy and enthusiasm did give City a bit of a spark.
They were the better team after the break and Evans was never tested again but by that point the game had the air of a pre-season friendly.
Jamie Clapham dealt with a couple of dangerous crosses and there were chances for Furman and Graeme Lee. Yet you never sensed that City could get a foothold back into proceedings.
At least Thorne finally got on the scoresheet with six minutes left after good work from Colbeck. It was too little and far too late to matter but will have given the veteran striker's confidence a timely boost.
City, having dropped out of the play-off places, need any lift they can get.
Attendance: 5,138
===========================
Stuart McCall has vowed to get disillusioned fans back on side.
City were jeered by the 1,200 travelling support during Saturday's 3-1
loss at Notts County.
Back-to-back defeats against teams in the bottom half of the division
have seen the Bantams drop out of the play-off positions – and rocked
confidence among their followers.
McCall admitted he faces a battle to restore belief that the promotion
dream is still on.
He said: "The buck stops with me. I'm the manager and I've got to get
things right.
"Two weeks ago we were going swimmingly after a great result at
Gillingham and beating Wycombe. That's how quickly football can change.
"We were getting pats on backs, now we're getting criticism. We've
deserved it for the last two games, there's no getting away from it.
"I can understand the frustration of the supporters. It's hard to take
when you're 3-0 down at half-time.
"The supporters have paid a lot of money and they are quite right to
sing like that. I appreciate that more than anyone.
"It's my responsibility to change things. I'm not a quitter and I'm
feeling it as much as anyone."
Jonathan Forte, a former Sheffield United player under McCall, scored
twice as County rattled up a 3-0 lead from their only three shots on
target. Peter Thorne replied late on with his first goal since November.
McCall said: "Going in 3-0 down can mask things. It wasn't a rubbish
performance. It wasn't a great one but when you lose goals like that,
confidence is going to seep away.
"People think it's been absolute garbage and a disgrace but they've had
three shots at goal. They were 3-0 up and there was nothing in the game.
"But we've shipped seven goals in two games now and that's not good
enough. That will not get us promotion and we've got to go back to being
harder to beat again."
McCall is likely to make changes ahead of tomorrow's critical clash with
Macclesfield at Valley Parade. With another home game against Aldershot
next weekend, City cannot afford any slip-ups.
McCall said: "What I say to the players stays in the dressing room. I'm
not going to individually criticise my team because I need them to go
out there and perform.
"I want them to show that they are fit to wear the shirt; they do want
to be here, they do want to have success.
"We can say all the right things but it's about performing. I said last
Saturday that we needed a midweek game. We've got one this week and
we've got to win the three points.
"We need to put in a performance. Nobody else can help us apart from
what we've got in that dressing room. It's my responsibility to put the
team out there that will do that."
===========================
Omar Daley - out until CHRISTMAS?
Omar Daley has received the bombshell verdict that he could be out until
CHRISTMAS.
The winger's knee injury against Darlington ten days ago has turned out
to be far more serious than first thought.
City are now facing the grim prospect of being without the Jamaican for
up to ten months.
Stuart McCall admitted: "It's a lot, lot worse than anyone was
expecting. The scan could only show so much and when the surgeon went
into the knee to operate, he found the problem was much bigger.
"It's not only the lateral ligament but the cruciate is damaged as well.
It was a really bad injury and the surgeon thinks it could be eight to
ten months before Omar can look to play again.
"We could be looking at Christmas, which is obviously a massive blow."
Daley had started 29 games this season, scoring four times, including
the opening goal in the recent win at Gillingham.
But he was stretchered off in the home game with Darlington after a
crunching tackle with defender Neil Austin.
City expected to lose him for the rest of the season but did not imagine
he would also miss a big chunk of next term as well.
McCall added: "It's going to be very hard for Omar but he's got to try
to get his head round it. He needs to be mentally strong.
"He's saying all the right things about coming back stronger and I'm
sure he will. Omar's going to be in a brace for a few weeks and then he
can hopefully start setting himself little targets."
Joe Colbeck has only recently returned from a three-month absence and,
while Chris Brandon this week played his first reserve game since
snapping his ankle in September, McCall insists he will be given time to
build up properly after his lengthy lay-off. Paul McLaren also tweaked
his calf in training and will miss tomorrow's trip to Notts County.
McCall said: "We get Joe back after his spell out and Brando is slowly
coming back, then this happens to Omar.
"A week ago I was struggling to name a bench because there were so many
players available but unfortunately injuries are part of football."
