Coca-Cola League Two
Bradford C (1) 3 Flynn 23, Neilson 55, Brandon 86.
Chesterfield (0) 0
Att: 11,664
Stats: Bradford C - Chesterfield
Possession: 57 - 43%
Shots on target: 5 - 3
Shots off target: 7 - 4
Fouls: 8 - 10
Corners: 4 - 1
Ref: Gary Sutton (Lincolnshire).
Yellow cards:
Bradford C: Rehman (42 min)
Chesterfield: Page (62 min), Lester (89 min).
All for unsporting behaviour.
Bradford C: 1. Simon Eastwood, 16. Jonathan Bateson, 12. Steve Williams, 5.
Zesh Rehman, 3. Luke O'Brien, 4. Michael Flynn (87), 8. Lee Bullock, 19.
James O'Brien (70), 26. Scott Neilson, 17. James Hanson, 9. Gareth Evans
(82).
SUBS: 13. Jon McLaughlin (GK), 6. Matthew Clarke, 11. Chris Brandon (70),
14. Michael Boulding (82), 20. Leon Osborne, 21. Luke Sharry (87), 24. Louis
Horne.
Chesterfield: 1. Tommy Lee, 20. Dan Gray, 6. Kevin Austin, 5. Robert Page,
3. Gregor Robertson, 24. Donal McDermott (60), 7. Mark Allott, 8. Derek
Niven (62), 4. Jamie Lowry, 10. Darren Currie (74), 26. Wade Small.
SUBS: 23. Mark Crossley (GK), 2. Phil Picken, 9. Martin Gritton (74), 11.
Paul Harsley (62), 14. Jack Lester (60), 18. Daniel Hall, 19. Scott Boden.
Next matches:
(A) Morecambe, Tuesday Sept 29, 2009. K.O. 7:45PM.
(A) Northampton, Saturday Oct. 3, 2009. K.O. 3:00PM
===========================
By Simon Parker (T&A)
City stretched their unbeaten run to seven games with an ultimately
convincing win over Chesterfield at Valley Parade.
The Spireites have proved lucky opposition for Stuart McCall and the home
side deservedly clocked up another victory.
Michael Flynn fired City in front midway through the first half with a
clever finish over Tommy Lee into the far corner.
Both keepers pulled off crucial saves to keep it at 1-0 by the break. Simon
Eastwood denied Wade Small after City failed to clear and Lee brilliantly
tipped away a well-struck Scott Neilson drive.
Eastwood saved City's bacon again ten minutes into the second half, bravely
stopping Derek Niven after Zesh Rehman's error.
The block proved even more crucial as play instantly swept to the other end
where Neilson slotted home number two.
That goal effectively killed off Chesterfield's resistance but City made
absolutely sure five minutes from time as sub Chris Brandon hammered in a
third.
Neilson should have had another in stoppage time but hit the post with an
open goal beckoning.
===========================
Photos and video
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1809782,00.html
===========================
Nielson makes FL2 team
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1811159,00.html
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/4651351.Flynn_inspires_seven_up_City/?ref=rss
Midfielder defies pain to help extend unbeaten run
7:30am Monday 28th September 2009
By Simon Parker
Michael Flynn was up all night in agony before helping red-hot City extend their unbeaten run to seven games.
The influential midfielder notched the first goal in Saturday's 3-0 home win over Chesterfield and then revealed how his preparations were ruined after being kept awake by a stiff neck.
Flynn, who felt the spasm after training on Friday, said: "It was touch and go for a while. I'd only had about an hour's sleep because the shooting pain kept waking me up.
"I had to come in early Saturday morning for some strong pain-killers. We weren't sure but it's going to take a little bit more than that to keep me out.
"I've never taken anything for granted in life and somebody else could come in and do well and I'd be left kicking my heels.
"I want to play every game; start every game and do myself justice every game in a Bradford City shirt.
"This is a brilliant club that deserves to be higher than League Two and I've come here to help them get there."
Scott Neilson, with his first goal in league football, and substitute Chris Brandon rounded off the victory which lifts City up to ninth ahead of tomorrow's trip to bogey ground Morecambe.
Flynn said: "Chesterfield are a good team but I just felt, right from the start, we were outstanding.
"Easty (Simon Eastwood) and the back four were solid and Bully (Lee Bullock) was the unsung hero again. I certainly sing his praises and let him know after each game how well he's done.
"We're a young squad all coming together and we've got goals throughout the team. Sometimes we show a little bit of naivety but I'm sure we'll learn through the course of the season.
