L2 v Darlington (h) W1-0 Feb 28th 2010

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


Next matches:
(A) Aldershot, Tuesday March 2, 2010. K.O. 7:45PM
(A) Rotherham, Saturday March 5, 2010. K.O. 3:00PM
(A) Port Vale, Tuesday March 9, 2010. K.O. 7:45PM.
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Stats: Bradford C - Darlington
Possession: 48 - 52%
Shots on target: 4 - 5
Shots off target: 12 - 4
Fouls: 8 - 11
Corners: 4 - 7

Ref: Karl Evans (Greater Manchester).
Yellow cards:
Bradford C: Flynn (15 min), McCammon (40).
Darlington: Diop (29), Gray (42).

Bradford C: 40. Matthew Glennon, 2. Simon Ramsden, 6. Matthew Clarke, 12.
Steve Williams, 28. Robbie Threlfall, 8. Lee Bullock, 4. Michael Flynn, 3.
Luke O'Brien (71), 9. Gareth Evans, 29. Mark McCammon (62), 17. James
Hanson.
SUBS: 13. Jon McLaughlin (GK), 7. Omar Daley (71), 10. Peter Thorne, 14.
Michael Boulding (62), 16. Jonathan Bateson, 24. Louis Horne, 25. Steve
O'Leary.

Darlington: 23. Shane Redmond, 22. Simon Madden, 6. Ian Miller, 33. Richie
Byrne (47), 20. Stuart Giddings, 24. Nathan Mulligan (57), 11. Gary Dempsey,
28. Gareth Waite, 12. Josh Gray (83), 30. Mor Diop, 19. Tadgh Purcell.
SUBS: 13. Nick Liversedge (GK), 4. Alan White (47), 14. Gary Smith, 15.
Curtis Main (83), 16. Danny Groves, 27. John McReady, 29. Patrick Deane
(57).



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Coca-Cola League Two
Bradford C (1) 1 Hanson 26
Darlington (0) 0
Att: 11,532

By Simon Parker

Mark McCammon was oblivious to the significance of the achievement.

As far as he was concerned, the on-loan striker had just done his bit to help pocket three points against the worst team in the division.

McCammon knew nothing of how much a win at Valley Parade meant to City.

"I'm really surprised at that," admitted the Gillingham targetman when informed of the four-month home hoodoo. "I didn't realise they'd had a run like that.

"But maybe that's a good sign that I didn't know. From what I've seen, there's a good togetherness in the camp and everyone's a bit more confident now."

So maybe, as Peter Taylor has been stressing, winning at home isn't such a big deal. McCammon's ignorance to the statistics showed that City's awful run of form in front of their own fans was not a major motivational tool of the manager's in the build-up.

The feelgood factor engendered by the eye-catching victory at Rochdale had overcome any fears of struggling to put their own house in order again.

All right, there were some nervy moments when we all wanted to look away – the split-second when the ball bounced up against Matt Clarke's hand in the penalty area being one of them.

But referee Karl Evans, a stickler for fussiness with most other decisions, gave nothing. That luck which Stuart McCall had wished for with ever-increasing desperation was there for all to see – all, except, Mr Evans and his assistants.

City did enough to win – and collect their second double of the season – though nobody was hanging out the celebration bunting. But given the previous eight Valley Parade results, a win's a win however ordinary.

And Taylor's decision to field a large-and-large front pair by pitting McCammon alongside James Hanson looked a good one.

Most expected McCammon's arrival at Apperley Bridge the day before would give Hanson the breather he has been needing in recent weeks.

Instead the new guy, admittedly rusty after three months without a start, shared the load with City's top scorer, who looked a lot brighter for it. For once, not everything in the air had to go through Hanson.

One training session and an hour's game-play is hardly the basis of a long-standing relationship. But McCammon, who had also denied any knowledge of Rotherham's reported interest, can see positive early signs ahead of the rush of matches this month.

He said: "I wasn't aware of how good Hanson was in the air. He's very strong and can hold the ball up well.

"No defender will like to play against us with our physical presence and hopefully we'll work on getting a bit more understanding as the games go on."