McCall, meanwhile, is not ruling Darlington out of the promotion fight
despite losing ten points for going into administration.
He said: "It's not nice to hear but sometimes something like that can
create a siege mentality.
"It depends what the repercussions are but you've seen the way Rotherham
responded in that situation. If Darlington can keep all the players
together, they might just treat it as an 'us against the world' scenario."
===========================
THE MAGICIAN IS SET FOR HIS DOUBLE CENTURY
By Tony Scholes Friday, 27th February 2009
Tomorrow afternoon should see Robbie Blake make his 200th league appearance
for the Clarets against Sheffield Wednesday, just over seven years since he
first joined us from Bradford City.
For some time it had looked as though Stan Ternent was going to splash £1
million on Stockport striker Shefki Kuqi, and indeed he was, but it all
changed when the then Bantams Chairman Mr. Pompous Geoffrey Richmond said
Blake was available.
Despite him suffering a groin injury we clinched the deal and he made his
debut as a substitute against West Brom in February 2002, replacing Ian
Moore. We lost the game, he didn't do much, and for the rest of the season
was a bit player and nothing else. He started just the one game and
eventually was forced to have a double hernia operation in the summer.
We'd not seen him fit, but he was in the side on the opening day of the
2002/03 season. In a poor team performance against Brighton he was accused
by Ternent of playing in diving boots and promptly dropped.
I'd remembered him turning in a superb performance against us for Forest in
2000 during a loan spell there, but we'd certainly seen nothing like that
from him at Burnley. Then, at Derby in the sixth league game of the season
he lifted us out of our seats with a wonderful display in the second half.
Robbie Blake had arrived.
On form he was often the star of the show alongside Glen Little and there's
no doubt we were very fortunate to have these two players in our side at the
same time.
In the 2003/04 season he scored 19 league goals, and where would we have
been without them. In the following season he had ten by mid-December but
then left for Birmingham. I think at that point he was playing his best
football for us and he certainly proved difficult to replace.
He was away for two and a half years before returning for a knock down price
and this season he's possibly been even better than he was in that 2004/05
season, although now in a position where he won't score quite so many goals.
Some of the recent performances have been stunning, and none more so than
the Spurs game on the Turf. But then there was the free kick at Preston and
the wonderful skill that set up Steven Thompson for his goal against West
Brom.
Sometimes it is said that certain players are worth the admission money
alone, and our magician Robbie Blake certainly comes into that category.
Now he reaches 200 league appearances for the Clarets, and surely with
everyone hoping there will be many more to come.
===========================
"All week the talk had been about making amends for the 1-4 defeat at Underhill. Instead they were picked apart by a Notts County side that had previously managed only one win over top-half opponents in 17 attempts. "
Notts County: Pilkington, Tann (Strachan 87), Edwards, Johnson, Clapham, Forte, Thompson, Nowland (Wedderburn 77), Weston, Forrester (Butcher 83), Facey.
Subs Not Used: Canham, Fairclough.
Booked: Forte, Thompson.
Goals: Forte 11, 31, Facey 45.
Bradford: Evans, Rehman, Lee, Clarke, O'Brien, Bullock, Furman, Law, Jones, Thorne, Michael Boulding (Colbeck 46).
Subs Not Used: Convey, Arnison, Conlon, Nix.
Goals: Thorne 85.
Att: 5,138
Ref: Karl Evans (Greater Manchester).
Stats
Magpies / Bantams
6 Goal Attempts 12
3 On Target 6
3 Corners 4
14 Fouls 14
2 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0
Attendance 5138
******
Also:
Stuart McCall has vowed to get disillusioned fans back on side.
Omar Daley - out until CHRISTMAS?
THE MAGICIAN IS SET FOR HIS DOUBLE CENTURY
===========================
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/bradford/Notts-County-3-Bradford-City.5028196.jp
Notts County 3 Bradford City 1: McCall left puzzled
BRADFORD City manager Stuart McCall demanded his players stand up and be counted after seeing his side humbled by three first-half goals.
The Bradford chief was almost lost for words after the Bantams slipped to a second successive defeat to leave their hopes of automatic promotion in tatters.
Notts County winger Jonathan Forte finished-off a rapid counter-attack early on, then claimed his sixth goal in seven games after lashing home Myles Weston's cross.
Delroy Facey scuffed in the third from close range to complete the rout before Peter Thorne stole a late consolation.
The mauling comes on the back of a 4-1 thrashing at Barnet, on Bradford's previous away trip, and McCall said: "We have to make sure we're in the top seven come May – and performances like that won't help.
