L2 v Hereford (a) L0-2 March 20th 2010

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Stadium: Edgar Street, England
Attendance: 1,926
Match Time: 11:00 ET
Official(s):
D McDermidd (Referee)

Hereford: Bartlett ,Green ,Ryan Valentine ,Darren Jones ,Rose ,Lunt ,Pugh ,McCallum (Jervis ,70 ) ,McQuilkin
,Manset (Leon Constantine ,71 ) ,Young
Subs not used: Adamson,Done,Gwynne,Sonko,Preston,

Bradford: Glennon ,Oliver ,Clarke ,Threlfall ,Bateson ,Flynn ,Bullock (McCammon ,59 ) ,Grant (Daley ,51 ) ,Bolder
,Evans (Kendall ,77 ) ,Hanson
Subs not used Rehman,Luke O'Brien,McLaughlan,O'Neill,

Bookings: Bullock ,Oliver (Bradford)

Goals
Manset 33
Jervis 81

MATCH STATS
                    Hereford Bradford City
Shots (on Goal)         13(7)     15(6)
Fouls             5     16
Corner Kicks         7     6
Offsides         5     1
Time of Possession    50%     50%
Yellow Cards         0     2
Red Cards         0     0
Saves             7     4





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From ESPN
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=269645&cc=5901

Hereford ended a run of four consecutive home defeats with a 2-0 victory over Bradford in an entertaining contest

at Edgar Street.
Frenchman Mathieu Manset headed home their first in the 33rd minute, with teenage striker Jake Jervis snapping up

the second in the 81st minute.

Eighteen-year-old Jervis, who has joined Hereford on a month's loan from Birmingham, lobbed the ball over the top

of the Bradford goalkeeper on his debut.

Play switched from end to end in the first half, with both goalkeepers Adam Bartlett and Matt Glennon making good

saves.

Hereford keeper Bartlett palmed away a shot from Gavin Grant and then made a flying save to stop a header from

Gareth Evans.

Bradford stopper Glennon also saved a close-range effort from Darren Jones on the goal-line before Hereford took

the lead.

Full-back Ryan Valentine headed a corner from Marc Pugh back across the Bradford goalmouth for Manset to head home

from two yards.

After the break both sides missed early chances, with Pugh rifling wide of the near post while down at the other

end Bradford's midfielder Evans drilled over from eight yards with only Bartlett to beat.

Hereford survived a let-off when Bradford substitute Mark McCammon headed a corner from Robbie Threlfall onto the

foot of the post.

Jervis then clinched the victory when he lobbed the ball over the top of Glennon from 10 yards.

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T&A


Lacklustre City stumbled to defeat in the wind and rain at Hereford this afternoon.

The Bulls had lost their previous four home games - but they deserved to put that wretched run to bed in an

entertaining contest.

City had made a decent start with two good chances in the first six minutes.

James Hanson put a free header wide from the game's opening corner and Gavin Grant was thwarted by the slightest of

touches from home keeper Adam Bartlett.

But City failed to push on for a while as Hereford grabbed control. Peter Taylor's frustration on the touchline

resulted in a warning from referee Danny McDermid.

It was a very open encounter with headers at both ends well saved to deny Gareth Evans and Darren Jones.

But Hereford went in front after 33 minutes as Mathieu Manset bundled home from a yard after City failed to deal

with Marc Pugh's corner.

Pugh nearly made it 2-0 straight after the break before City - playing into the driving rain - should have levelled

from close range. Luke Oliver's shot was blocked but Evans showed no composure as he lashed the rebound over the

bar.

Hereford old boy Robbie Threlfall denied Manset a second, getting his head in the way of a goal-bound effort from

the Frenchman.

Evans volleyed over from sub Mark McCammon's flick-on. Then McCammon's header from a corner bounced against the

post as City chased an equaliser.

But despite enjoying more possession after the break, City did not trouble Bartlett enough.

And on-loan Birmingham teenager Jake Jervis killed them off nine minutes from time, bagging a debut goal with a

clever finish after Bartlett's wind-assisted free-kick had deceived the City defence.

To add to Peter Taylor's miserable day, Lee Bullock received his tenth booking - and will miss the next two games.


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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article7069717.ece

TWO FOOTBALL League clubs have been fined for failing to abide by the FA's doping control regulations, but that is

just the tip of the iceberg, with dozens of players missing out-of-competition tests in England.

