Npower League Two
Bradford C (0) 0
Southend U (1) 2 Corr 16, Grant 54
Att: 10,752
Next fixture v Port Vale (h) ko 3pm
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Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
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Match stats
Bradford: McLaughlan, Oliver, O'Brien, Williams, Hunt, Evans, Daley, Bullock (Speight, 46 ) , Doherty, Hanson
(Threlfall, 46 ) , Moult (Syers, 46 )
Subs not used: Duff,Rehman,Saxton,Adeyemi,
Southend: Morris, Gilbert, Clohessy(sent off 77), Barker, Bilel, Grant, Hall ( Prosser, 83 ) , Easton, Simpson,
Sturrock ( Soares, 77 ) , Corr ( Paterson, 80 )
Subs not used: Evans, Herd, Bouzid, Coughlan,
Bookings: Bullock , Evans , Syers (Bradford) Clohessy , Easton , Gilbert (Southend)
Attendance: 10752
Referee: Paul Tierney ()
Game Statistics
City Shrimpers
11 Goal Attempts 12
5 On Target 6
5 Corners 9
13 Fouls 8
3 Yellow Cards 3
0 Red Cards 1
48 % 52
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Match report
By Simon Parker
Awful City slumped to their third league loss of the season against a
Southend side celebrating their first away win in 2010.
It was a grim night for the Bantams, who looked a shadow of the team that
had matched Preston for so long three days earlier.
They never recovered after slack marking allowed Barry Corr to convert
Anthony Grant's pass after 16 minutes.
Peter Taylor used all three substitutes at half-time in a bid to gee them up
after the break and Jake Speight at least offered a bit of bite.
But any hopes of a fightback were dashed when they fell further behind nine
minutes after the break as Grant drove in from 25 yards.
Southend defender Sean Clohessy was sent off near the end but the ten men
did not come under any pressure.
And once again there were a few boos at the final whistle.
===========================
Frustrated Peter Taylor took the blame for City's woeful Valley Parade loss to South-end last night.
The Bantams were beaten 2-0 – their third loss in four in the league – and were second best throughout a depressing
game.
It was a total contrast to the way they had played against Preston three days before. And afterwards, the City
chief held up his hand to take the rap.
Taylor said: "I'm the one that's put the players together and when they play like that, it's my fault.
"If we were flying now and being the best team in the country, then I'd be lording it. I'd be saying that's down to
me.
"I've signed the majority of players so the way we've played is down to me. We've got no excuses.
"We're too inconsistent and it's not good enough. Southend had extra-time on Tuesday like ourselves but they looked
hungrier, fitter and better than us."
Taylor admitted he was baffled at his side's failure to string decent displays together. They rarely tested the
Southend goal even when the visitors were down to ten men after defender Sean Clohessy's red card.
"It was totally opposite to Tuesday night. But I don't really know what performance we are going to give at the
minute.
"I don't think anybody's got a clue how we are going to perform and who's going to turn up and be confident or
who's going to be nervous.
"I would have thought we'd be (confident) but come kick-off time it doesn't seem to work out that way.
"We seem to need to have a fantastic start for us to be really confident but it hasn't happened this year."
Half-time substitute Jake Speight injected some passion into City's play. Having shaken off his knee injury, the
striker is set to be rewarded with a full game against Port Vale next week.
Taylor said: "He was very close to starting and we thought he had an hour in him. He showed a couple of glimpses.
"That won't do him any harm so he'll have a good week."
===========================
From TOny Watson
"Noone seems to vhave mentioned Taylor's appearance on Football Focus
yesterday morning with Lawro and Dan Carter - a shortened one because of the
Grand Prix practice.
It was quite appropriate since they were concentrating on Wigan & Martinez
and asking Taylor how managers handle such situations. No unexpected pearls
of wisdom were uttered, just the usual 'We're all in it together etc etc'
Wigan of course got a result yesterday - perhaps we will next week.
Of course Lawro is a Preston director but he didn't comment much. They
showed the goals from Tuesday THEN they showed the Southend goals. Taylor
looked suitably glum when they showed the second goal with no-one anywhere
near Grant the goalscorer. 'Giving them shooting practice' he mumbled. We
obviously signed the wrong Grant."
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8360881.McLaughlin_accepts_Taylor_criticism_a_back_handed_com
pliment
McLaughlin accepts Taylor criticism a back-handed compliment
6:50pm Monday 30th August 2010
By Simon Parker
Peter Taylor didn't beat around the bush when he blamed his goalkeeper for both goals that cost City at Torquay
recently.
It was a tough learning curve for Jon McLaughlin as he heard the manager's very public reaction to his performance.
But in a way, it also demonstrated how strongly Taylor believes in the 22-year-old.
His criticism was a back-handed compliment for a keeper he clearly thinks is very much up to the task.
In experience terms, McLaughlin is a baby as a number one. Despite being the season's only ever- present, he has
still got only 14 senior appearances under his belt.