Taylor had praised Hanson's refusal to let his head drop when things go wrong. In the last two games, the big man has fluffed superb scoring chances – but still bounced back to have an assist in Gareth Evans' cracking result-sealer at Spotland.

Again on Saturday, Hanson rode early adversity to display a mental toughness that is admirable for someone who has been in the professional game for less than a season.

McCammon had already gone close with two ricochets as City made a fast start.

Richie Byrne slipped over trying to deal with a cross which took the striker by surprise in front of goal. Then he almost managed to divert a ball inside the near post with his right knee.

As the visitors wobbled, Michael Flynn sent Hanson bursting clear after ten minutes. It was a three-on-three break and a goal was surely on the cards this time; instead his touch was far too heavy and Darlo frantically slammed the door back shut.

Others might have drifted out of play after such a setback but Hanson showed again that he is made of sterner stuff and set about creating and finishing the game's decisive moment.

It was his well-guided pass that released Evans on the right wing – and his head that met the perfect cross and bulleted it beyond Shane Redmond.

A well-executed goal – even more so considering the heavy state of the pitch, which gets boggier week on week.

City still tried to play the ball around, with Flynn and Lee Bullock the fulcrum in midfield and Evans clearly relishing the freedom of his new role out wide.

The goal was not the only decent cross he whipped in during a first half which should have seen City home and hosed. Left back Robbie Threlfall, too, repeated the quality of set-piece delivery from his Rochdale debut and Clarke should have buried his free-kick just before the break.

Instead the scoreline remained close enough to keep Darlington interested and their own belief grew as City dropped off.

Matt Glennon denied Josh Gray and needed a couple of grabs at Gary Dempsey's 25-yard volley, while the defence had to be on their guard to negotiate a couple of awkward crosses in the six-yard box.

On came Michael Boulding and Omar Daley as City finally wrestled back control. McCammon's hour of hard toil finished with a fat lip from a whack by centre half Alan White.

"He looked like he'd taken a right-hander from Sonny Liston," laughed Taylor afterwards, "but that's showing my age there!"

City could have extended their advantage. Evans was denied by a double block – the second an outstanding save from Redmond – and Boulding twice missed chances, including a gilt-edged one in stoppage time.

But that first home win since the clocks went back had been secured. Now to start moving forward again and making up for lost time.

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Photos

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1979830,00.html

video
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8542160.stm

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McCammon will be on best behaviour at Aldershot

By Simon Parker »

Mark McCammon will have a point to prove at the Recreation Ground.

The big forward's last visit to Aldershot ended after just 13 minutes when he was sent off for Gillingham.

McCammon was shown a straight red for his challenge on keeper Nikki Bull and later lost an appeal against a three-match ban.

Play-off winners Gillingham and Peter Taylor's Wycombe were both beaten in Hampshire last season and Aldershot remain a tough nut to crack on their own patch.

Only Bury and Dagenham have won there this time, with the Daggers coming from two down to triumph a week ago.

Kevin Dillon's side recovered quickly though with an impressive win at Chesterfield at the weekend to remain three points off seventh spot.

Dillon said: "It is really tight in this division and I am still hoping to strengthen the squad between now and the end of the loan deadline.

"The players here are the reason why we are in the position we are in but it is about being realistic.

"We have half a chance of making the play-offs but I will say again that if we finish in the top ten then we have done well."

Dillon has recruited two new strikers – Omer Riza, who had been released by Shrewsbury, and former Cheltenham and Brentford targetman Damian Spencer. He has joined the Shots on loan from Kettering for the rest of the season.

With Marvin Morgan still struggling with a back strain, Dillon is likely to keep the same line-up that won at Saltergate.

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Lucky for us, Taylor's arrival has worked wonders
7:00pm Monday 1st March 2010

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By Simon Parker »

Matt Glennon believes that fortune is finally smiling on City.

Successive wins have lifted spirits ahead of tomorrow night's tricky trip to Aldershot.

Glennon has acknowledged the impetus that Peter Taylor's arrival has given City - and the luck that is starting to go their way.

The keeper said: "I noticed that on Saturday when Clarkey (Matt Clarke) handled in the box.

"The first couple of weeks I came to the club, the referee would have spotted that and we'd have drawn a game that we should have won.

