Bradford City 2 - Crewe Alexandra 3
Valley Parade
Attendance: 11,757
Referee: Carl Boyeson
Game Statistics
26 Goal Attempts 12
15 On Target 7
16 Corners 7
10 Fouls 9
0 Yellow Cards 3
0 Red Cards 0
49 % 51
video
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8301626.stm
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http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sportbcfcmatch/4675776.Shots_galore_but_City_floored_by_Zola/
McCall appreciates applause but points would be more appropriate
6:50am Monday 12th October 2009
By Simon Parker »
City 2, Crewe Alexandra 3
It's not very often that Steve Schumacher is stuck for words.
The chirpy Scouser usually offers an opinion on most things but he was gobsmacked by the reaction of the Valley
Parade crowd at the final whistle.
Schumacher experienced his fair share of home lows during three years in a City shirt and he knows the fans can be
pretty unforgiving when games haven't gone their way.
But the present-day Bantams were cheered off with a standing ovation on Saturday – despite surrendering their
ten-game unbeaten run.
"That's a first," admitted Schumacher, whose goal on his return ultimately proved the difference between the two
sides. "I've never seen that before in my time here.
"But Bradford are a completely different side. They work very hard as a team and play some lovely football."
Stuart McCall would rather have collected the points than the compliments but he appreciated the reaction from the
stands.
He said: "It's nice for the players to be clapped off. Everyone's disappointed to get beaten but they've seen the
side give everything, create chances and pour forward.
"We did everything we could. Dario (Gradi) will be pleased with the way Crewe defended but there were lots of times
when we got round them and through them. There were some terrific performances."
Schumacher was clearly pumped up to be back at his former club. Having finished second-top scorer for a couple of
seasons in his City days, it was not a huge surprise that he should net again.
In the current dilemma of whether ex-players should milk the moment against their old team, Schumacher kept his
reaction muted in front of the Kop.
He said: "I'd been thinking about it during the week. Everyone loves to get one over their old team but I didn't
think it was appropriate to rub the fans' noses in it.
"It's great to score a goal and I did half-celebrate but this is football and it won't be long before someone who
used to play for Crewe will be scoring against us."
The foundations for Crewe's improbable victory were laid by targetman Calvin Zola, whose first-half double took him
up to ten goals for the season.
Zola cost £200,000 from Tranmere – a big sum for this division. By the end of the game, Gradi was plotting how to
spend the £1million he would soon get for flogging the big African.
By all accounts, he is a hot or cold player. City unfortunately got Zola on a scorching day.
His first goal was reminiscent of Luke Medley's screamer against Wrexham two years ago.
Nothing seemed on when John Brayford's throw-in picked him out down the right touchline but Zola let rip with a
ferocious first-time half-volley that whistled past Simon Eastwood before he could blink.
The hyper-critical would suggest the young keeper should have reacted in some way but the ball flew like a missile
into the far corner.
After tricky winger Joel Grant had rattled the post, Zola cashed in on a defensive lapse to quickly bag his second
goal.
Steve Williams should have cleared his lines but coughed up possession and the striker neatly made himself space to
fire home from the edge of the box. City could have been forgiven for thinking they were up against Gianfranco Zola
...
The stunned home side needed a response before half-time and when James O'Brien's volley fell at the feet of
Michael Boulding ten yards out, he crashed the ball against the underside of the bar.
But a minute before the break Boulding got it spot on to head in O'Brien's cross for his third goal in as many
games.
With the contest wide open, McCall's team talk at the interval was centred on winning rather than just salvaging a
point.
The stats don't lie. City had enough chances to have won the next six games: 29 shots on goal, 12 of them on
target, and 16 corners. The figures said it all.
Yet Crewe, exploiting the huge gaps left as City poured upfield, could have had more on the break.
Eastwood denied Schumacher's point-blank header within seconds of the restart. He also saved well from James Bailey
and substitute Anthony Elding.
The one he couldn't keep out after 65 minutes looked to have settled the contest as Schumacher's drive bounced
wickedly in front of the diving keeper and over his hands.
But City, to their credit, did not lie down and responded within four minutes.
Lee Bullock, having his best game by a mile, swept a great pass out to Boulding, whose cross was hooked in Peter
Crouch-style by James Hanson.
