Coca-Cola League Two
Macclesfield (2) 2 Daniel 4, Bencherif 41
Bradford City (0) 2 Hanson 58, Williams 66
Stats: Macclesfield - Bradford C
Possession: 50 - 50%
Shots on target: 5 - 9
Shots off target: 5 - 9
Fouls: 9 - 11
Corners: 7 - 14
Ref: Rob Shoebridge (Derbyshire). <==== SEE FOOTNOTE ABOUT REF.
Yellow cards:
Macclesfield: Tremarco (90+2)
Bradford C: Flynn (55).
Macclesfield: 1. Jon Brain, 16. Shaun Brisley, 20. Hamza Bencherif, 6. Paul
Morgan, 3. Carl Tremarco, 14. John Rooney, 7. Lee Bell, 8. Ross Draper, 17.
Colin Daniel, 11. Ben Wright, 9. Emile Sinclair.
SUBS: 13. Jose Veiga (GK), 12. Kyle Wilson, 26. Adam Roberts, 24. Vinny
Mukendi, 10. Stephen Reed, 18. Kristian Dennis, 19. Matthew Lowe.
Bradford C: 1. Simon Eastwood, 16. Jonathan Bateson, 5. Zesh Rehman, 12.
Steve Williams, 3. Luke O'Brien, 19. James O'Brien, 4. Michael Flynn, 11.
Chris Brandon (46), 26. Scott Neilson, 17. James Hanson, 9. Gareth Evans.
SUBS: 13. Jon McLaughlin (GK), 6. Matthew Clarke, 14. Michael Boulding (46),
18. Rory Boulding, 20. Leon Osborne, 21. Luke Sharry, 24. Louis Horne.
Next matches:
FA Cup1: (A) Notts County, Friday Nov 6, 2009, K.O. 7:45PM.
JPT (QF North): (H) Port Vale, Tuesday Nov 10, 2009. K.O. 7:45PM.
===========================
Coca-Cola League Two
Macclesfield (2) 2 Daniel 4, Bencherif 41
Bradford City (0) 2 Hanson 58, Williams 66
Att: 1,578
By Simon Parker
Bradford City fought back from two down to grab a point in a breathless
encounter at Macclesfield.
But they left Moss Rose feeling that it should have been more.
Their afternoon began in the worst possible fashion when Colin Daniel headed
in the softest of goals after four minutes.
City hit back strongly but could not make the pressure count. And they found
themselves 2-0 down when Hamza Bencherif scored just before half-time.
Macclesfield had blown a two-goal lead last week against Dagenham. And their
nerves were clear as City poured forward in the second half.
James Hanson rose highest to nod home from a James O'Brien corner and City
were level midway through the half when Steve Williams netted after keeper
Jon Brain spilled Michael Flynn's shot.
Macclesfield could have regained their lead when Ben Wright headed against
the post and Ross Draper drove into the side-netting when through.
But City kept roaring forward and twice could have clinched the fightback in
stoppage time.
First Zesh Rehman was denied on the line by Shaun Brisley and then Gareth
Evans smashed the bar against his old club.
===========================
Video + photo
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8316984.stm
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10266,00.html
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/4714005.McCall_justifies_aerial_bombardment_tactics/
McCall justifies aerial bombardment tactics
By Simon Parker »
Macclesfield 2 City 2
It was a bit like Jordan complaining about publicity-seekers obsessed about being in the papers.
Macc boss Keith Alexander had a pop after the game and claimed that only one side had tried to play football.
This was not Arsene Wenger bemoaning the lack of quality but Alexander, whose Silkmen are hardly the purveyors of the silky game.
True, Macclesfield are not quite as agricultural these days but to criticise City for a long-ball approach was slightly rich.
McCall, though, took Alexander's barb on the chin and even agreed to an extent.
It was not a match rich in quality and the rock-hard surface did not help. The exaggerated bounce felt like a throwback to the plastic pitches of 20 years ago.
It was not easy to get the ball down and pass. And once City discovered that James Hanson had the beating of Macc's defence to every aerial assault, the visitors realised they didn't need to.
McCall said: "We were direct for the simple reason that James dominated their centre half. Every time the ball went in the box, he created problems.
"There are times when you can play pretty passy, passy football and if you dominate the midfield that's great. But our danger came from putting balls in the box.
"You play to your strengths and it would have been folly not to keep getting the ball up to James because he was dominating."
Four Macc players, including City old boy Paul Bolland, had been ruled out the night before after a bout of vomiting.
But McCall was the one feeling pig-sick after watching his side gift them a shocking opening goal. Steve Williams didn't deal with a long punt downfield from keeper Jonny Brain and Colin Daniel caught Simon Eastwood off his line to nudge home almost apologetically.
It was an awful piece of defending and right under the eyes of the stunned away support, who were once again pointing fingers at a soft centre.
City spent the rest of the half thrashing away at the Macclesfield box but the ball wouldn't go in.
Hanson twice nodded wide and other shots from Gareth Evans and Chris Brandon were blocked.
Macc's nervy backline even got in on the act, with Paul Morgan a slither away from back-passing into his own net.