"Nothing's won in September but I think we're going to go from strength to strength."
City's win was only their second in five attempts at Valley Parade this season and boss Stuart McCall admitted it was a significant result.
He said: "We knew we had to start winning our home games. If we'd come off again with a draw like we did against Burton then there would have been a bit of depression about the place.
"You enjoy these days because you don't have many of them. There were a lot of good performances.
"There will be highs and lows throughout the season but the confidence grows with every game you go undefeated and play well. It's very early days but it's looking promising."
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/4651382.City_attitude_summed_up_by_Eastwood_save/
Keeper earns plaudits as new model team win further praise
6:20am Monday 28th September 2009
By Simon Parker
City 3, Chesterfield 0
Zesh Rehman and Lee Bullock both made a beeline to hug Simon Eastwood.
City's second goal had just hit the net and they knew exactly who to congratulate.
While Scott Neilson took the acclaim for his first league strike, Rehman and Bullock made their point of thanking the guy with the big assist.
Seconds earlier, Eastwood had bailed out Rehman by bravely hurling himself at the feet of Chesterfield midfielder Derek Niven.
The young goalkeeper prevented a certain equaliser – and straight away the ball was whisked up the other end to make it 2-0.
Instead of seeing another one-goal lead disappear, as had been the case for the past couple of games, City were firmly in command and well on the way to three points.
Eastwood continues to have his critics but the rookie's part in stretching City's unbeaten run to a seventh game was just as crucial as the three scorers.
His team-mates made sure they acknowledged it – and so did the fans, much to Stuart McCall's satisfaction.
The City boss said: "It's nice to see the supporters get behind him. It's hard for a young kid to come to a club on loan but he's shown good character. He's stood up to it and done well for us."
On an afternoon when just about everything went right in McCall's eyes, the goalkeeper's contribution was worth a special mention. Eastwood did not have a lot to do but he made big saves at big moments.
That is the most pleasing thing about the new model City. Everyone is playing their part. Saturday was another case in point. All over the pitch, there were claret shirts putting in a real shift for the team.
Eastwood's back four were rock solid against potentially one of the most potent attacks in the division. Youngster Jon Bateson made a seamless transition at right back to minimise the effect of losing Simon Ramsden, arguably the best defender up to now.
In front of them, Bullock picked up all the bits and pieces to allow Michael Flynn to keep driving City forward, while James O'Brien's legs provided a constant link between the two.
And up front, the effervescent Gareth Evans worked off James Hanson's aerial power to make sure Chesterfield's backline never got a moment's respite. It was the complete package for a beaming McCall.
City's energy and workrate was best summed up by Flynn. He had hardly slept a wink the night before after his neck went into a spasm and needed pain-killers to be clear to play.
But you would never have guessed as he kept his side's motor ticking with those attacking surges which have already made him a huge favourite with the fans.
City's first goal was reward for another positive push from the midfielder. Hanson and Evans both went up for a goal kick and the ball ping-ponged into Flynn's path on the left.
Pulling it inside right back Dan Gray, he spotted Tommy Lee slightly advanced of his goal and clipped a precise shot into the far corner.
Keighley-born Lee had produced a master class in Macclesfield's goal on McCall's home debut two years ago. He had no chance of denying Flynn but showed his quality from City's next attack to brilliantly palm away a Neilson blast.
Sandwiched in between was Eastwood's first key contribution as the back four nearly paid for a rare lapse in concentration. They allowed an innocuous pass to run in behind and it needed the keeper's fast reactions to keep out Wade Small.
As Chesterfield finished the first half strongly, the game saw its most contentious point.
Small, whose pace caused the odd stir, was suddenly clear on goal as Luke O'Brien tumbled in his wake.
The assistant referee eventually gave the foul – but only after allowing the striker to run five yards further forward. Chesterfield's bench were furious, claiming O'Brien had simply slipped, and it looked a marginal call.
McCall had no doubts the official got it right, even if the rest of us were not so convinced.
He said: "The linesman should have put his flag up earlier and stopped all the confusion. Our left back's as honest as the day is long and it was pretty evident he got tripped.
"I can understand their frustration because the linesman took so long but I'd have been going mental if he had played on."
But that scare acted as a timely reminder of how fragile a single-goal lead can be. McCall tried to play it down in the dressing room but minds naturally wandered back to Burton and Barnet fighting back from deficits the previous two weekends.
The next goal was huge – and the game was effectively settled in the minute surrounding it.
