JPT (A) v Hartlepool L0-1 October 5, 2010. K.O. 7:15PM

Johnson Paint Trophy - Second Round
Hartlepool (0) 1 McSweeney 69
Bradford C (0) 0
Att: 1,728

Next match: (A) Barnet, Saturday October 9, 2010. K.O. 3:00PM
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Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html

Pictures


"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html

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Match stats

Stats: Hartlepool - Bradford C
Possession: 57 - 43%
Shots on target: 5 - 2
Shots off target: 8 - 5
Fouls: 10 - 12
Corners: 5 - 5

Ref: Jock Waugh (South Yorkshire).
Yellow cards: None

Hartlepool: 32. Jake Kean, 2. Neil Austin, 16. Steven Haslam, 29. Peter
Hartley, 6. Evan Horwood, 22. Armann Bjornsson, 12. Fabian Yantorno (74), 4.
Gary Liddle, 7. Leon McSweeney, 9. Denis Behan (65), 10. Adam Boyd (65).
SUBS: 33. Conor Devlin (GK), 8. Joe Gamble (74), 11. Andy Monkhouse (65),
18. Michael Mackay, 23. Colin Larkin (65).

Bradford C: 1. Jon McLaughlin, 3. Luke O'Brien, 5. Zesh Rehman, 29. Oliver
Gill, 6. Luke Oliver, 7. Omar Daley (63), 11. Lee Hendrie, 12. Steve
Williams, 19. Louis Moult (62), 20. Tom Adeyemi, 22. Lee Bullock.
SUBS: 13. Lloyd Saxton (GK), 4. Michael Flynn (63), 10. Jake Speight (62),
23. Dave Syers, 14. Leon Osborne.

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Tuesday evening match report

By Simon Parker (T&A)

Hard-working City failed to trouble the scorers again as they were knocked
out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at League One Hartlepool.

The Bantams, showing three injury-enforced changes from the weekend, had
carved a few opportunities in a goalless first half.

While Jon McLaughlin saved from Hartlepool defender Evan Horwood, home
keeper Jake Kean was also tested by Omar Daley and Lee Hendrie.

Louis Moult, given a rare start, also fired over the bar on the turn.

But Luke Oliver missed City's best chance on the hour after a mistake by
Armann Bjornsson. The makeshift target man was clear on goal but did not
look confident and his shot was smothered on the edge of the box by Kean.

It proved a costly miss as Hartlepool broke the deadlock nine minutes later.
Leon McSweeney got between two defenders to drill home from Horwood's cross.

Michael Flynn was on by then - his first game of the season - but City could
not conjure a comeback.

Now all eyes will be fixed on Saturday's massive league clash with Barnet.


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http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8435317./

Players should be ones in firing line, says Bantams midfielder Flynn
7:10am Thursday 7th October 2010
By Simon Parker

Michael Flynn today leapt to boss Peter Taylor's defence and admitted: We owe him big time.

Taylor has been in the firing line from fans over City's slump to second from bottom in League Two.

But Flynn feels it is the players who should be getting the grief and not the manager.

The midfield general said: "I'm still right behind the manager. I can see what he is trying to do.

"I really feel for him because he is doing all a manager possibly can but he can't go out there and actually play

the game – that's down to us.

"All the preparation from the manager and coaching staff is being done to the best of their ability. I'm not sure

all of us can look in the mirror and say we're doing the same on the pitch."

City, who have not scored for four games, are preparing for a critical trip to Barnet on Saturday. Flynn sees it as

the right moment to show they are fighting for their manager.

He added: "I'm not sticking up for the gaffer just to save my own back. As a group of players, we are letting him

down, not the other way round.

"We've got to listen to him and we've got to be switched on for the full 90 minutes; not just 80, then concede a

sloppy goal.

"We are struggling in League Two and if the manager is looking over his shoulder then there should be a few players

doing the same."

Flynn's second-half appearance at Hartlepool on Tuesday was his first of an injury-ravaged season. He felt a twinge

in his troublesome groin going up for a header but is desperate to put his body on the line again at Underhill.

"I feel I've let the boys down and the gaffer because I've not been around. I know it's not my fault but I'm no

good to anyone injured.

"Deep down there have been times when I've blamed myself. It's been so frustrating because I want to be out there

helping the other lads.

"That was my first game for about five months and maybe I was a bit naïve to think I could get straight back into

the swing of things. But I felt a little bit of discomfort, which was something I didn't expect."

James Hanson could provide a timely boost with a sub role against Barnet.

Last season's leading scorer is recovering well from his torn hamstring and joined in the warm-up routine at

Hartlepool Taylor said: "He's got a good chance of being on the bench.

"It's a very big game but if there's a risk that somebody's going to play too early and then be out for another

month, then I wouldn't do that."

