Coca-Cola League Two
Bradford C (1) Edwards og 21
Accrington (0) 1 Symes 56
Att: 11,176
Stats: Bradford C - Accrington
Possession: 48 - 52%
Shots on target: 5 - 8
Shots off target: 8 - 1
Fouls: 14 - 7
Corners: 9 - 4
Ref: Steven Cook (Surrey).
Yellow cards:
Bradford C: Rehman 23 min, Bullock 57, O'Brien 71, Flynn 77.
Accrington: Procter 45, McConville 70, Grant 89.
Bradford C: 1. Simon Eastwood, 2. Simon Ramsden, 12. Steve Williams, 5. Zesh
Rehman, 3. Luke O'Brien, 4. Michael Flynn, 8. Lee Bullock, 17. James Hanson,
26. Scott Neilson (63), 11. Chris Brandon (68), 9. Gareth Evans.
SUBS: 13. Jon McLaughlin (GK), 6. Matthew Clarke, 14. Michael Boulding (68),
16. Jonathan Bateson, 18. Rory Boulding, 19. James O'Brien, 27. Simon Whaley
(63).
Accrington: 25. Ian Dunbavin, 26. Tom Lees, 5. Darran Kempson, 12. Phil
Edwards (90), 15. Dean Winnard, 17. Sean McConville, 14. James Ryan, 6.
Andrew Procter, 7. John Miles, 19. Michael Symes, 11. Robert Grant.
SUBS: 27. Josh Molloy (GK), 8. Luke Joyce, 9. Billy Kee (90), 18. John
Mullin, 20. Peter Murphy, 23. Chris King, 24. Gary King.
Next match: (A) Grimsby, Tuesday Nov. 24, 2009. K.O. 7:45PM.
Video
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8373326.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8374862.stm
===========================
EVANS PENALTY MISS COSTS BANTAMS VICTORY
By Mike Crowther (T&A)
Gareth Evans missed a penalty in the dying stages as City could only manage
a point at home to Accrington.
The spot-kick came in a frantic final five minutes which saw Michael
Boulding hit the post, Evans have a goal disallowed for handball and Simon
Eastwood make a vital save at the other end.
An own goal from Phil Edwards following Michael Flynn's cross had put the
Bantams in front after 20 minutes.
But City old boy Michael Symes equalised ten minutes after the break with a
smart left-foot finish from the edge of the box.
===========================
The Odsal debate
http://www.twohundredpercent.net/?p=2852
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcmatch/4753536.Stanley_survive_spot_of_bother_to_milk_City/
?ref=rss
Accrington becoming a bogey side for Bantams
6:30am Monday 23rd November 2009
By Mike Crowther
City 1, Accrington Stanley 1
No one at Valley Parade is likely to be quoting the "Accrington Stanley! Who are they?" line from that 1980s milk
advert that once belittled the Lancashire club.
It's more than 54 years since the Bantams last beat Saturday's opponents on their own patch. They may not have
played them many times during that period but this point made it two draws and a win for Stanley in the last three
seasons at the division's biggest ground.
The visitors may have been in the UniBond League when City were in the Premier League but they are a firmly
established League Two outfit now, as illustrated by a run of only one defeat in seven games and a place in the
Johnstone's Paint Trophy semi-finals.
But City need to be beating such sides at home if they are to be promotion contenders – and it looked like they
were going to when, with the score at 1-1, the assistant referee spotted a handball from Bobby Grant at a corner
with just two minutes to go.
However, having twice enjoyed penalty shoot-out success in the JP Trophy this season, this time there was penalty
pain.
Gareth Evans – who was not involved in either of those cup ties – struck his effort hard but just wide of the
right-hand post.
That's twice now that City have missed from the spot in open play this campaign, Michael Flynn having also failed
against Lincoln, and both times it has cost them points.
There was enough drama in a frantic final five minutes to satisfy the neutral for the whole game but that will mean
nothing to City fans, who were left to contemplate their fifth draw in eight league games.
After Evans had missed, Stanley broke on the counter-attack as Grant found himself clean through with the chance to
go from villain to hero but Simon Eastwood blocked his shot when he looked favourite to score.
It was the second vital save the on-loan youngster had made, having pushed a John Miles shot round the post earlier
in the half.
Play swung back to the other end as substitute Michael Boulding lashed a shot against the post and James Hanson
headed the rebound agonisingly wide.
There was more excitement to come as Evans thought he had redeemed himself when he blasted home from just inside
the box but the official blew for a handball from Boulding, a verdict the player admitted was a fair call.
It was one of the few occasions the City players, management and fans were in agreement with referee Steve Cook in
the second half, his decision-making having been mystifying to say the least.
City seemed to be on the wrong end of much of it, not least when Zesh Rehman appeared to be fouled by Grant before
he laid the ball off to Michael Symes for the equaliser after 55 minutes.
But take nothing away from the former City striker, whose clinical left-foot finish from the edge of the box capped
an impressive display.
On the balance of play, it was probably a deserved equaliser for a Stanley side who had started the better after
the interval, even though James Hanson0 had forced a point-blank save from Ian Dunbavin a minute earlier after good
work from Evans and Lee Bullock.
With the pitch – which had held up well following the purchase of special drainage equipment in midweek – starting
to cut up as the rain intensified, McCall brought on fresh legs as Simon Whaley replaced Scott Neilson for the
first game of his six-week loan spell from Norwich.
Along with the introduction of the razor-sharp Michael Boulding – who, based on this cameo, has finally seen off
the virus which has plagued him – the pair gave City fresh impetus.
Whaley almost made a dream start when he flashed a shot just wide of the far post and Simon Ramsden put Boulding
through, only for Dunbavin to save well again.
Then came that frenetic finale which no one would have predicted after a largely uneventful first half.
