L2 v Dag & Red (h) D3-3 March 27th 2010

Bradford City facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/thebantams?ref=ts


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

Coca-Cola League Two
Bradford C (1) 3 Hanson 2, 67, Kendall 82.
Dag & Red (0) 3 Nurse 69, Williams og 75, Oliver og 90+1.
Att: 11,064

Stats: Bradford C - Dag & Red
Possession: 39 - 61%
Shots on target: 7 - 4
Shots off target: 8 - 8
Fouls: 9 - 12
Corners: 8 - 7

Ref: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
Yellow cards:
Bradford C: O'Brien (74 min)
Dag & Red: Ogogo (88 min)

Bradford C: 40. Matthew Glennon, 5. Zesh Rehman, 12. Steve Williams, 32.
Luke Oliver, 28. Robbie Threlfall (90), 7. Omar Daley (60), 33. Adam Bolder,
4. Michael Flynn (67), 3. Luke O'Brien, 17. James Hanson, 9. Gareth Evans.
SUBS: 13. Jon McLaughlin (GK), 15. Ryan Kendall (60), 16. Jonathan Bateson,
19. James O'Brien (90), 20. Leon Osborne, 24. Louis Horne, 25. Steve O'Leary
(67).

Dag & Red: 1. Tony Roberts, 19. Abu Ogogo, 4. Scott Doe, 6. Mark Arber, 3.
Damien McCrory, 7. Danny Green (90), 28. Marlon Pack, 5. Yoann Folly (65),
33. Peter Gain, 14. Paul Benson, 10. Josh Scott (83).
SUBS: 30. Chris Lewington (GK), 9. Jon Nurse (65), 15. Anwar Uddin, 17.
Darren Currie (90), 22. Graeme Montgomery, 26. Tommy Tejan-Sie, 31. Phil
Walsh (83).

Next match: (A) Bournemouth, Saturday April 3, 2010. K.O. 3:00PM.




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

By Simon Parker (T&A)

Two own goals cost City victory in a remarkable afternoon at Valley Parade.

The Bantams should have claimed a third home win under Peter Taylor.

James Hanson scored twice before substitute Ryan Kendall looked to have
clinched it with a great finish eight minutes from time.

But Luke Oliver put through his own net - as fellow centre half Steve
Williams had already done - to earn Dagenham a point.

City roared out the blocks with their quickest goal at home this season.

The game was less than two minutes old as Robbie Threlfall's opening corner
was powered in by Hanson.

The confidence surged through the Bantams who carved out several good
chances with some crowd-pleasing football.

Daley was clearly enjoying himself, giving the Daggers defence the
run-around, and twice went close. Gareth Evans also had a couple of decent
efforts, though Daley was completely on his own and screaming for a pass
when he opted to shoot straight at keeper Tony Roberts.

Dagenham were pleased to go in only 1-0 down at half-time. Their best effort
was a glancing header from Josh Scott that landed the wrong side of the far
post.

Both sides could have scored within three minutes of the re-start.

Matt Glennon denied Mark Arber an equaliser with a block from point-blank
range. Within seconds, Hanson headed Daley's cross against the foot of the
post.

But Daley's day suddenly ended just before the hour when he pulled up during
a run along the touchline.

Hanson doubled City's advantage with another header from a Threlfall cross -
and another home win looked to be settled.

But Dagenham had other ideas.

Sub Jon Nurse quickly pulled one back then Scott burst clear of Steve
Williams but fired wide.

City's reprieve was short-lived as Williams deflected Arber's header into
his own net to equalise.

As the game continued to hot up, City dusted themselves off to notch a third
of their own.

Again it was started by Threlfall with a long free-kick upfield, again it
involved man of the match Hanson and Kendall superbly lifted his flick-on
over Roberts for a memorable first senior goal.

But City shot themselves in the foot with another own goal. Adam Bolder gave
the ball away and Nurse's cross was headed into the City net by the diving
Luke Oliver.

And Dagenham could have won it in stoppage time but Paul Benson headed over
from six yards.

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

Video and pictures

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/MatchGallery/0,,10266~2008061,00.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8592019.stm



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

Taylor makes 'sensible' contract demands

Peter Taylor's future at City will hinge on getting "the right
tools" from the club.

Taylor is talking with the board over a new contract for next season
and both parties expect a decision within three weeks.

He insists his own wages will not be a stumbling block.

The key issues surround budgets for players, training and preparation
plans, such as overnight stops for away games.

Taylor said: "I don't think my personal situation will be a problem
at all. Of course I want to commit myself to Bradford and to getting
promotion.

"It's more what we can do on players, how we prepare and so on. I
want to be competitive.

"I would love to get Bradford up a division at least and for that we
need to have the right tools.

"We need a bit more on the fitness side and things like gymnasiums. I
don't mean going crazily into costs.

"I'm also realistic. I've managed in the Conference as well as
other levels and I'm not looking to put Bradford into the red
ridiculously because of over-spending.