Scott Neilson looked on his game from the start.
It has been an up and down spell for the winger as he gets to grips with the pro game.
Neilson got little change out of Dagenham's Scott Griffiths in City's last away outing but he gave left back Carl Tremarco the run-around on Saturday.
Every possession threatened something and he was at the centre of the best moment of football of the afternoon.
Taking the ball just inside the home half, Neilson surged forward before swapping passes with Michael Flynn. He received the return inside the penalty area with only Brain to beat but the keeper made the one good save of his otherwise unconvincing afternoon.
City were in control but their defence still creaked at times and Luke O'Brien had to clear off the line from Ross Draper.
Macc then added salt to the wounds with a second just before half-time.
It was a well-worked move from a throw-in with one-time City trainee Emile Sinclair's driven cross converted by Algerian Hamza Bencherif. But that did not make it easier to stomach as City contemplated a two-goal deficit at the break.
The message in the dressing room remained upbeat. McCall kicked backsides because he knew the result was far from settled. Dagenham had recovered the same deficit at Moss Rose the previous week and sooner or later City's chances had to go in.
Brandon, troubled by illness, had run himself into the ground. Having not trained on Friday, he was running on empty and Michael Boulding came on in a switch to 4-4-2.
Immediately City were back on it, with Brain spilling a Hanson header. Eastwood also denied Sinclair at the other end – a save that was to prove critical in the long run.
Within a minute, City had a foothold back in the game. Hanson eased above Shaun Brisley and nodded home James O'Brien's corner to spark jubilation on the terrace behind the goal.
The fans' volume hit maximum as City poured forward. And eight minutes later they were level.
Again Flynn could claim an assist as his shot proved too hot to handle for Brain and Williams tapped in the rebound. But Zesh Rehman also deserves a credit for keeping the ball alive on the touchline and creating the space for Flynn to let fly.
Now the scene was set for City to complete an Accrington-style revival. O'Brien, Boulding, Neilson and Hanson were all close to finding that elusive third.
Then Macclesfield nearly shook City with a brief revival of their own as Ben Wright headed against the post and Draper drilled into the side-netting after Jon Bateson did just enough to put him off when clear.
But the game finished in the Macc penalty area with City doing everything but scoring. Even in stoppage time, Rehman's prod was dug out from the line by Brisley and Evans smashed a deflected shot onto the bar.
Hence the down-trodden reaction at the final whistle. The team coach heading back along the M62 seethed with frustration.
McCall said: "I had to give them a kick up the backside at half-time. I genuinely felt we would win the game because I knew we'd have half a dozen chances.
"I told the players to go out and show character. It was about getting heads up, chests out and having a right go and give them credit for doing that.
"Chance-wise, pressure-wise, territorial-wise, everything-wise we deserved to win the game."
===========================
We've got to tighten up at back, concedes McCall
By Simon Parker »
Stuart McCall wants City to take a stand and stop leaking goals.
The Bantams have conceded 18 on the road so far – the most in League Two.
And next up is an FA Cup first-round trip to Notts County, the division's leading scorers.
Having been hit for five there on opening day, City know all too well about County's lethal form at Meadow Lane, where they are unbeaten.
McCall will put his players through some intensive build-up on the training ground but he admits it is down to them to deliver on the pitch.
He said: "We can't keep conceding two goals every game. We are always a threat going forward but we have got to stand up to things better.
"We lost five at Notts County and four at Cheltenham but then we've also had three 2-2 draws. We've got to tighten up.
"It's going to be a tough test on Friday with their goal-scoring record at home. We'll be working through the week on defending as best we can but once you are out there, players have got to make their own decisions.
"It's about every aspect of play. In the first place it's stopping the initial crosses from coming into the box, then it's dealing with the cross or the second phase of possession when the ball is in and around the goalmouth.
"But sometimes you can't legislate for mistakes and wrong decisions, like the first goal on Saturday.
"It was just a kick from the keeper straight down the pitch but we let it bounce and didn't react well enough."
City have kept four clean sheets in 18 outings and only one away from Valley Parade, in the goalless draw at Morecambe.
McCall added: "That's why the Hereford win the other week was so encouraging. We need more 1-0s like that.
"Sometimes you've got to be realistic and give credit to the goal that has been scored.
"Nearly every manager can pick holes and say the defending could have been better but when Calvin Zola beats you with a goal like his one for Crewe, there's not much you can do about it. It's just we've got to do more to make it difficult for teams to score against us."
City's back four have come under fire from fans, especially keeper Simon Eastwood (pictured) and his centre halves. But McCall insisted the whole team have to take responsibility.
The City chief added: "It works both ways. Just as we need to concede less, we also have to make more of our scoring chances to take the pressure off when we're defending.
"It's a group thing. I'm not point the finger at any individual. We are a team and we defend and attack as a team."
===========================
From the Official BCFC Website...
GREAT PHOTO OPPORTUNITY WITH FA CUP
Posted on: Tue 27 Oct 2009
A shoot out with the FA Cup for Bradford City fans is to take place at
Valley Parade.