"I can't stand here and say it was a decent performance, because it wasn't, but I won't slaughter my players. What I say to them will be kept in the dressing room.
"It's a test of my character, as well as the team's, and we have to stop conceding soft goals. They had three shots and scored three times. It's mystifying."
Bradford rarely threatened the Notts goal, with just Michael Boulding's header testing Kevin Pilkington before the break.
The energetic Joe Colbeck and Nicky Law did their best to pick through County's resolute
backline, but had little joy until Thorne converted Colbeck's
centre, claiming his first goal since November and his seventh strike past the Magpies in four meetings.
Notts County: Pilkington; Tann (Strachan, 87), Edwards, Johnson, Clapham; Forte, Nowland (Wedderburn, 77), Thompson, Weston; Forrester (Butcher, 83), Facey. Unused substitutes: Canham, Fairclough.
Bradford City: Evans; Rehman, Lee, Clarke, O'Brien; Jones, Bullock, Furman, Law; Thorne, M. Boulding (Colbeck, 46). Unused substitutes: Convey, Arnison, Conlon, Nix.
Referee: K Evans (Greater Manchester).
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/4163696.City_fail_to_master_basics/
City fail to master basics
1:37pm Sunday 1st March 2009
Notts County 3, City 1
The oldest club in England gave City the oldest lesson in football.
Three shots on target for Notts County produced three goals. You don't get a more clinical exhibition of finishing than that.
So you can have all the possession in the world – and City had plenty on Saturday. It doesn't matter a jot.
The object of this game will always be about putting the ball in the net; something Notts County did whenever it mattered.
"It sounds simple but if you can take away those three isolated incidents, there was nothing in the game," admitted Stuart McCall afterwards.
"We weren't overrun, we weren't outplayed or outfought. We had 20-odd crosses to their seven but the harsh reality in football is that you've got to take your chances.
"Notts County took the only three they had in the game and they've gone off happy. We're hugely disappointed."
Not as much as the 1,231 City fans who had travelled in the hope of seeing the Barnet debacle cleared straight out the system. Another huge following; another huge letdown.
This was not on the same scale as Underhill. City could not possibly play as badly again. In fact, for the first ten minutes they were well on top and showed no hint of a hangover from the excesses of the previous week.
But then one bad goal led to another. And another. Before you knew it, Notts County were three to the good and cruising and it wasn't even half-time.
So much for a team who had previously managed only one win in 17 attempts against sides from the top half of the table.
Vitriol poured down from the away stand. The pre-match anthems had been replaced by a biting blast of "you're not fit to wear the shirt". It must have been agony to the ears of the manager. Let's hope it hit home with his players.
The second half, admittedly, was better – it had to be – but then again County, knowing the match was as good as won, rarely got out of second gear.
For the second game in a row, City had to listen to mocking choruses of "ole" from the home supporters as the opposition played keep ball. Despite the black and white stripes, this was Notts County, not Juventus.
A fortnight ago, Valley Parade was a vibrant scene of celebration. Tuesday night could be a very different situation if City cannot deliver against Macclesfield.
They have only themselves to blame. The pressure has been self-inflicted by two shocking results.
It is the first time all season that City have lost two on the bounce, which shows the consistency they have displayed for much of it. But few would have expected their first double blow to be struck by two sides in the bottom ten.
Was the recent hat-trick of wins just an illusion? No wonder the supporters feel so low.
What happened to the defensive record of steel; the team that has twice gone four games without conceding a goal? That question will be bugging McCall even more than the worrying lack of a cutting edge going forward.
The loss of Omar Daley looks to have thumped a huge hole in City's attacking ambitions. Though, at least, the sight of Peter Thorne tapping in his first goal for four months will have raised hopes that he can now embark on another hot run to finish the campaign as he started it.
City certainly need a pick-me-up from somewhere. If not, with so many games crammed into March, their promotion dream could disappear swiftly down the gurgler.
The Bantams have not been scoring freely for a while but all the time they were keeping the back door nailed shut, it was not such a concern. But having leaked seven goals in two games, that is no longer the case. McCall suddenly has problems at both ends of the pitch.
Schoolboy mistakes led to County's opener after 11 minutes. City were on the attack at the time and looking menacing, with Nicky Law's free-kicks posing serious questions for a home back four that had only kept one clean sheet in the last ten outings.
Matt Clarke had already put one free header over when Law dropped another set-piece into the mix. Thorne had a couple of bites before County got the ball clear – and left the visitors dangerously exposed all upfield.