"I feel with a sensible budget and sensible tools of the field, we
could have a really good time. I can see what could be done here."

Taylor's spirits are high going into tomorrow's home clash with
Dagenham.

He felt the performance against an in-form Notts County was the best
in his nine games so far.

He added: "I've thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm hopeful with the
way we performed on Tuesday, the supporters are enjoying it because
they can see some real progress."

Meanwhile, City missed out on a deadline-day loan deal last night
after their striker target picked up an injury.

Taylor, who let Mark McCammon go back to Gillingham, will use the
remaining games for a good look at the forwards already on board.

He said: "If we had been going for promotion, I would have tried to
bring in another one, but we've got people I need to look at.

"Once Gavin Grant gets better he can play up there; Flynn can play
there; I need to look at Evans a bit more; we've got Ryan Kendall in
andJames Hanson, of course."

McCammon made four appearances for City but started only twice against
Darlington and Aldershot.



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

BANTAMS MAKE TAYLOR ASSURANCES

Bradford are poised to switch training grounds in a bid to secure manager
Peter Taylor on a longer-term contract at Valley Parade.

Taylor, 57, signed a short-term deal at Valley Parade in February until the
end of the season when installed as Stuart McCall's successor and the former
England caretaker-coach has sought a several assurances from the City board
before committing himself.

Joint-chairman Mark Lawn, who refused to confirm the new training site's
location said: "We're hopeful of negotiating something. This place has got
four or five quality pitches that aren't being used during the daytime and
only get played on once or twice a week.

"Peter wants to go somewhere that the lads can turn up, get changed and
showered there. He's said the changing facilities are not good enough at
Rawdon Meadows and I think he's probably right."

Lawn added: "Hopefully we've sorted his wages and personal terms and we're
nearly there with the budget for players.

"But it's also down to the fans. We're launching season tickets next week
and if we can sell 5,000, I can give him the budget that he wants."

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


CAMBRIDGE EXTEND NEILSON LOAN

Blue Square Premier outfit Cambridge United have extended the loan of
Bradford City winger Scott Neilson until the end of the season.

The 22-year-old joined Martin Ling's side on a one-month loan deal in March
and has played a pivotal role in Cambridge's recent unbeaten run.

Ling told the club's official website: "We're delighted to have him for rest
of season, he's been a major factor in our turnaround of form.

"We need him to continue in the same vein and help us finish the season in
style.

"He'll go back to Bradford for the last two weeks of their season and we'll
assess the situation in the summer."

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

OLIVER EXTENDS LOAN

By Simon Parker (T&A)

Defender Luke Oliver is set to extend his City loan from Wycombe until the
end of the season.

The current one-month deal was due to expire on Saturday.

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

LAWN: TIME TO TURF OUT THE OLD PLAYING SURFACE

By Simon Parker (T&A)

City have called in the experts to rescue the Valley Parade pitch.

World-renowned Sports Turf Research Institute, from Bingley, will offer help
on a surface that has been slammed by players and managers.

City are ready to dig up the pitch – which has been battered by extreme
winter weather – and start again at the end of the season. None of the local
league cup finals will be played there.

Joint-chairman Mark Lawn said: "I don't think the team look forward to
playing on that pitch. I don't think anyone would.

"But we're bringing in the turfing specialists to give us a consultation and
get the right ideas and advice. There's no reason why we can't get it better
– when we were in League One we won best pitch in the division.

"There's no disguising the weather over the last few months has been a lot
worse in the north. Look at the pitches at Rotherham, Rochdale, Bury and
anyone that's around us and then compare that with Aldershot."

Drainage has traditionally been a problem but Lawn admitted it would be far
too expensive to replace the foundations under the pitch.

"It's always going to be an issue unless we dig the whole thing up. But
1920s concrete seems to last.

"It wouldn't be a very easy job to do anyway and you'd be looking at figures
anything from £250,000 to £500,000, which obviously we can't afford.

"But we're going to get help from experts and we know we are getting the
best with this company. I'm sure they will tell us exactly what to do.

"(Commercial director) Roger Owen has had some dealings with them through
Morrison's and landfill sites. He knows the expertise coming in.

"Last year we had a lot of games on it after the end of the season. There
are only going to be two now – a community one and another for the Burns
Unit.

"We're not doing all the league cup finals. We need to give that pitch a
good eight weeks' rest, whatever we do."

Dagenham boss John Still was the latest critic of Valley Parade at the
weekend and called the conditions "treacherous".

City goal-scorer Ryan Kendall admitted there is little home advantage.

"The gaffer wants a passing team and wants us to get the ball down and
play," said the loan striker.

"We've got good players here but the pitch doesn't help the boys. But
there's nothing we can do about it this late in the season."

The Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), based at the St Ives Estate, have
a reputation around the globe.

This summer, they will be working as consultants on pitch maintenance at the
World Cup in South Africa.

They relayed the Wembley surface last year and have also worked on
Wimbledon, Twickenham, Ascot and Ireland's Croke Park.