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TAYLOR: I WILL GET IT RIGHT

Bradford City manager Peter Taylor is convinced he will "get it right" and
turn the Bantams' fortunes around.

Taylor's side have made a disastrous start to the season, winning two of
their first 10 league games to lie second from bottom in the table, but the
under-fire former Hull, Crystal Palace and Wycombe manager remains confident
he will be successful at Valley Parade.

Taylor told the club's official website: "People will see my record of five
promotions, but they should also look at my age and experience.

"In our current situation you need as much experience as you can around you,
no doubt about that.

"I will get it right. I'm quite sure of that. I can identify what we need.
If I didn't have that up my sleeve then we would be struggling. It's going
to be a big fight, but I'm up for that."


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From the terraces
by Mark Douglas

Attended tonight, alongside 100 or so other hardy claret and amber souls. Slightly better than I expected after the

grim reports from Saturday but a 0-1 defeat against a second string Hartlepool (who have big problems of their own)

shouldn't exactly be a cause for celebration.

First, the positives: an improving Lee Hendrie was excellent throughout. He was committed, prepared to take

responsibility, always trying to prompt things and full of running for 90 minutes. On this form he won't be with us

long.

We worked hard, defensively we looked pretty sound until Peter Taylor's bizarre double substitution (more of which

later) and the away support got behind the team (if not the manager) from the first to the last.

Now the negatives. Taylor has made so many changes, tactically and in terms of personnel, that the players looked

confused, unsure of what they're meant to be doing and totally bereft of confidence. In short we're a complete mess

thanks to Taylor's inability to stick to a formation or a settled line-up.

The most succesful teams at our level are built on partnerships and have a solid spine. How are our players ever

meant to get that chemistry if we're constantly chopping and changing the team on a whim? Tonight the back four was

completely revamped from Saturday and we had the umpteenth new 'strike' partnership - so it's no surprise if the

players look like they're still getting to know each other.

The continuing selection of Luke Oliver up front is just depressing. Presumably he's picked for his height but what

does it say about our players and Taylor's managerial acumen that he's basically admitting that he can't come up

with a strategy that doesn't rely on a target man? Oliver is willing and all that but he makes it easy for

opposition defenders because he doesn't make the runs that a striker would, meaning all Hartlepool's centre-back

had to do was stand next to him and he was completely out of the game. Unsurprisingly he missed the one-on-one that

came his way in the second half - hesitated and then smacked it against the 'keeper's body - and as long as he's

part of our attack we won't score goals. It really is as simple as that.

I don't think I've ever seen a worse double substitution than the one Taylor made tonight. I had no problem

bringing on Jake Speight and Michael Flynn but inexplicably the manager decided to hook off Omar Daley - causing

problems with his pace and enjoying one of his better nights - and Louis Moult, who was doing alright. Even worse,

his change meant three players changing their position (Oliver moved back into defence, Luke O'Brien into left

midfield and Oliver Gill to left-back) and a complete reshuffle of a back four that looked perfectly competent to

that point. It was just breath-takingly unnecessary and the supporters reacted with loud boos and chants of "You

Don't Know What You're Doing" towards the boss, which can't be a good sign for him. Rarely do managers lose the

away support and continue for long.

Unsurprisingly we conceded pretty soon after the double substitution (our reshuffled back four wasn't quick enough

to react to a loose ball in the box) and the game was effectively over from that point due to our lack of cutting

edge. There was still time for Oliver to be pushed back into attack for the final few minutes though, yet another

of those changes of shape that Taylor seems to love.

Tonight confirmed my suspicion that our squad isn't actually that bad - certainly better than the one McCall had

last year. There are good players (Hendrie, Speight, Williams, O'Brien, Daley on his day) but they're being

organised atrociously. Too many are being played out of position and constantly chopped and changed and that is

what is killing us.

We're in trouble and the buck stops with the boss, who is making enough curious calls to give those City conspiracy

theorists who reckon he is engineering his own exit a field day.

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TAYLOR: BANTAMS WILL WIN SOON

Bradford City manager Peter Taylor believes victory is just around the
corner - if his side's luck can change.

The Bantams made it four games without a win in a 1-0 Johnstone's Paint
Trophy defeat at Hartlepool on Tuesday night but Taylor saw enough to
encourage him.

He said: "It was a lot better than Saturday and there is more to come. It
was okay. In our situation, which isn't a great one, you need people to
stick together and I thought the players did that.

"We lack a bit of confidence and I think we need to nick a result or two and
then confidence will come from it.

Then they will open out a bit more and play the way I see them train.

"They defended well and in numbers and put blocks in, they worked hard.
Hartlepool are a nice football team, they tested us and I was pleased
overall with the players. I told them afterwards there was some plus points
and it was better.

"We did have a couple of chances and we need something to break for us."

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NO NEW STRIKER FOR BRADFORD CITY
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Thursday 7th

Bradford City's bid to bolster their attacking ranks with a loan signing
before Saturday has drawn a blank.