Dean Furman dived in – and missed – and the black and white shirts were off to the races.
What's the saying about magpies? One for sorrow, two for joy ... how about four against one as Luke O'Brien found himself submerged by a flock of them. Law gamely tried to make up the yards to help but where was the rest of the cavalry?
With the odds stacked so heavily in their favour, County finished the job, with Jamie Forrester squaring to an unmarked Jonathan Forte to guide past Rhys Evans.
Michael Boulding instantly headed straight at home keeper Kevin Pilkington but it had no power to trouble him. It was the most notable moment of the afternoon for either player.
City's attempts to equalise were more through hope than expectation. It was summed up when Steve Jones, who had another indifferent day, delivered his best cross of the game but the only head diving in to attack it was home skipper Mike Edwards clearing the ball out of harm's way.
County were hardly any better as the game, played on an awful pitch, descended into an episode of lump it long. But they upped their act when it needed to be in front of goal.
Just like Barnet, City struggled to lay a finger on either winger and both combined for the second after the half hour.
Miles Weston eluded Zesh Rehman to hang a cross towards the far post where Forte had time to take it neatly on the chest, wrong-foot O'Brien to get on his favourite left boot and lash through Evans.
The mood off the pitch was darkening fast and Jones felt the force when he took a wrong option and dribbled straight into trouble.
City desperately needed something from somewhere to offer a chink of light – and they almost cut the deficit as Law set off on a forceful drive into the left corner of the box. His cross bobbled to Boulding, who set up Lee Bullock for a drive that deflected a foot wide of the post.
But having nearly forced their way back into it, City were caught out again in the first minute of added time.
Weston was again the tormentor-in-chief, brushing past Rehman and drilling the ball into the danger zone. It struck O'Brien in the tangle of bodies and ricocheted for Delroy Facey to turn home.
Cue the derision from the packed away stand. Once again, the game was up for the shell-shocked Bantams.
McCall hauled off the anonymous Boulding to bring on Joe Colbeck and the winger's energy and enthusiasm did give City a bit of a spark.
They were the better team after the break and Evans was never tested again but by that point the game had the air of a pre-season friendly.
Jamie Clapham dealt with a couple of dangerous crosses and there were chances for Furman and Graeme Lee. Yet you never sensed that City could get a foothold back into proceedings.
At least Thorne finally got on the scoresheet with six minutes left after good work from Colbeck. It was too little and far too late to matter but will have given the veteran striker's confidence a timely boost.
City, having dropped out of the play-off places, need any lift they can get.
Attendance: 5,138
===========================
Stuart McCall has vowed to get disillusioned fans back on side.
City were jeered by the 1,200 travelling support during Saturday's 3-1
loss at Notts County.
Back-to-back defeats against teams in the bottom half of the division
have seen the Bantams drop out of the play-off positions – and rocked
confidence among their followers.
McCall admitted he faces a battle to restore belief that the promotion
dream is still on.
He said: "The buck stops with me. I'm the manager and I've got to get
things right.
"Two weeks ago we were going swimmingly after a great result at
Gillingham and beating Wycombe. That's how quickly football can change.
"We were getting pats on backs, now we're getting criticism. We've
deserved it for the last two games, there's no getting away from it.
"I can understand the frustration of the supporters. It's hard to take
when you're 3-0 down at half-time.
"The supporters have paid a lot of money and they are quite right to
sing like that. I appreciate that more than anyone.
"It's my responsibility to change things. I'm not a quitter and I'm
feeling it as much as anyone."
Jonathan Forte, a former Sheffield United player under McCall, scored
twice as County rattled up a 3-0 lead from their only three shots on
target. Peter Thorne replied late on with his first goal since November.
McCall said: "Going in 3-0 down can mask things. It wasn't a rubbish
performance. It wasn't a great one but when you lose goals like that,
confidence is going to seep away.
"People think it's been absolute garbage and a disgrace but they've had
three shots at goal. They were 3-0 up and there was nothing in the game.
"But we've shipped seven goals in two games now and that's not good
enough. That will not get us promotion and we've got to go back to being
harder to beat again."
McCall is likely to make changes ahead of tomorrow's critical clash with
Macclesfield at Valley Parade. With another home game against Aldershot
next weekend, City cannot afford any slip-ups.
McCall said: "What I say to the players stays in the dressing room. I'm
not going to individually criticise my team because I need them to go
out there and perform.
"I want them to show that they are fit to wear the shirt; they do want
to be here, they do want to have success.
