L2 v Rotherham (a) W2-1 March 6th 2010

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Next matches:
(A) Port Vale, Tuesday March 9, 2010. K.O. 745PM.
(H) Aldershot, Saturday March 13, 2010. K.O. 3:00PM.

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Rotherham (0) 1 LeFondre pen 90+2.
Bradford C (0) 2 Flynn 60, Hanson 90+5.
Att: 4,185

Stats: Rotherham - Bradford C:
Possession: 55 - 45%
Shots on target: 5 - 4
Shots off target: 6 - 6
Fouls: 12 - 8
Corners: 6 - 9

Ref: Andy Haines (Tyne and Wear).
Yellow cards:
Rotherham: Fenton (41 min).
Bradford C: None

Rotherham: 1. Andy Warrington, 14. Mark Lynch, 6. Nick Fenton, 25. Pablo
Mills, 19. Gavin Gunning (71), 10. Nicky Law (65), 4. Danny Harrison, 23.
Joshua Walker, 15. Kevin Ellison, 9. Tom Pope (80), 39. Adam Le Fondre.
SUBS: 12. Marc Joseph, 21. Marcus Marshall (65), 30. Jamie Annerson (GK), 3.
Jamie Green (71), 20. Ryan Taylor (80), 7. Michael Cummins, 17. Gary
Roberts.

Bradford C: 40. Matthew Glennon, 2. Simon Ramsden, 6. Matthew Clarke, 12.
Steve Williams, 28. Robbie Threlfall, 9. Gareth Evans, 8. Lee Bullock, 33.
Adam Bolder, 3. Luke O'Brien, 17. James Hanson, 4. Michael Flynn.
SUBS: 13. Jon McLaughlin (GK), 16. Jonathan Bateson, 7. Omar Daley, 25.
Steve O'Leary, 14. Michael Boulding, 29. Mark McCammon, 32. Luke Oliver.




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Rotherham (0) 1 LeFondre pen 90+2.
Bradford C (0) 2 Flynn 60, Hanson 90+5.
Att: 4,185

By Simon Parker (T&A)

James Hanson's stoppage-time header earned City a dramatic derby win over
Rotherham.

Hanson powered home Simon Ramsden's corner - just seconds after the home
side had levelled with an Adam Le Fondre penalty.

Earlier, Michael Flynn's first goal since December had put Peter Taylor's
side on the way to a third win in four games.

City missed two great chances in the opening 15 minutes.

Matt Glennon denied former Bantam Nicky Law's half-volley before the
visitors twice should have taken the lead.

The first opportunity fell to Steve Williams who caught keeper Andy
Warrington in no man's land but got too much on the header.

And James Hanson could have fired City in front but blazed over from ten
yards when he should have hit the target.

But City escaped when Flynn cleared Tom Pope's header off the line and
Rotherham skipper Nick Fenton nodded the loose ball back against the bar.

City started the second half brightly and were rewarded with a well-worked
goal on the hour.

Hanson's flick released Gareth Evans on the right and his cutback was
sweetly swept home first time by Flynn.

Again City were saved by a goal-line clearance as Robbie Threlfall thwarted
Millers substitute Marcus Marshall.

And Rotherham blew it again in the closing minutes when Marshall set up Ryan
Harrison for a sitter - which he thumped over.

But the game exploded into life in stoppage time.

First Le Fondre levelled with a spot-kick after Williams had handled in the
corner of the box. Then, with the home fans still taunting the City section,
Hanson had the final say with the last touch of the match.



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Hanson benefiting from little and large combination up front
4:50pm Monday 8th March 2010
By Simon Parker

Michael Flynn is happy to front up for City again at Port Vale tomorrow night.

Flynn is relishing the new attacking role he has been handed in the last two away wins over Rochdale and Rotherham.

The Welsh firebrand, who netted his seventh goal of the season at the Don Valley Stadium, reckons he sees more of the ball when he is pushed forward to accompany James Hanson.

Flynn said: "This league isn't always the best for midfielders because you can get missed out. At Aldershot last week, Bully (Lee Bullock) and I did a lot of running without the ball.

"Every player wants to be involved and I think being up front at the moment means you can get more into it.

"I will play anywhere for Bradford City if the manager asks me to but I'm really enjoying the role, chasing balls down and trying to get on the end of James's flicks.

"I've played up front now and again in the past. Paul Jewell sometimes put me on as a sub up there (for Wigan) to close a game out. He knew I'd work hard and said I'd have chased waste paper given the chance!

"Stan Ternent also played me as a striker for Huddersfield away to Swindon last season, so it's not something totally new."

Hanson's late header made it three victories in four as City go to Vale Park, a ground where they have won the last four visits without conceding a goal.

Flynn believes Hanson has made big strides this season and will get even better. A Championship club were monitoring the former Guiseley centre forward in January and his new strike partner expects more transfer interest in the summer.

Flynn said: "There's definitely going to be a few clubs watching him now. Targetmen are hard to come by and his size and ability in the air will get him noticed.

"James has got a lot to learn, coming from non-league, but scoring ten goals in his first season is a good achievement and he'll get more."

Despite the recent upturn, City have been cemented in 16th place. Another positive result could see them move up a position for the first time in two months.

They are still 12 points off the last play-off spot and Flynn admitted: "The first thing you do on the bus is check the league table – and see that we haven't moved.

"It's so frustrating when you think of the points we should have picked up. We ought to be on 51 or 52 now and then we'd be in with a right chance.

"While it's still mathematically possible we will give it all we've got but it's obviously a really long shot.

"The gaffer has come in and made us a stronger unit and we've got to keep going. Port Vale have got a good manager in Micky Adams with a decent track record as well.

"They keep winning one then losing the next and they lost Saturday, so I hope that sequence of results has ended. It's definitely somewhere we can go and win."


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Thorne advice gives Bantams ace confidence to make impact
7:30am Monday 8th March 2010
By Simon Parker

Head boy James Hanson today thanked Peter Thorne for making him a stronger striker.

Hanson was City's last-gasp hero with a thumping header to beat Rotherham in a dramatic Yorkshire derby.

The stoppage-time stunner, just a minute after the Millers had equalised, was his tenth goal of the season – and followed a big miss early on.

Hanson has fluffed similar good chances in recent games but refuses to let it affect him and he praised the experienced Thorne for building up that mental toughness.

"I volleyed over the bar from six yards out but I don't particularly mind missing chances as long as other ones keep coming," he said.

"I'm always confident of scoring and luckily I got that late header and stuck it away.

"Having people like Thorney round the place has really helped. He's been telling me to keep my head up.

"He's lost count of the number of chances he's missed like that but says you'll be stronger for it."

City, who had led through Michael Flynn, cleared two off the line before Adam Le Fondre's spot-kick seemed to have denied them after Steve Williams handled in the box.

But City's improving prowess from corners got its reward with virtually the last touch of the game as Hanson converted Simon Ramsden's cross.

Delighted boss Peter Taylor said: "The players know we're looking quite strong at corners.

"There haven't been many times when we haven't tested the opposition from them, so we always fancy our chances a little bit.

"James keeps missing the easy ones and then he gets a great header. It was a brilliant goal.

"I think it would have been a touch harsh if we hadn't won the game. We played some good football, showed great spirit and created more chances over the 90 minutes."

Hanson added: "We've worked on corners in training and looked more dangerous. The gaffer's said we've got the height in there so put the ball in good areas.

"As long as it gets above the first man, we've always got a chance."

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