"It was like that with the penalty at Bury in my first game. The guy obviously bought it and the referee gave them the decision but against Darlington we got that break at last.

"Football is a fantastic game to be in when you're winning. It keeps a great feeling around the club.

"The fans sing more from the start and we enjoy the games more.

"It's a long way off to get to the play-offs – that would be a massive ask – but although we're not in the top half of the table, everyone feels so much better if you are winning."

Taylor prides his teams on being tough to break down. And Glennon, fresh from his second clean sheet in City colours, reckons they have tightened up.

He said: "In the last five games, apart from Accrington, we've not given too much away. I've had a lot of work to do but not with shot-stopping.

"We're keeping a good line and playing really well at the back.

"I've only played eight games now in a year so I'm still getting my feet back under the table but I'm feeling better with each week.

"Accrington was a very poor game but I thought we were fantastic at Rochdale. It's been a good week since and everyone's a lot more upbeat.

"I had a good feeling we would beat Darlington, though I thought it would have been 3-0 or 4-0. But I'll take the three points and a clean sheet any day."

Taylor's input has been limited because of the congested fixture schedule but Glennon, who played for him at Hull, has noticed a few tweaks.

"It's difficult for him to get too many of his ideas across when we are playing every Saturday and Tuesday because you can't get long training sessions in but he's starting to explain how he wants us to play and we're looking better for it.

"It's slightly different from the last manager and at the moment it's working. All systems are great when you're winning."

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T&A Friday

By Simon Parker »

For Peter Taylor, there was always something missing at Wycombe.

He enjoyed the challenge and success of leading the Chairboys out of League Two last season.

If you want to go and play in front of 3,000 people, then you're not as ambitious as you should be

But that extra ingredient was lacking.

The impact off the field never changed.

In a ground that only holds 10,000, attendances hovered around half of that.

"We felt we improved the team but couldn't do that with the crowd," Taylor admitted. "Here it's very different."

Taylor will this afternoon get his first experience of the big-crowd scenario that was such a persuasive factor in

taking the City job for the rest of the season.

At his unveiling press conference, he waxed lyrical about the potential within. He talked about Wycombe's unbeaten

18-game start last year and wondered how a similar run with the Bantams would have the place packed to the rafters.

For all the impressive work put in at Rochdale on Tuesday, such a spectacular charge remains in the realms of

fantasy for now.

Taylor's immediate task is engineering ONE win in front of the home supporters.

Whipping boys Darlington would seem purpose-built for the task but then this is City at Valley Parade; nothing will

be taken for granted.

But Taylor has no time for talk of a fear factor from playing at home. He doesn't understand anyone whose game may

be inhibited by the grandiose surroundings.

"I want players to realise they are representing a very good club. If you get support like that, you are very

lucky.

"The team should look forward to it and be confident of playing in front of a crowd that size. That's the beauty of

Bradford City.

"If you want to go and play in front of 3,000 people, then you're not as ambitious as you should be."

The feelgood factor returned to the training ground after that unexpected success at Spotland.

There was more fun when the Sky cameras turned up at Apperley Bridge on Thursday to film the players taking the

"crossbar challenge" for next Saturday's edition of Soccer AM.

But there is a real bar to be cleared tomorrow.

Taylor expects to enjoy his first home win. Then he'll want to know what all the fuss was about.

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Posted on: Fri 26 Feb 2010
Following their superb victory over table toppers Rochdale, the
Bantams have been awarded the F&C Investments Performance of the Week
Award.

The League Managers Association five-man Performance of the Week
panel, comprising LMA Chairman Howard Wilkinson, Sir Alex Ferguson,
Joe Royle, Dave Bassett and Barry Fry, were in agreement that this
week's award should go to City following their excellent result
against high flying Rochdale in Coca-Cola League Two on Tuesday night.

City had travelled to Spotland as heavy underdogs, but returned back
to Valley Parade with a superb three points in the bag after a
brilliant performance.

Peter Taylor received a specially engraved crystal football in a
presentation on Friday, which will be screened on Sky Sports' Gillette
Soccer Saturday this Saturday (27 February).

The award is the Bantams first Performance of the Week Award this
season and it has come in only Taylor's second game in charge.

