L2 v Cheltenham Town (h) D1-1 Jan 2nd 2010

Bradford C (1) 1 O'Brien 35
Cheltenham (0) 1 Richards pen 54
Att: 10,831

54 min. Williams sent off (2nd yellow)

Stats: Bradford C - Cheltenham
Possession: 52 - 48%
Shots on target: 5 - 4
Shots off target: 7 - 3
Fouls: 17 - 6
Corners: 6 - 5

Ref: Craig Pawson (Sheffield).
Red card:
Bradford C: Williams 53 min. 2nd yellow.
Yellow cards:
Bradford C: Williams (38 min.), Williams (53), Ramsden (71).
Cheltenham: Labadie (79).


Half way comparisons:
Last season P23 W11 D6 L6 F40 A27 GD+13 Pts 39 Position 3rd.
This season: P23 W7 D9 L7 F33 A37 GD-4 Pts 30 Position 13th.

Next match: (A) Port Vale. Sat. January 9, 2010. K.O. 3:00PM.



===========================

Pictures
http://www.ctfc.com/page/GalleryIndex/0,,10434,00.html

Video
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8438502.stm




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City D1-1 v Cheltenham - Report
Posted by: "Stuart Williamson" stuart@jantex-irt.com   hb380
Sat Jan 2, 2010 10:54 am (PST)


Coca-Cola League Two
Bradford C (1) 1 O'Brien 35
Cheltenham (0) 1 Richards pen 54
Att: 10,831

By Simon Parker

A new year but a feeling of Groundhog Day at Valley Parade this afternoon.

For the third game running, City were reduced to ten men as Steve Williams
became the sixth player to see red.

Unlike Matt Clarke in the previous game against Shrewsbury, Williams could
have no complaints for his two bookings.

And the second, for pulling back Justin Richards, conceded the penalty which
allowed the Cheltenham striker to equalise nine minutes into the second
half.

Jon McLaughlin, playing his first game of the season in goal, got a hand to
it but couldn't keep the ball out.

It meant another afternoon of immense frustration for Stuart McCall and the
Valley Parade crowd.

City had been on top for the first half and could have put the game out of
sight.

Chris Brandon, the liveliest performer in the opening 45 minutes, had a
fierce shot turned away and Michael Flynn blasted over.

The pressure produced a goal ten minutes before half-time when James O'Brien
scored after a flap by keeper Scott Brown.

But City allowed Cheltenham back into it after the break and paid the price
when Williams tugged back Richards.

James Hanson shot just over deep into stoppage time but there were boos at
the final whistle.

City have still not won at home since October and they remain in the bottom
half. The midwinter of discontent continues.



Bradford C: 13. Jon McLaughlin, 2. Simon Ramsden, 5. Zesh Rehman, 12. Steve
Williams, 3. Luke O'Brien, 19. James O'Brien (59), 8. Lee Bullock, 4.
Michael Flynn, 11. Chris Brandon (81), 9. Gareth Evans, 17. James Hanson.
SUBS: 7. Omar Daley (81), 14. Michael Boulding, 18. Rory Boulding, 21. Luke
Sharry, 24. Louis Horne (59), 26. Scott Neilson, 30. Matthew Convey (GK).

Cheltenham: 1. Scott P Brown, 19. David Pipe, 5. Michael Townsend, 16.
Ashley Eastham, 2. David Bird, 34. Joss Labadie, 10. David Hutton (80), 8.
Andy Gallinagh, 7. Michael Pook, 39. Julian Alsop, 9. Justin Richards.
SUBS: 6. Drissa Diallo, 12. Kyle Haynes, 18. Jack Durrant, 22. Theo Lewis,
30. Jake Lee, 38. Barry Hayles (80), 40. Barry Richardson (GK).






===========================
Mark Lawn's programme notes for Cheltenham Town

Good afternoon and welcome to the Coral Windows Stadium for today's
match against Cheltenham Town. The fixture computer traditionally
arranges for a reasonably local encounter for these festive occasions,
so I can sympathise with Cheltenham who have had to make an unusually
long trip for today's game. We extend our usual warm welcome to the
players, supporters and officials from Cheltenham who have made it here
this afternoon.

It has fallen to me to write the first programme notes of the New Year
so I would like to take this opportunity to say I hope you had a good
Christmas and wish you all the best for a happy, prosperous and
successful 2010.