QPR and Bradford City have been fined £6,000 and £1,000 respectively for repeated failure to provide accurate

information to sampling officers trying to locate players they want to test.

It is prohibited for a player to miss three tests in an 18-month period — anybody who does so faces a lengthy ban.

The failure of a club to give the FA accurate information concerning the whereabouts of players is also prohibited.

Click the link above for full story


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From thursday

Chris Brandon has also had his contract terminated today.

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Lawn: Taylor contract talks will take time

City are ready to step up contract talks with Peter Taylor.

The manager's short-term deal runs until the end of May and fans have
been calling for the club to pin him down for next season.

A contract is more than just what wages we are going to pay Peter

Taylor admitted he has "got the bug" at Valley Parade and has been
busy rebuilding the squad with six new signings.

But joint-chairman Mark Lawn stressed that plenty will have to be
agreed to secure the boss for the long-term.

He said: "I think we will be talking to Peter very soon and seeing
what he wants.

"But I need to make it clear that a contract is more than just what
wages we are going to pay Peter.

"He's going to want a budget and to make sure we can fulfil his
requirements. We've got to wait to sit down and talk to him about
that and see where we go from there.

"Talks have started about player budgets, not about his wages.

"He's coming back to us with what he thinks would be a realistic
figure to help us get promotion.

"Peter's got it in his own mind who he'd like to keep and who he
would let go."

Lawn has been impressed with City's progress since the former England
under-21 coach took the helm. They have won four of the last six games.

"There is a definite improvement in the team in general both on an
off the pitch, which is quite impressive. He's doing a very good job.

"Peter has got us well organised and defending well. That always
gives you a chance.

"Once you stop the goals going in, it gives you something to build on.

"He's got immense contacts within the game. People know Peter and
are willing to help him.

"I don't think we can knock any of the players he's brought in.
They certainly seem to have improved the side wherever they've
slotted into.

"All parties need to be happy with what's happening. From our point
of view we're very happy with what Peter is doing."

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TOP TEN HIT THORNE WITH NO REGRETS

By Simon Parker (T&A)

Dean Windass, in his modest manner, claimed City's No 10 shirt was a big one
to fill.

Well, for two seasons at least, it fitted Peter Thorne a treat.

He may have scored less than half the 87 goals that put his predecessor
third on the all-time club list.

But the 32 that Thorne rattled in after joining from Norwich City in July
2007 were bagged at a prolific rate of one every other game.

He rattled them in bursts despite the constant curse of injuries.

Remember, it took him three months of the 2007/08 campaign to finally break
his duck against Chester in the FA Cup.

But then the goals started flooding.

He netted seven in a seven-game blast early in the new year, including a
hat-trick against Notts County - opponents he always relished playing.

And Thorne made a flying start to last season with eight goals from the
opening seven matches as City powered to the top of the League Two table.

Sadly neither could maintain that momentum.

His double in the final, meaningless home game against Rotherham last April
turned out to be his swansong on the City scoresheet. In hindsight, maybe
Thorne should have called that it rather than being persuaded back for one
last unsuccessful hurrah by former manager Stuart McCall.

But in the week that the 36-year-old waved goodbye and hung up his playing
boots, he refused to see it that way.

"I've no regrets about trying to carry on," he said.

"If I had packed up last year it would have been niggling away in the back
of mind that I should have played on one more.

"But that's it now. I've got to listen to my body and it's saying I've had
enough.

"I've been out that long with my hamstring and I've got a problem with my
knee now that might need an operation. You can't keep fighting it.

"When you aren't 100 per-cent fit you don't do yourself justice.

"You've got to think about quality of life."

Through all the setbacks - and there were many - Thorne was always a chirpy
figure; as popular with the Valley Parade staff as his team-mates.

He enjoyed practicing his Portuguese with the chef as much as passing on
playing tips to the club's young trainees.

It's no surprise that Peter Taylor has offered him the chance to help with a
bit of training.

And even if he does not take that up, expect Thorne to be regularly knocking
round the place.

"I've loved it at Bradford and the way I've been treated.

"I've just got great memories about the place; about the fans and the people
who work there.

"The most disappointing thing is that we didn't go up. I wish that could
have happened last season, not just for me but all the lads, the supporters
and for Stuart.

"Bradford made me enjoy my football again and I'll always be grateful for
that.