Following a bright start for Taylor's men, Matthew Clarke opened the
scoring for Bradford at Rochdale before Chris Dagnall leveled for the
home side on the stroke of half time.

City didn't let Dagnall's equaliser get the better of them though, as
Robbie Threlfall and Gareth Evans each scored stunning goals late on
to secure Bradford's shock win over the Coca-Cola League 2 leaders.

After the match, manager Peter Taylor was delighted with the
performance and result;

"I think the players put in a brilliant performance. They all worked
very hard for each other, chased lost causes and were together all
night.

"We were very bad on Saturday, but great tonight. If I'm honest after
Saturday I didn't think the players could perform like that but I'm
delighted they have done it and they deserve to be smiling again.

"We changed the shape for this game and I think it served the players
much better. They enjoyed playing in a more 4-4-2 better and I don't
think we'll change much for the weekend."

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 I nearly took my £1m out of City after yob fans attacked me

Bradford City's joint-chairman, Mark Lawn, today revealed he
considered pulling out of the club after his car was attacked by fans.

The aerial on his Bentley was snapped off and the side panels kicked
as he tried to leave the car park at Accrington where the team lost
last week.

Mr Lawn will ban the culprits from Valley Parade for life if he can
identify them.

But he admits the incident left him shaken – and seriously
questioning his involvement at the club.

Mr Lawn said: "The general abuse shocked me and I won't stand for
it. It's more than out of order. I talked to Julian (Rhodes) the
following day and said that I felt like taking the loan back. Then
Bradford City would be in administration – it's as simple as that.

"We have all these wonderful fans but there are always some who want
me out. But what would they do then?

"If I took my £1 million loan back, what do they think is going to
happen to the football club?

"Never mind my share investment capital, without that loan the club
would not exist."

Mr Lawn had arrived late at the Crown Ground because he was looking at
houses for new boss Peter Taylor. He was parked in a spot blocking
other cars and was therefore asked to leave five minutes early.

But as he moved off, he was targeted by a group of angry City
supporters.

He added: "One of them broke the aerial and another was kicking the
side of the car. Then one started smashing on the window and screaming
abuse at me.

"They were obviously frustrated and I will never stop any fan from
voicing their opinion. But do it in a sensible and adult manner.

"I'm a fan like them and I've two million more reasons to be
frustrated. But I don't go round kicking cars – what is the thought
process of these people?

"If the louts who did this don't come to me and explain their
actions then I will ban them from the club. And they will be banned
for life.

"I also intend to prosecute for criminal damage. I won't stand for
this sort of behaviour."

Mr Lawn, currently away for a few days, said he was quite happy to
meet disgruntled supporters at the club and discuss any issues they
have.

He said: "We have a procedure in place. If they write a letter to me
I will ask if they want to come in and talk personally.

"Then they will be given a copy of the report from that meeting and
what we have agreed to. I've had two fans who have done that recently.

"I'm not bothered if people don't like me. But I won't put up
with the thuggish behaviour I suffered last week.

"I've calmed down since but I'm still very angry. I won't take
abusing me, my family or my car. What are they hoping to achieve by
trying to drive me out?

"It took Julian two and a half years to coax me into the club and
I'm claret and amber when you cut me in half.

"If they think there's anybody else out there willing to put money
in, they've got a long wait."

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Brandon? A saga in the making?

Quote "Has anyone else heard that Brandon's contract has been paid up and he has left the club?"

Reply from Mike harrison (City gent)

"This would not surprise me as the talk amongst the press box last Tuesday evening at Rochdale was that Lawn had

said to one of those present that he'll never play for City again.
 
I chatted again to Stuart (McCall) last Thursday about it and he told me about how it was Lawn who drew up

Brandon's contract whilst he was away on holiday and our joint chairman apparently scored a spectacular own goal by

all accounts. Perhaps if Brandon goes I might be free to divulge what Stuart told me, but whilst he is still at

City it wouldn't be right of me to do so. Stuart did say that he play him in his last few matches in order to try

and get another club to come in and take him on loan, but there were no takers.
 
I also heard from another source that Brandon was very down about his situation at City and was looking to get

away. So if the club has come to an agreement to pay up his contract early he's free to try and find another club

now rather than sit out the rest of the season in the reserves."



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