Scott Neilson had been dropped to the bench after a couple of jaded performances but his arrival on the right wing
signalled a non-stop cavalry charge at the Crewe goal.
The chances came thick and fast. Leon Osborne twice, Boulding, Hanson twice – including a header kicked off the
line by left back Ashley Westwood – Simon Ramsden, Bullock, Neilson ... forgive me if I missed anyone out but it
was impossible to keep up.
And referee Carl Boyeson did City no favours when he ruled that Westwood had handled inches outside, rather than
in, the Crewe penalty area as he tussled for a high ball with Neilson.
Neilson said: "His arm was inside but he was standing on the line. It was a shame because the ball was coming
straight on my chest and it would have been a good goal-scoring opportunity."
McCall was furious at the time but simmered down when he viewed the incident again on video.
He said: "You get one glance at it and the linesman was in line. If he's not sure, then he can't give it, although
you'd think at home that you'll get those decisions.
"There are a lot of disappointed players in the dressing room because the run has been broken now but we can take a
lot from it.
"I usually have a sheet of paper with all the chances written down. I had three sheets just with the attempts in
the second half."
The response from the fans showed just what they thought of it.
Attendance: 11,757
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/4675739._Let_s_aim_for_another_ten_/?ref=rss
Neilson issues new challenge after unbeaten run bites dust
7:30am Monday 12th October 2009
Comments (10) Have your say »
By Simon Parker »
Scott Neilson has challenged City to launch another unbeaten run after suffering their first loss in 11 games.
The Bantams were edged out 3-2 by Crewe at Valley Parade, despite peppering the visitors with nearly 30 shots on
goal.
Winger Neilson was as amazed as his team-mates that they finished empty-handed but he was adamant that the shock
setback would not shatter confidence.
He said: "We had so many chances in the last 15 minutes and couldn't believe it wouldn't go in. I really thought
we'd nick one and maybe go on and win it.
"It was just a shame we didn't get anything from the game but nobody stopped working and believing in each other.
"Dagenham will be tough next week but we haven't lost away from home since Notts County, so hopefully we'll go
there and get something. We'll go again and maybe make it another ten games unbeaten."
Neilson was dropped to the bench for the first time since his arrival from Cambridge City but the winger made a
huge impact when he came on for the last half hour.
"I was gutted not to start but I've played a lot of minutes and felt a bit leggy on Tuesday," he said. "I wanted to
express myself as soon as I got out there. It was great to get straight into the game as the outlet and I tried to
create chances."
Stuart McCall felt that the step up from non-league had caught up with Neilson in the last couple of weeks.
The City chief said: "Scott's looked a bit jaded in the last few games. I wished I could have rested him against
Notts County but obviously we had to play six first-team regulars.
"But I said to him beforehand that it wouldn't surprise me if he came on and changed the match.
"He's played every game and I think he just needed a breather – and Brando (Chris Brandon) has scored three at home
and he's been flying in training."
===========================
BANTAMS DUO ON ROAD TO RECOVERY
Bradford City are preparing for a double boost as long-term absentees Omar
Daley and Stephen O'Leary are both closing in on first-team returns.
Jamaica international winger Daley has not featured for Stuart McCall's side
this season due to a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained in February but
has targeted a return to action with the reserves next week.
Midfielder O'Leary, a summer signing following his release from Hereford,
broke his toe on his debut for Bradford against Port Vale in August and will
also be handed a reserve-team run out to build up his match fitness.
Both players could return to contention for Bradford's next home game,
against O'Leary's former club Hereford, a week on Saturday.
===========================
Referee admits City penalty error
Referee Carl Boyeson has admitted he should have given City a penalty
against Crewe.
The Bantams claimed a late spot-kick when defender Ashley Westwood
handled on the edge of the box.
But Boyeson, acting on the advice of his assistant, awarded a free-kick
just outside the area. Crewe hung on to inflict City's first loss in 11
games.
Having since watched the incident again, the Hull-based official
contacted Stuart McCall to say that he had got it wrong.
McCall said: "Everyone makes mistakes and it's good that a referee is
prepared to ring and apologise. I appreciated his honesty.
"It wasn't down to him, he was just acting on the advice of the
linesman, but he said they work as a team and accepted responsibility."
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