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L2 (A) v Macclesfield Feb 5th 2011 K.O. 3.00pm
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http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
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Match info
NPower League Two
Bradford C (1) 1 Hanson 4
Lincoln C (1) 2 Facey 42, McCallum 79
Att: 10,543
City
1. Jon McLaughlin
29. Richard Eckersley
16. Shane Duff
6. Luke Oliver
3. Luke O'Brien
19. Jonathan Worthington (67)
20. Tom Adeyemi
23. Dave Syers
17. James Hanson
9. Gareth Evans
7. Omar Daley (82)
Subs
24. Chris Elliot (GK)
2. Simon Ramsden
4. Michael Flynn (67)
15. Lewis Hunt
25. Chibuzor Chilaka
28. Robbie Threlfall
30. Mark Cullen (82)
Lincoln
24. Trevor Carson
28. Gavin Hoyte
40. Patrick Kanyuka (46)
6. Daniel Hone
23. Stephen Hunt (90)
16. Julian Kelly
14. Josh O'Keefe
15. Luke Howell
9. Gavin McCallum
18. Delroy Facey (77)
29. Ashley Grimes
Subs
20. Paul Musselwhite (GK)
2. Paul Green
10. Drewe Broughton (77)
17. Albert Jarrett
31. Ali Fuseini (46)
39. Scott Spencer (90)
Stats
Limpish - Imps
2 Shots On Target 4
5 Shots Off Target 7
8 Fouls (Conceded) 5
10 Corners 4
0 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0
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By Simon Parker »
Peter Taylor is still the Bantams boss, it was confirmed this afternoon (Wednesday).
Taylor met with City's two chairmen today, sparking rumours that his position was under threat.
But Mark Lawn said: "We had a meeting and Peter is still the manager."
City have lost five of the last six games, taking only one point from 18.
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Match report
Old foe Facey wipes out Hanson opener as Taylor's men mess up flying start
6:50am Wednesday 2nd February 2011
By Simon Parker
City 1, Lincoln 2
Lincoln piled on the agony for City and Peter Taylor to continue their tortuous run.
On a night billed as a 'must win', given the perilous league table, the Bantams were condemned to a fifth defeat in six games.
You could not have imagined that outcome for most of the first half as City took matters by the scruff of the neck.
But they never found that second goal to reinforce their dominance – and paid the huge price when Lincoln came fighting back.
Taylor came under flak from some of the crowd afterwards. These are increasingly uncomfortable times for all concerned.
Saturday's result had temporarily stopped the rot after four defeats but that did not lessen the significance of the first home outing for a month.
Joint-chairman Julian Rhodes underlined that in his programme notes, calling it a game "we simply need to win". Survival, he stated, was imperative – as if anyone had to be told.
Taylor had been impressed enough with the Chesterfield display to keep the same formation and ten of the same names. The only change was a forced one because of Leon Osborne's hamstring, so Omar Daley was back in from the start.
City faced a Lincoln side unrecognisable from their last meeting exactly a month earlier. Boss Steve Tilson had been working overtime in the transfer window – just five of his first XI had begun the Sincil Bank game.
Tilson's efforts had earned three straight wins to lift the Imps out of immediate relegation danger and within three points of their hosts.
But the visitors were forced into a late reshuffle when centre half Adam Watts got injured in the warm-up – and City struck before they had time to settle with a goal after six minutes.
Gareth Evans lifted the ball down the left flank to David Syers, who sized up his cross and then thumped in a low pass which James Hanson tucked home.
It was just the beginning the home side wanted and the injection of confidence was evident as Luke O'Brien whipped in another dangerous ball which Danny Hone just managed to turn behind.
The early feelgood factor increased with Simon Ramsden's appearance for a run along the touchline, which drew applause from the Kop.
Syers was instrumental in everything going forward and could have had another goal when Hanson returned the compliment on 25 minutes but his well-struck shot was covered by Trevor Carson.
Old adversary Delroy Facey volleyed high into the crowd but Lincoln had shown little.
City were totting up the corners and Carson was lucky to escape after spilling Daley's centre in a congested six-yard box.
But Lincoln almost stole an equaliser when debutant Patrick Kanyuka, the late replacement for Watts, stretched to reach Luke Howell's free-kick and steered it over the bar.
It was a warning for City, who responded with another Syers-inspired move. He fed Daley inside the box and the Jamaican checked and rolled it back to Tom Adeyemi, who got underneath his shot.