In my last programme notes for the Rotherham United game, I suggested
that come the end of the festive period we would have a better idea of
our standing in the league having played against some of the sides
strongly fancied for promotion.

Due to printing deadlines, I am writing these notes ahead of the date of
the Aldershot game so it is still too early to be able to draw any
conclusions. Hopefully, however, we will have gone on to pick up some
more points over the festive season that will stand us in good stead to
kick on during January. Let's all remember that the business part of the
season really takes place from around March so it's important that we
are at least in touch with the play-off places by that stage in order
for us to benefit from a strong end to the campaign.

At the time of writing, Stuart is aware that there is a little bit of
money available for him to look to strengthen the side during the
January transfer window. However, he has not yet come to us with any
particular targets so it remains to be seen what there may be in terms
of comings and goings over this period.

To matters off the pitch, and, as Julian mentioned in the programme
notes for the last home game, we have been delighted by the great
response to our Christmas season ticket offer. We are currently about
50% up on sales compared with 12 months ago and I would like to thank
all the supporters who have shown their commitment by renewing their
tickets at this stage. This deal obviously offers tremendous value for
money and we are pleased that it has once again proved popular with fans.

The start of a new year always brings renewed optimism and a chance for
a fresh start. Here's hoping we can kick off 2010 in winning style.

Enjoy the game

Mark Lawn

Joint chairman

===========================

McCALL'S WISH FOR 2010

Stuart McCall could be excused for waving off the old year with two fingers.

The City chief admits it was his annus horribilis after 12 months that saw
the side slip from an automatic promotion place to the bottom half of the
table.

But he has no aim of looking back with any regrets as he plots a second-half
revival to get back into the play-off reckoning.

"We know the last decade has been a really hard one for Bradford City
supporters, Julian (Rhodes) and his family, and people who have been at the
club a long time," said McCall.

"Every City fan will be looking to see the back of the noughties.

"For me personally, football-wise, I have slammed the door shut on 2009.

"I'm not going to grumble about anything life-wise because obviously it
doesn't compare with people in Afghanistan and all the other horrors in the
world. But in football terms, I'll be delighted to see the back of it.

"To not even reach the play-offs from where we were last season and what
that cost us ultimately financially was a massive disappointment."

McCall is looking for City to turn over a new leaf for the new year with a
much-needed home win over Cheltenham.

With three Valley Parade losses on the bounce, three points is essential to
restore flagging morale among supporters.

Jon McLaughlin will start in goal while City continue to chase a loan
replacement for Simon Eastwood, who has gone back to Huddersfield.

McCall was close to bringing in one experienced stopper who seemed keen to
come - until he was quoted the player's wage demands. But he is happy to go
with McLaughlin in the interim.

He added: "Jonny is the type of kid who will take it in his stride.

"He's composed and assured with good maturity and I'm sure he will be
looking forward to the opportunity.

"It's a little bit of administration confusion with Easty because I assumed
he would be here to January 2 but I've no worries about throwing Jonny in.

"He's done okay in the reserves this season so we'll see how it goes."

The manager's mobile has been red hot with sympathetic calls from managers
and former players castigating Matt Clarke's red card. But McCall has vowed
to stop talking about referees and "things outside my control".

He said: "All I wish for this year is that we get what we deserve.
Whatever's gone is in the past and there is nothing we can do about it.

"We know we should have more points but we haven't. Take out the Notts
County and Rochdale games and look at our other defeats - and we were
competing well in all of them.

"But from now to the end of the season, if I come off the pitch and look at
the lads in the dressing room and we've got what we've deserved, then that's
all I can ask."

===========================
...and more...

STUART DELIVERS HIS HALF TERM REPORT

By Simon Parker (T&A)

Nothing is won or lost in January.

That is the message that Stuart McCall will keep drumming in to anyone who
cares to listen.

The City boss has reached the season's halfway point by stressing exactly
that. It's only half-time.

And those who have watched the Bantams will know how much can change in the
second half.

City's current state does not make comfortable reading. A bottom-half
position – seven places and six points behind the last play-off spot – is
hardly one of strength to take into the new year.

Two more winless home games since Christmas has increased the impression
that once again there will be no May fairy-tale at Wembley. Realistically,
another 40 points will be required to have a shot.