First it seemed that Chesterfield had to score as Jamie Lowry's precise through ball released Niven behind Rehman. But Eastwood saw it in a flash and flung himself at the midfielder to make the block.
Then O'Brien immediately picked out Evans to dart inside from the left flank. His shot was parried by Lee and Neilson followed in to convert the rebound.
A deflated John Sheridan responded by throwing on Jack Lester but the mardy substitute's only impact of note was the elbow he petulantly stuck in Bullock's face after City had bagged their third goal.
Chris Brandon and Michael Boulding did not see any action at Underhill but both were on by that point. A foul on Boulding gave Luke O'Brien the chance to whip in a decent free-kick which Lee flapped away from Hanson and straight to Brandon to lash home.
Neilson should have made it four in stoppage time but unbelievably hit the post in front of an open goal, prompting his manager to joke that the winger had obviously backed 3-0 with the bookies.
And there was still time for Boulding to come within a whisker of capitalising on Gregor Robertson's slack back-pass.
But the keeper just managed to snatch the ball away to leave Boulding still looking to open his account. It was the only slight frustration of an otherwise extremely satisfying day.
Attendance: 11,664
===========================
Sheridan furious with referee
Published: Sunday, 27 September 2009, 2:26PM
Chesterfield manager John Sheridan blasted referee Gary Sutton after his side crashed to a 3-0 defeat at Bradford.
Bradford were leading 1-0 through a 23rd minute goal from midfielder Michael Flynn when Wade Small broke away from James O'Brien 10 yards in to the City half of the field. However, Lincoln referee Sutton ruled that Small had fouled O'Brien and gave the free-kick to Bradford.
Sheridan said: ``The full-back slipped when Small was clean through. Everyone could see it wasn't a foul. If Small had gone on and scored it would have put us back in the game. It was a terrible decision.''
He added: ``Until their second goal I thought we were the better side. The second goal killed us. We should have done a lot better defensively for the first goal.
``I though we controlled the game in the second half until their second goal. In fact, when they scored their second goal it was the first time they had been in our half since half-time, but we fell away in the last 20 minutes and it could have been four or five.''
Chesterfield have taken only one point form five away games and Sheridan said: ``We should be doing a lot better away from home.''
Bradford boss Stuart McCall is refusing to get carried away despite watching his side extend their unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions.
McCall said: ``There were a lot of good performances all through the team, no less than our keeper. Simon Eastwood made a good save in the first half and a brave save just before we scored our second goal. It was nice to hear the crowd get behind him.
``We are pleased to get three points, three goals and a clean sheet. There is a long way to go, but it is looking very promising.''
===========================
===========================
DARLINGTON PART COMPANY WITH TODD
Colin Todd has left his post as manager of League Two strugglers Darlington
after four months in charge.
The Quakers have only collected two points this season including Saturday's
1-1 draw at Grimsby, Todd's last game.
He told BBC Tees: "It was agreed before today's game that if we didn't get
the win then I'd be leaving.
"At certain levels you're dictated by results, the time factor sometimes
isn't long enough but you have to take the rough with the smooth."
He added: "I think the chairman should have been here to address the
situation. I've had the players all in together and nobody had any idea, not
even my staff [that I was going]."
When asked who had suggested he should leave if Darlington failed to win,
Todd added: "It was the chairman. It was [a feeling of] disappointment. It
was always going to be a difficult job here and a long job."
But Quakers' managing director Graham Fordy said that Todd's departure had
been a mutual agreement.
"He met the chairman on Monday and agreed if a victory didn't come his way
on Saturday that he would resign and that's exactly what he's done," he
said.
Todd, who is the seventh Football League manager to lose his job this
season, believes that the next boss will be brought in from outside the
club.
"I know for a fact it will be somebody new," he said. "[Dean] Windass will
not get the job so they're looking for someone, I don't know what type of
manager," he added.
The ex-Middlesbrough, Bradford City, Bolton, Derby and Swindon boss was
handed the manager's job at the Arena by returning chairman George Houghton
in May.
Before his appointment he had been coaching in Denmark with Randers.
Todd took over at Darlington after former boss Dave Penney left to take
charge at League One Oldham.
The Quakers were forced to assemble a new side during the summer after most
of last year's squad left.
Raj Singh, who has since taken over as Quakers chairman, said it was
regrettable that the club had parted company with Todd.
"Colin is keen to do what's right for the club and accepts the time is right
for him to step aside," he told the club's website.
===========================
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