"We can say all the right things but it's about performing. I said last
Saturday that we needed a midweek game. We've got one this week and
we've got to win the three points.
"We need to put in a performance. Nobody else can help us apart from
what we've got in that dressing room. It's my responsibility to put the
team out there that will do that."
===========================
Omar Daley - out until CHRISTMAS?
Omar Daley has received the bombshell verdict that he could be out until
CHRISTMAS.
The winger's knee injury against Darlington ten days ago has turned out
to be far more serious than first thought.
City are now facing the grim prospect of being without the Jamaican for
up to ten months.
Stuart McCall admitted: "It's a lot, lot worse than anyone was
expecting. The scan could only show so much and when the surgeon went
into the knee to operate, he found the problem was much bigger.
"It's not only the lateral ligament but the cruciate is damaged as well.
It was a really bad injury and the surgeon thinks it could be eight to
ten months before Omar can look to play again.
"We could be looking at Christmas, which is obviously a massive blow."
Daley had started 29 games this season, scoring four times, including
the opening goal in the recent win at Gillingham.
But he was stretchered off in the home game with Darlington after a
crunching tackle with defender Neil Austin.
City expected to lose him for the rest of the season but did not imagine
he would also miss a big chunk of next term as well.
McCall added: "It's going to be very hard for Omar but he's got to try
to get his head round it. He needs to be mentally strong.
"He's saying all the right things about coming back stronger and I'm
sure he will. Omar's going to be in a brace for a few weeks and then he
can hopefully start setting himself little targets."
Joe Colbeck has only recently returned from a three-month absence and,
while Chris Brandon this week played his first reserve game since
snapping his ankle in September, McCall insists he will be given time to
build up properly after his lengthy lay-off. Paul McLaren also tweaked
his calf in training and will miss tomorrow's trip to Notts County.
McCall said: "We get Joe back after his spell out and Brando is slowly
coming back, then this happens to Omar.
"A week ago I was struggling to name a bench because there were so many
players available but unfortunately injuries are part of football."
McCall, meanwhile, is not ruling Darlington out of the promotion fight
despite losing ten points for going into administration.
He said: "It's not nice to hear but sometimes something like that can
create a siege mentality.
"It depends what the repercussions are but you've seen the way Rotherham
responded in that situation. If Darlington can keep all the players
together, they might just treat it as an 'us against the world' scenario."
===========================
THE MAGICIAN IS SET FOR HIS DOUBLE CENTURY
By Tony Scholes Friday, 27th February 2009
Tomorrow afternoon should see Robbie Blake make his 200th league appearance
for the Clarets against Sheffield Wednesday, just over seven years since he
first joined us from Bradford City.
For some time it had looked as though Stan Ternent was going to splash £1
million on Stockport striker Shefki Kuqi, and indeed he was, but it all
changed when the then Bantams Chairman Mr. Pompous Geoffrey Richmond said
Blake was available.
Despite him suffering a groin injury we clinched the deal and he made his
debut as a substitute against West Brom in February 2002, replacing Ian
Moore. We lost the game, he didn't do much, and for the rest of the season
was a bit player and nothing else. He started just the one game and
eventually was forced to have a double hernia operation in the summer.
We'd not seen him fit, but he was in the side on the opening day of the
2002/03 season. In a poor team performance against Brighton he was accused
by Ternent of playing in diving boots and promptly dropped.
I'd remembered him turning in a superb performance against us for Forest in
2000 during a loan spell there, but we'd certainly seen nothing like that
from him at Burnley. Then, at Derby in the sixth league game of the season
he lifted us out of our seats with a wonderful display in the second half.
Robbie Blake had arrived.
On form he was often the star of the show alongside Glen Little and there's
no doubt we were very fortunate to have these two players in our side at the
same time.
In the 2003/04 season he scored 19 league goals, and where would we have
been without them. In the following season he had ten by mid-December but
then left for Birmingham. I think at that point he was playing his best
football for us and he certainly proved difficult to replace.
He was away for two and a half years before returning for a knock down price
and this season he's possibly been even better than he was in that 2004/05
season, although now in a position where he won't score quite so many goals.
Some of the recent performances have been stunning, and none more so than
the Spurs game on the Turf. But then there was the free kick at Preston and
the wonderful skill that set up Steven Thompson for his goal against West
Brom.
Sometimes it is said that certain players are worth the admission money
alone, and our magician Robbie Blake certainly comes into that category.
Now he reaches 200 league appearances for the Clarets, and surely with
everyone hoping there will be many more to come.
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