Peter Taylor, who has been linked with Crewe's Calvin Zola, admitted there
would be no new faces lining up to face Barnet.

He said: "Unfortunately there's absolutely nothing for this weekend.

"I'm still hopeful we might get one in before Cheltenham but for now we'll
just have to get on with it."

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Barnet ticket details

Extra info:
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2177057,00.html?

City supporters can still purchase match tickets for the Bantams npower League 2 at Barnet this Saturday (9 October

2010)

Tickets for the Underhill fixture are not available from City's Ticket Office though, but through Barnet

themselves.

They can be purchased by calling Barnet's Ticket Office on (0208) 4496325 or visiting the ticketing section of

www.barnetfc.com

Supporters can click the link HERE to be taken directly to the appropriate section of Barnet's official website.

Bantams fans will also be able to pay on the turnstiles at Underhill on the day of the match, although family

tickets must be purchased in advance.

Ticket prices for the fixture are detailed below:

North Family Stand (Seating)

Adults: £16.00
Under 14's: £8.00
Under 19's, Students and Senior Citizens: £12.00

North East Terrace (Standing)

Adults: £15.00
Under 14's: £8.00
Under 19's, Students and Senior Citizens: £12.00

North Terrace (Uncovered Standing)

Adults: £13.00
Under 14's: £8.00
Under 19's, Students and Senior Citizens: £12.00

Family Ticket

Two adults and two under 19's: £30.00 (must be purchased before match day)

 




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City suffer new injury blow
Posted on: Wed 06 Oct 2010
City have been hit with another injury blow after it was revealed that Gareth Evans could be sidelined for up to

three months.

Evans suffered a fractured wrist during City's defeat at the hands of Morecambe last Saturday meaning the Bantams

striker could be out of action for the rest of the calendar year.

The Bantams striker picked up the injury when he clattered into the advertising boards at the Coral Windows

Stadium.

Peter Taylor had already been on the lookout for a new loan forward, but the loss of another striker will now have

the City chief pushing even harder to unearth another temporary frontman.

Defenders Shane Duff and Reece Brown, who along with Evans missed City's JPT tie at Hartlepool United on Tuesday,

will also miss City's trip to Barnet on Saturday due to injuries.

Duff has an achilles problem, while the on-loan Brown tweaked knee ligaments against the Shrimps.

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http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8437498./

Hendrie believes a single strike will be all it takes to kick on and lift the gloom
5:20pm Thursday 7th October 2010
By Simon Parker

Lee Hendrie has urged City to take the leading role in their basement battle at Barnet.

The experienced midfielder believes that scoring the first goal will hold the key to stopping the rot.

City have failed to net in six hours of trying as their struggles continue. They have only managed four in total

from the opening ten league games.

The goal drought is clearly having an impact on everyone but Hendrie reckons that will all change the moment the

deadlock is broken.

"I've said to the boys that if we can score one goal then it will open everything up," he said.

"We get a goal and teams have got to come at us and we'll find more space. You'll see we'll probably go on and

score two or three.

"It's just waiting for that goal to happen and we just need someone to go and do it.

"It would have been nice to get a goal or two at Hartlepool the other night because we played some decent stuff at

times.

"Big Luke (Oliver) went through one-on-one and I was willing him to score it. Let's hope we get one like that on

Saturday."

Hendrie appreciates the pressure is cranked up a notch with each bad result. In tough times like these, players can

be reluctant to take command for fear of making errors.

He said: "Last Saturday (against Morecambe) was a big thing. You want to do something but you need three or four

that want to get on the ball.

"That's what we're lacking at the minute. We've got a lot of young kids in there and maybe they are looking at the

league position and thinking they don't want to be the one that makes a mistake.

"It's understandable. This is a big club and shouldn't be where it is, simple as.

"The gaffer is going through a lot and I feel for him. He's taking the stick in this situation and it's a shame.

"Fair enough if he came in every day and wasn't bothered, but he really cares about this club and wants to push us

forward.

"But with the way we're going, things just don't seem to be happening for us."

Hendrie's own match fitness is improving after starting the last two games. He played the full 90 minutes in the

Johnstone's Paint Trophy and showed some promising signs.

Boss Peter Taylor said: "We used the ball better and Lee got involved a little bit more. That will have done him

good."

City will lean heavily on Hendrie's big-game prowess on an afternoon that will not be one for the faint-hearted –

and he is up for the challenge.

Hendrie said: "We know it's a big game for us and players will be nervous. But we're away from home so they won't

have 10,000 or 11,000 people on their backs.

"We can take the positives from the other night. We had four or five shots and there have been some games where we

haven't had any.

"Let's just go out there and play like we know we can. Everything seems to be going against us but we've got to

keep plugging away and it will change."
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