Evans just failed to control a ball bursting through and Hanson headed wide from the seventh City corner of the half.
O'Brien was getting upfield so frequently, he was almost operating as an out-and-out left winger.
But the bubble was suddenly burst two minutes before the break with a Lincoln equaliser against the run of play.
Again it was a goal that should have been avoided. Nobody picked up Facey as Gavin Hoyte floated a cross into the box and the centre forward directed his free header past Jon McLaughlin.
Luke Oliver promptly produced a timely block from Gavin McCallum, before the Canadian midfielder got in a key defensive touch of his own to deflect Syers' drive away.
But having dominated for much of the first half, City headed to the dressing room back on level terms and facing another test of character to lift it again.
Lincoln's tails were up and Josh O'Keefe forced a fine diving save from McLaughlin five minutes after the restart.
Anxiety was creeping into the Valley Parade air and the earlier swagger had vanished from City's play.
McCallum was coming more into it on Lincoln's left flank and fired across goal. Daley hit back with a swivelling run past three men across the edge of the box before blazing harmlessly into the stand.
It had become a very different game and the Imps, having played second fiddle in the first half, were clearly eyeing a fourth success on the bounce. McCallum eluded Richard Eckersley again but Oliver nipped the danger in the bud before he could pick out Ashley Grimes.
Lincoln were asking the questions but O'Brien responded with a sensational piece of individual skill.
The left back nutmegged both McCallum and Hoyte on a jinking run which ended with his curling effort just beating the far post. It would have been some goal.
Michael Flynn arrived for the tiring Jon Worthington midway through the half and he took up an attacking role alongside Hanson.
But McLaughlin had to be alert to foil Grimes from Facey's set-up, blocking with his knees and then flicking the loose ball behind.
Then the nightmare happened with nine minutes to go. Syers was knocked down in midfield and Lincoln tore forward on the break in numbers.
Grimes drilled in a fierce drive which McLaughlin parried out to McCallum, who hammered it back with interest into the unguarded net.
The goal prompted the first strains of "we want Taylor out" from the Kop as the frustration grew again.
City had the late chance to equalise but Syers headed past the far post from an Evans corner. There was no escape and the crowd's verdict at the final whistle was damning.
Attendance: 10,543
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Taylor now even more determined to turn things around as he dismisses sack rumours
8:10am Thursday 3rd February 2011
Exclusive By Simon Parker
Defiant Peter Taylor today declared himself ready for a battle after dismissing speculation that he was about to be sacked.
Rumours were rife that Taylor's tenure at Valley Parade could be coming to an end.
He met joint-chairmen Julian Rhodes and Mark Lawn for talks yesterday afternoon – and emerged more desperate than ever to halt City's plunge towards the danger zone.
Taylor, who was jeered by some sections of the crowd against Lincoln on Tuesday, said: "I thought we had a very good meeting, to be honest, and ironed out a few things.
"I knew the rumours were happening but I don't know where they came from. I've been honest about it and I said on Tuesday I understand the fans' reaction and their frustration.
"I know our position is nowhere near good enough at the minute and the teams behind us have games in hand.
"It's extremely disappointing what's happened with our season, with the team and the results. I understand all that.
"But it makes me extremely determined to turn things round. I'm totally blinkered about the job and I want to get this right. It's going to be a massive test but I am up for it."
City have been dragged into trouble after collecting only one point in six games. They face another critical afternoon at fellow strugglers Macclesfield on Saturday.
Taylor is ready to wheel out the old guard and use all the experience at his disposal in the squad.
Michael Flynn, Simon Ramsden and Lewis Hunt could all start at Moss Rose – as well as new signing Scott Dobie.
It will be a gamble throwing in the three long-term absentees because of their lack of match fitness. Flynn has come off the bench for the last three matches but Ramsden and Hunt are yet to feature since getting injured early in the season.
But Taylor believes it is a risk worth taking in City's current predicament.
He said: "It's not easy to pick the chins up and that's why we need the experienced boys at the minute. They will have been through this situation before.
"We need the reliable players; the ones we can trust to get us out of this problem. I just hope that we can get them fit.
"Some of the people we are talking about are not up to 90 minutes and we might have to make changes through the game.
"But we know it's a massive game because of the league table and it might be the time to go down the experienced route."
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