The goal is to raise £3,000 for the club's £100,000 Burns Unit Appeal, which
is backed by the Telegraph & Argus.
Up to 150 fans are also being offered the chance to have their photograph
taken with the Bradford-designed trophy, the first winners of which in 1911
were, of course, Bradford City.
David Baldwin, the club's operations director, said: "That's why we're
charging £19.11p per person. They'll have a ten by eight photograph
alongside a life-size model of Jimmy Spiers - scorer of the goal in the 1-0
victory over Newcastle United - and his winner's medal.
"Everybody will also receive a certificate of authenticity signed by Stuart
McCall.
"We are limited to 150 places because the trophy will be at the ground for
three hours , between 3.00pm and 6.00pm, on Wednesday 11 November."
Later, the trophy will take pride of place at Bradford Cathedral at an event
in which nine City players killed in the First World War, including two of
the 1911 team, will be remembered.
The Burns Unit Appeal has now reached more than £10,000 of its £100,000
target to save the unit at Bradford University from possible closure.
It is hoped to reach the target by next May - the 25th anniversary of the
Bradford City fire disaster which cost 56 lives and led to nearly 200 others
suffering serious injuries. City supporter and ardent railway historian Mark
Neale will be donating a sum from the sales of his 2010 calendar, called
Yorkshire Steam, to further boost the appeal.
He said: "Baildon, Idle, Ilkley and Snaygill near Skipton show how steam
locomotion used to be in the area.
"I have a mix of photographs from 1948 in the calendar. I have also used
locations on the Worth Valley, the Embsay Line, the York National Railway
Museum and the North Yorkshire Moors railway for more up to date scenes.
"The fire disaster should never be forgotten. One of the positives that came
out of it was the Burns Research Unit; all City fans have a strong reason to
support it."
The calendar is on sale at Saltaire Bookshop, where Mr. Neale is presenting
an evening of railway stories and poetry on November 26, starting at 7.30pm.
Anyone interested in having their picture taken with the famous cup should
contact the club on (01274) 773355 or e-mail Mr. Baldwin on davidbaldwin
@the-bantams.co.uk
===========================
From the Official BCFC Website...
JAMES O'BRIEN EARNS EXTENDED CONTRACT
Posted on: Thu 29 Oct 2009
James O'Brien has signed a new 18-month deal with Bradford City.
The young midfielder's originally signed a three month contract with the
Bantams in August, which was due to expire on Saturday.
But Stuart McCall has moved to tie down the services of the energetic
midfielder until the end of next season after being impressed by O'Brien's
effort so far this term.
The news of O'Brien putting pen to paper on a longer deal be a big boost to
the Bantams boss, especially given the fact Lee Bullock and possible
midfield replacement Simon Ramsden are both ruled out of Saturday's trip to
Macclesfield.
The Dublin born livewire made his first senior appearance with City during
the Bantams Carling Cup 1st round tie at Nottingham Forest in August, before
earning his first start of the campaign at Cheltenham Town later on in the
month.
O'Brien instantly made an impact at Cheltenham's Abbey Business Stadium by
scoring the first professional goal of his young career and the Bantams
first of the season with only two minutes on the clock.
He has gone on to feature heavily in the heart of the Bantams midfield so
far this season and with his future at Valley Parade now sorted, will now be
keen to secure a regular slot in McCall's starting lineup.
===========================
16 PORT VALE COACHES TO BRADFORD
Port Vale will be bringing 16 coach loads of supporters to see the
Johnstone's Paint Trophy clash against Bradford City on November 10.
15 coaches were planned by Port Vale but, with a waiting list of 40, an
anonymous supporter agreed to pay for the 16th.
===========================
Paraders Heritage badges
A number of limited edition quality enamel badges have been comissioned,
featuring heritage Bradford City designs. Sales profits will go towards
BCFC's current Burns Unit fundraising effort and you can order by emailing
badges@paraders.co.uk
Download this pdf file to view all badges.
http://www.bcst.co.uk/documents/Paraders_heritage_badges.pdf
A webpage is also planned for the near future http://www.paraders.co.uk/
Fire Commemoration and League Fixture badges
Jeremy White has commissioned two sets of fire commemoration badges, both
of which will be on display at the BCST AGM on Tuesday Nov 3rd.
The first will be a large 38mm antiqued metallic badge based on the fire
sculpture which is affixed to the side of the main stand at Valley Parade.
Only 56 badges will be produced and they will sell for £15, which should
ensure that with each badge sold, not only is the purchaser buying a
collectors item, but also making a significant donation to the Burns Unit.
The second set will again be metallic but smaller (25mm). These will
feature The Bradford City logo and appropriate wording around the edge.
The badges will be produced in silver, antiqued silver, gold and antiqued
gold. The four badges again will be limited to just 56 of each type. The
badges will cost £20 for the set of 4. Again all profits will be donated
to the Burns Unit.
Jeremy has also produced a limited set of fixture badges which can be
viewed at
http://www.bradfordcitybadges.co.uk/#/limited-edition-badges/4527107070
Around 10 sets are still available and profits will be donated to BCFC.
===========================
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