Bradford 1 (0) - 1(0) Brentford
Thorne 90 Clarke 63
Bradford: Evans ,Rehman ,Lee ,Clarke ,O'Brien ,Gillespie (Jones ,64 ) ,McLaren (Michael Boulding ,74 ) ,Furman ,Brandon (Law ,69 ) ,Thorne ,Paul Mullin
Subs not used: Arnison,Bullock,
Brentford: Hamer ,Osborne ,Bennett ,Powell ,Dickson ,Newton ,Hunt ,Bean ,Wood ,Clarke (Sam Williams ,84 ) ,Spencer
Subs not used Simon Brown,Phillips,Halls,Dobson,
Bookings: McLaren ,Paul Mullin (Bradford) Bean ,Dickson ,Spencer (Brentford)
Attendance: 12832
Referee: Dave Foster (Newcastle)
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http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/4268293.McCall__This_result_could_change_our_season/
McCall: This result could change our season
7:00am Monday 6th April 2009
Peter Thorne has thrown City a play-off lifeline, relieved boss Stuart McCall insisted today.
Thorne rescued a point against leaders Brentford with a last-gasp equaliser.
And McCall believes Satur-day's stoppage-time strike can breathe new life into their faltering promotion bid.
McCall said: "I said before the game that this result could change our season. Even though we've only got one point, it's the manner we've done it that will lift everybody.
"It feels like a win in so many ways and we're still in there fighting."
None of the four sides competing for the final play-off spot won at the weekend.
Barry Conlon's third goal in as many games for Grimsby ensured Shrewsbury, who currently occupy seventh place, remain only a point ahead.
McCall added: "The points difference is still the same and we've had the hardest game. We might have expected Chesterfield to win at Macclesfield and we certainly thought Shrewsbury would beat Grimsby at home.
"The morale in the dressing room is totally different to how it would have been if the game had finished two minutes earlier and the lads will come in to training with a spring in their step.
"I'd take scoring in the 91st minute all day long. It's happened a few times against us this season.
"We didn't play great football but we were up against a really well-organised side who were always a threat because of their height and physical presence.
"It was a hard battle but you've got to defend and we did that reasonably well. I'm pleased with the effort and endeavour and the point was fully merited."
Brentford, the division's best travellers, went in front just after the hour through Billy Clarke. Manager Andy Scott conceded: "If you come to Bradford and are disappointed to have only drawn, it shows we've got the will to do well. They didn't creat any chances other than the long balls."
But McCall is now heading for Morecambe on Good Friday in high spirits.
"We'd have liked three but that point and the way it came about could have just as positive an effect. People would have said we were dead and buried if we'd got beaten. Now other teams and managers will see we stuck at it and have still got that dream."
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http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/yorkshire-soccer/Bradford-City-McCall-is-keeping.5143803.jp
Bradford City: McCall is keeping the faith
Stuart McCall was accentuating the positives after Peter Thorne's last-gasp strike earned Bradford a priceless point against leaders Brentford.
A stoppage-time equaliser from top scorer Thorne rescued City and kept their play-off hopes alive, with boss McCall hoping it will kick-start their season.
He said: "I thought we did enough to merit a goal when we did. It would have been an injustice had we lost the game and a draw was a fair result.
"In fact, to score a late goal like that feels like a win.
"When you see the way the other results have gone, you believe there is everything to play for. That result could kick-start our season. We are still in there fighting and we have got to keep at it."
Brentford looked set for victory as the match went into stoppage time when Steve Jones played the ball into Thorne and, although his first shot was blocked by keeper Ben Hamer, Thorne managed to squeeze the rebound into the net.
Brentford controlled large sections of the match and deservedly went in front in the 63rd minute with a near-post header from Billy Clarke following Ryan Dickson's cross.
Karleigh Osbourne and Damian Spencer both went close as Brentford dominated the first half hour, but Chris Brandon missed a great chance to put Bradford in front two minutes before half-time when he was left with only Hamer to beat, but he could find no way past the Bantams stopper.