"If I was leaving a club who were struggling it would be harder. But I
genuinely believe Peter Taylor will do a great job.

"I think they've got a big chance of going up next season. It's just a shame
I couldn't be with them."

City will not feel the same without a Thorne in the side.

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Misfiring players vulnerable to axe

More grim days like Hereford will leave City's players vulnerable to
the chop this summer, Peter Taylor warned today.

The Bantams boss voiced his frustration after watching them sunk by a
side battling to beat the drop.

And he left the squad in no doubt that they are playing for their
Valley Parade futures over the final ten games.

Taylor has shown he is ready to make big decisions after four players
left the club last week.

He said: "As I said the first day I met everyone, it's they
who've got to perform. They are vulnerable at the end of the season
because there are so many players about.

"Sometimes they surprise me but I think I near on know the majority
of their strengths and weaknesses.

"There were too many players who didn't perform as they should do
and that's maybe why we are 16th in the table."

Hereford had lost four in a row at home but City paid the price for
squandering chances and Taylor admitted their inconsistency comes with
the territory.

He said: "I would be totally amazed if anyone watching football at
our level sees consistent performances for 40 games a year. Even in
the Premier League, they would be struggling to do it for their 38.

"At our level, the boys are unfortunately more inconsistent than the
top ones, so there's always going to be times when this happens.

"We did create some chances, which was the only encouragement, but we
tried to smash the net out of sight – we didn't have good quality
in our finishing."

Midfielder Adam Bolder admitted: "One week we turn it on, next we
won't. I didn't think we were great anywhere but that's the
inconsistency."

Meanwhile, Chris Brandon – one of those already gone from City – is
set to train with Dundee United with a view to joining the Scottish
club in the summer.

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Threlfall stays on

The Bantams have today managed to secure the services of Liverpool
left back Robbie Threlfall until the end of the season.

The 21 year old has put pen to paper on an extension to his current
loan deal, which was due to expire today, to keep him at the Coral
Windows Stadium until May.

Threlfall will now be available for selection for Bradford's Coca-Cola
League 2 home fixture with Notts County this Tuesday.

The born and bred Liverpudlian originally moved to Valley Parade from
Anfield on a month long deal back in February.

He instantly went about making a good impression with the Bantams
faithful by scoring a superb free kick on his debut to help City
secure a shock win at runaway League 2 leaders Rochdale.

Since his stunning debut, Threlfall has been ever present in the
Bantams back four and has made the left back slot his own.

The former F.A Youth Cup winner has also managed to double his
personal goal tally with Bradford when he produced another well taken
free kick against Port Vale in early March.

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Robbie Threlfall insists loan players are fully up for the cause.

Threlfall is one of five that Peter Taylor has borrowed from other
clubs since he took the City helm.

The Liverpool left back's stay has been extended beyond its one-month
deadline so he will remain part of the plans for the last ten games.

As he prepared for tomorrow's clash with second-placed Notts County,
Threlfall stressed that the temporary arrivals show just the same
level of commitment as the full-time players in the squad.

He said: "It's not a problem. Once you've been here a couple of
days, it feels like your club straight away.

"It only takes a game to settle in and the other lads make you feel
at home.

"When I was at Hereford, we had eight loan players at one stage but
that gave everyone real competition for places.

"It just spurred on the whole squad to do well and keep their place
in the team."

City's hectic schedule under Taylor means that Threlfall, the first
of his captures, has already played seven games – with a couple of
stunning free-kicks thrown in for good measure.

The goals brought a quick reaction from his team-mates in the Anfield
reserves.

He said: "There was a bit of banter flying and I got a few texts.
People had seen them on the telly and couldn't believe it.

"But as long as I can get the ball over the wall, I'm always
confident it will go in. Hopefully I'll get another chance to score
from the next free-kick."

The 21-year-old loanee has no complaints about the heavy workload.

He said: "The games are coming thick and fast and I'm loving it.
You can't beat playing Saturday and Tuesday and I'm enjoying being
involved.

"The aim for the rest of the season is to get some pride back and
start moving up the table. We've been stuck in 16th but maybe with a
bit of momentum we can get into the top half."

Taylor added: "When we made the deal with Liverpool we always said
we'd look for a month and go from there. They were very happy we
could take it through to the end of the season.

"I'm pleased that Robbie is enjoying it here and wants to stay
longer."
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