Taylor knew the risks when he went into the campaign with such a relative rookie as his first choice. Back-up
keeper Lloyd Saxton has never played in the first team and Chris Elliott has just been awarded his first pro
contract after being named youth-team player of the year.
Even coach Tim Dittmer is much younger than Matt Glennon, who occupied City's goal when Taylor first took the
Valley Parade reins in February.
But rather than look for another old head in the summer, Taylor put his faith in youth. And despite what he said in
the aftermath of Devon last week, that faith remains unshaken.
McLaughlin, for his part, held up a giant hand over what the boss had to say.
"You've got to be big enough to know what's expected of you," he said. "Once you're made a part of the team
properly, that's a sign they believe you're a good quality player and they expect you to be of a high standard in
games.
"The better you get, the more things are going to get picked out. You're always trying to learn and you're not out
there to make mistakes.
"But as a keeper, I'm always disappointed to concede a goal, even with the Preston winner in the cup, which was an
absolute blast into the top corner.
"I don't think I ever had any right to save the shot but, at the same time, you're not happy to watch it go in.
"You don't look at it and think 'never mind'. You're still wondering if there was anything that you could have done
better.
"So when a goal goes in because of a mistake you've got to accept it. Then you go into training next week and try
to work on the things that have gone wrong in the game."
Every goalkeeper will tell you that mental strength is just as important as ability and physical fitness. It's
about getting over the inevitable lapses that will affect even the very best and not letting them play on your
mind.
Taylor has no doubt that McLaughlin is tough enough up top to recover from any pitfalls.
The keeper himself, having waited so long to finally get his opportunity, has no intention of letting it slip from
his grasp.
"I've had to be pretty patient to get my chance and I'm really grateful with the gaffer for making me his number
one.
"I've been enjoying it so far playing games on a regular basis and it's great to take on that added responsibility.
"All three of us are young goalkeepers and the gaffer's talked to us before about being able to move on after a
goal and not let it affect the rest of your performance.
"Whether it's a mistake by ourselves, a bad decision by an official or just a good goal, you've got to forget about
it as quickly as possible.
"Concentrate on the next shot or cross. You can go back to the goal after the game and pick through it all day
long.
"It can be tough to do and you need to make sure the players around you help but we've got good players in our
defence with experience.
"They're not all over you about it. They know you haven't tried to do it wrong on purpose."
The fact that McLaughlin saved another penalty at Plainmoor was almost forgotten. But his stop from Torquay skipper
Nicky Wroe extended a record that has also included saves at Burton in his first game under Peter Taylor and then
in pre-season against Rochdale.
Clearly those shoot-outs with the Great Britain side in last year's World Student Games in Belgrade have proved a
valuable grounding.
He said: "It's always great to save penalties and help the team out but hopefully it won't mean people expecting me
to save them.
"You're always the underdog as a goalkeeper but if (my record) plants a seed of doubt in the penalty-taker's head
then maybe it helps.
"I don't really have too much of a system. I just gauge the player, think about what he might do and just commit to
it.
"If you then save it, that's great."
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8360342.Fighting_talk_from_Bradford_City_ace_Ramsden
Fighting talk from Bradford City ace Ramsden
7:00am Monday 30th August 2010
By Simon Parker
A week of soul-searching on the City training ground will sort out the men from the boys, according to Simon
Ramsden.
Just a month into the season, the Port Vale home game on Saturday has taken on huge significance after three
defeats from the first four games.
Peter Taylor was furious over their limp loss to Southend, and injured skipper Ramsden predicted a demanding period
ahead for the squad.
He said: "The performance on Friday wasn't to the level that's expected for Bradford City. So starting on Saturday,
we've got to be brave – every one of us.
"We've got to go out there and show some fight. This is where you'll see the men from the boys.
"It's not just about playing well with the ball. You've got to get the nasty things right like getting about teams
and putting your foot in there – we didn't do that at times on Friday.
"Fans will cheer you and clap you off if everyone's given their all. They don't mind even if it hasn't come off as
long as the effort's there – you saw that against Preston.
"The crowd were very upset on Friday and booed the team off and you can understand where they are coming from. At
times we didn't look like the home side because Southend had a lot of possession.
"I'm sure the gaffer will be working on it all week because we can't have another performance like that."
Ramsden is easing his way back from a torn calf and hoped to get the all-clear to start running again today.
Being stuck on the sidelines while City struggle just increases his personal frustration.
"I really wish I was back but you've got to be careful with a tear. Sometimes it might feel fine but one sprint too
many and you're back to square one.
"It's going to be a long, hard week on the training ground for everyone. Hopefully we can get to the bottom of
what's gone wrong and put it right for Saturday.
"It's the inconsistency that's so frustrating for the fans and ourselves. We played very well in the cup against
Forest and Preston, two sides who on paper are a lot better than us.
"Then, although we got a victory against Stevenage, we produced a very disappointing performance and it was the
same on Friday.
"Let's hope it's a different story on Saturday and we can prove what a good side we are.
"We've definitely got the players capable of doing it, even if it didn't look like that on Friday."
===========================
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