Bradford City: Evans; Rehman, Lee, M Clarke, O'Brien, Gillespie (Jones, 63), Furman, McLaren (Boulding, 74), Brandon (Law, 69), Mullin, Thorne. Subs not used: Arnison, Bullock.
Brentford: Hamer; Osborne, Powell, Dixon, Bean, Bennett, Newton, Hunt, Wood, B Clarke (Williams, 84), Spencer. Subs not used: Phillips, Brown, Halls, Dobson.
Referee: Dave Foster.
Attendance: 12,382.
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Julian Rhodes is demanding City's players repay the loyalty of the
fans with a run of big performances.
City have six games to save their promotion dream, starting with
tomorrow's Valley Parade showdown with leaders Brentford.
After a horrible March, Stuart McCall's men urgently need a win to
revive public belief and stay in the play-off reckoning.
And Rhodes believes City owe it to the supporters who have backed them
to the hilt home and away through the campaign.
The club are still finalising the take-up figure from their early-bird
season-ticket offer for next term. But they confidently estimate between
9,500-10,000 will eventually sign up, matching the current tally.
Joint-chairman Rhodes is now expecting the players to keep their end of
the bargain.
He said: "You can't ask for any more from our fans. Over the last few
years they have been absolutely magnificent.
"It hurts everybody when things aren't going well and I could have
easily understood if anybody watching recently was having second
thoughts about renewing their season-tickets. Luckily the vast majority
have done and we give a big thanks to them.
"Now it's up to the team to repay that faith and start performing again."
City are currently locked in a four-way fight for the final play-off
spot. But bullish Rhodes insists they should set their sights high – by
aiming to win EVERY game of the run-in.
And he sighted Huddersfield's barnstorming finish four seasons ago, when
they came from nowhere with a late run, as proof that it can be done.
Rhodes added: "We've been on a bad run but that doesn't make them bad
players overnight.
"Stuart has to do whatever he can to restore confidence and send a team
out which doesn't just aim to win one game but six on the bounce.
"Mark (Lawn) and I had a meeting with Stuart this week and he was very
positive. Stuart should be telling the players that we're looking for
six wins from the last six games.
"I remember when we beat Huddersfield here in 2005 which left them near
the bottom.
"Peter Jackson was asked afterwards whether he was worried because they
were staring down the barrel of relegation. He said it meant they'd just
have to go out and win the last nine games to get promoted.
"As it was they won eight and drew one because of a 95th-minute
equaliser and only missed out on the play-offs by one point.
"So there's no harm in setting ourselves a tough target.
"If any of the players are not up for it, there are plenty who are. If
any are suffering from a confidence crisis, Stuart has got a big enough
squad to sort those issues."
City have not lost to any of the sides above them at Valley Parade and
Rhodes is confident they can maintain that form against League Two's top
dogs.
"Wycombe were flying high and we beat them. We've also beaten Rochdale
and Bury and murdered Exeter.
"We've played well at home against the top sides and Brentford won't be
relishing coming to us. They aren't guaranteed automatic promotion yet.
"In reality, we are still only one point off the play-offs and a lot of
the teams up there will be playing each other.
"It's definitely in our hands against Chesterfield because we've got to
play them. Even if they win their game in hand, we'll go above them by
beating them on the final day.
"Who knows, if we win three on the bounce we might be back in with a
shout for automatic promotion, depending how other results pan out.
"It could well end up with being a record low total for third position
so there is still all to play for."
Damien Spencer, one of four loan players signed just before the
deadline, could make his first start for Brentford.
Cheltenham striker Spencer is in line to replace Charlie MacDonald, who
is out with a dislocated shoulder. Spencer was sent off on his only
previous visit to Valley Parade – a game which also saw David Wetherall
red-carded.
MacDonald is the third Brentford forward to be crocked following Nathan
Elder, who came "within a millimetre" of being blinded according to his
surgeon after a clash with Rotherham's Pablo Mills, and Ipswich loanee
Jordan Rhodes.
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Silver Trust Award
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1614110,00.html
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