Early season ticket sales for next term indicate the fans will still be back
in numbers come what may. But the nay-sayers suggest that many have
consigned this one to the bin, particularly with the awful record at Valley
Parade.

McCall understands the disappointment but not the hurry to label the current
campaign as another failure.

"We're only halfway through the season," he said. "We've still got 23 games
to go, it's not as if we're down to the last ten.

"We haven't got the points we would like at this stage. We should be on more
than 30. We've got to start going on little runs and picking up wins on the
bounce. Runs like winning two games out of three would make a big
difference.

"From a personal point of view, the last three games have been difficult.

"Had we got to half-time still 0-0 at Carlisle it could have been very
different, even down to ten men. You only have to look at the first 20
minutes in the second half when we had a real go.

"Then there was the double whammy against Shrewsbury with the penalty and
sending off. And the other day, we lost a goal that naturally jolts you and
went down to ten men again.

"It's an uphill battle for anyone to play 45 minutes with a man down. We've
had that for three games and no team can get through that, never mind us."

McCall's frustration is clear. He knows that in such a results-driven
business, the only currency is wins.

His special status with City fans will not cushion him forever if the
position does not improve.

"Of course we should be on more points. If we had been sat in eighth or
ninth a couple of points behind (the play-off places) that would be a fair
enough assessment.

"I'm not happy with where we are but it's too early to be doom and gloom.

"Coming into work every day, we can't be thinking that the world's against
us. You've got to keep endeavouring to do the right thing.

"Everybody on the playing side and on my coaching staff are up for the
challenge.

"It's a big challenge, no doubt about it, but while there are so many points
there, we've got things to fight for."

City could be close to a new loan keeper by the end of the week. McCall is
also looking forward to seeing a couple of familiar faces back in the frame.

Peter Thorne should be training again in the next few days, winter weather
permitting, now that his on-going hamstring troubles have eased.

And Steve O'Leary, recovering from his broken toe, hopes to finally prove
more than a one-game wonder after signing a month's extension to his
short-term deal.

McCall added: "Last season a lot of people accused certain players of
letting us down. I don't think anyone can say that about the squad this
season.

"With the changes we've had, I think they've put their all into it.
Supporters cannot point the finger at anybody.

"I'm happy with the endeavour and effort. Certain things have not gone our
way but we will do our utmost to get this club back up the league."

The current side is a far cry from the one that choked so spectacularly last
spring. The slashed wage bill meant McCall had to explore an unproven market
of non-league players and youngsters freed by Premier League clubs.

They have brought a fresh enthusiasm but, inevitably, there have been
occasions when the rawness has been exposed.

That was certainly the case against Cheltenham, who pinched a point with a
penalty from their only shot on target after Steve Williams was given his
marching orders.

"Inexperience and naivety has cost us at times," added McCall. "It's going
to happen with young players, as long as they do learn from their mistakes.

"There were two things I stressed at half-time. I warned Willo not to give
the referee the chance of sending him off and I told James O'Brien, when he
received the ball from one full back to get it straight out to the other.

"We should have been on a good attack, with Luke O'Brien flying down the
outside, but instead James O'Brien cuts back in and gets caught for the
penalty and Willo is sent off.

"It's all right being young and saying we're learning but you have to prove
that. You've got to take things on board.

"We know we've got to put a group of wins together and aren't naïve enough
to think it will be easy.

"But, and I'm fed up saying it, we've only been out the game twice against
Notts County and Rochdale. It's not as though we are a million miles away.
It's not as though we aren't making chances and getting battered by teams.

"There have been five shots on target against us in the last 180 minutes and
we've conceded four goals. Unfortunately, that's the way it is at the
minute.

"We've got to believe in the next few games that things will go our way.
Like Shrewsbury have done, we'll get that rub of the green.

"One thing we certainly won't do is feel sorry for ourselves. We'll go into
the next game with a drive and determination to get three points."


===========================
Stephen O'Leary signs new Bradford City deal  
 
Bradford midfielder Stephen O'Leary has been given another month to earn himself a longer deal at the club.

The 24-year-old joined the Bantams on a five-month contract in August after a trial but has made just one appearance.

The former Hereford and Luton player broke down in the warm-up before Bradford's home game against Lincoln in August and has not featured since.

The Irishman, who has also played for Tranmere, has now signed until the start of February to prove his fitness.

 


===========================
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