Neither goal had been threatened in a major way when City took the lead after 20 minutes. Ramsden played an
inviting ball down the right wing for Flynn, whose teasing cross into the box was missed by Hanson but defender
Phil Edwards inadvertently knocked it in.
The Bantams almost made it two five minutes before the break when a header from Evans was cleared off the line
following Luke O'Brien's dangerous corner.
City boss Stuart McCall reflected: "It's disappointing. We know we need to turn these draws into three points,
especially when you go a goal up at half-time.
"I am frustrated but after the penalty miss they went up the other end and had a one-on-one, so you could look at
it both ways. We could be sat here with no points or we could be sat here with three.
"I thought second half they came at us a bit more but I would honestly say a lot of that was down to some strange
refereeing decisions that were giving them free-kicks in certain areas which were putting us under pressure and on
the back foot. But we can't blame the referee for missing the penalty.
"The ref is a young lad and it's a tough job but I know they (Accrington) weren't happy with him coming in at
half-time. I'm sure they've given him a 'bit' and who's to know how that's affected him. But I just thought second
half, some of the decisions were incredible."
Attendance: 11,176
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/4754673.Conlon_has_no_regrets_from_time_at_City/?ref=rss
Striker loved spell at Bradford but is ready to sink former club
4:20pm Monday 23rd November 2009
By Simon Parker
Barry Conlon insists he "absolutely loved" his two years in a City shirt.
The well-travelled Irishman is set to line up against his old club tomorrow night for the first time since he left
Valley Parade in March.
Conlon's Bantams career ended under a cloud when he was axed from a game alongside Matt Clarke for disciplinary
reasons. He was then loaned to Grimsby before making the move permanent in the summer.
But he still looks back fondly on his spell in West Yorkshire and feels no bitterness about the way it finished.
Conlon said: "I've seen Stuart McCall at a couple of our games since leaving Bradford and there's never been a
problem at all.
"I wasn't playing as much as I liked and was in and out of the team but I absolutely loved it there. I got on well
with the lads and I still get on fine with Stuart.
"There were no hard feelings when I left and it worked out well. I was playing week in week out again for Grimsby
and I was notching goals most weeks, which helped them stay up.
"They were really struggling when I first came in so to survive in the end was a big achievement."
Grimsby face a similar fight this season after being stuck with Darlington in the bottom two. Conlon has also
suffered his own frustration with two red cards, which have seen him suspended for SEVEN games already.
"It's been difficult to get any rhythm going, especially when I got sent off again in only my second game back," he
admitted.
"I've been on the bench recently while I get a couple of reserve games under my belt and hopefully I can get back
to having a regular run again."
Grimsby have picked up slightly in recent games with three successive draws but have not won since September 19.
Conlon said: "You know what it's like when you're stuck on a bad run. Nothing seems to go for you.
"The confidence in the changing room has been good but we've never really been able to pick from a full squad.
"We've had a lot of injuries and had a few suspensions and there are still lads out now. We are having to chop and
change all the time, which is never a good thing.
"But we played some decent football at Lincoln on Saturday, although we couldn't nick a goal. It was a bit of a
scrap but that's what you expect when you're down the bottom of the table.
"I came on for the last 20 minutes and I'm really hoping to be involved in some way against Bradford.
"With the manager situation sorted, everyone knows where they stand now for the rest of the season and we're
looking to kick on."
===========================
Simon Whaley will go straight into the City squad – with a score to
settle.
The 24-year-old Norwich winger was signing on loan today until January 2.
He has just finished a similar two-month spell with Rochdale, which
included a 2-1 home loss against tomorrow's opponents Accrington.
Whaley scored twice in nine appearances at Spot-land and Dale were keen
to extend his stay but claimed they could not afford to.
So City jumped in, with Stuart McCall
seeing Whaley as a useful weapon on either flank.
McCall said: "I'd put him in the Omar Daley and
Steve Jones category. He's right-footed but most of his success at
Preston in the past was on the left.
"He has got a good pedigree from playing a lot in the Championship and
at one stage there was talk of him going higher.
"Simon did really well at Rochdale and scored a terrific goal the other
week in their win at Bournemouth. He's comfortable on both sides and
hopefully he will be ideal for us."
Whaley left Preston for Norwich in the summer but found himself out of
favour with new boss Paul Lambert after the first six games.
His loan will take in the new-year home clash with Cheltenham but he is
cup-tied for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Whaley's arrival increases City's options but McCall has a slight doubt
over Michael Flynn, who has been troubled by a tight thigh.
And jinxed Michael Boulding broke his nose on his return to training yesterday in a collision with
Steve Williams
McCall said: "All the blood tests have come back clear and hopefully the
virus is on the way out. But five minutes in he clashed with big Willo
head to nose.
"But at least you can just get on with it with a broken nose. It's not
like a cheekbone or jaw."
Accrington have won nine of their last 15 games despite huge off-field
problems.
They avoided a winding-up order last week by clearing a £308,000 unpaid
tax bill.
McCall said: "They've got a close-knit spirit which has been forged by
the trouble surrounding the club. They've had this threat hanging over
them and I think that has strengthened their resolve."
===========================
From the Official BCFC Website...
CARLISLE UNITED JPT DETAILS
Posted on: Thu 19 Nov 2009
Bradford City's Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area Semi-Final at Carlisle United
is now confirmed to take place on Tuesday 15 December 2009.
The tie at Brunton Park will kick off at 7.30pm.
Ticket prices have been set at the following amounts.
Adults: £12.00
Senior Citizens: £8.00
Students: (with relevant ID) £8.00
Juniors: (under 18) £6.00
Under 11's: Free of charge*
* when accompanied by a paying adult.
Details on when the match tickets shall go on sale will be announced in due
course.
===========================
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