L2 (H) v Northampton March 19, 2011. K.O. 3:00PM

Next fixture
L2 (H) Shrewsbury, March 26, 2011. K.O. 3:00PM.

Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html

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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

Links

BBC's end-of-season predictor.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/predictor/default.stm

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Match stats

NPower League Two
Bradford C (1) 1 Speight (pen) 8.
Northampton (0) 1 Harrad (pen) 60
Att: 10,684

Stats: Bradford C - Northampton
Possession: 49 - 51%
Shots on target: 3 - 7
Shots off target: 4 - 5
Fouls: 21 - 19
Corners: 5 - 5

Ref: Rob Lewis (Shropshire).
Red card:
Bradford C: Worthington (90+3).
Yellow cards:
Bradford C: Worthington (11 min), Oliver (39), Flynn (42), Speight (85),
Ellison (90+4).
Northampton: Bauza (46), Ofori-Twumasi (48), Johnson (73), Reckord (83).

Bradford C: 1. Jon McLaughlin, 15. Lewis Hunt, 12. Steve Williams, 6. Luke
Oliver (46), 3. Luke O'Brien, 9. Gareth Evans, 19. Jonathan Worthington, 4.
Michael Flynn (71), 26. Kevin Ellison, 10. Jake Speight (87), 17. James
Hanson.
SUBS: 13. Lloyd Saxton (GK), 11. Scott Dobie (87), 14. Leon Osborne, 20. Tom
Adeyemi (71), 22. Lee Bullock, 23. David Syers (46), 28. Robbie Threlfall.

Northampton: 1. Chris Dunn, 14. John Johnson, 5. Byron Webster (87), 33.
Seth Nana Ofori-Twumasi, 3. Marcus Hall, 17. Michael Jacobs, 23. Liam Davis
(79), 8. Abdul Osman (76), 30. Josh Walker, 9. Shaun Harrad, 21. Guillem
Bauza.
SUBS: 34. Steve Collis (GK), 2. Paul Rodgers, 6. Dean Beckwith (87), 7. Ryan
Gilligan, 11. Andrew Holt, 12. Nathaniel Wedderburn (76), 32. Jamie Reckord
(79).

Position: 17th (10 points & goal difference of +10 from relegation).

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Saturday evening match report

By Simon Parker (T&A)

Bradford City's bid for a third straight win came to a stuttering halt
against Northampton this afternoon.

But it was referee Rob Lewis who took centre stage after Jon Worthington was
sent off - and nine other players were booked.

Lewis blew up for 40 fouls and it was no surprise that both goals came from
the penalty spot.

City's eighth-minute spot-kick looked a generous decision when Kevin
Ellison's cross hit the arm of right back Seth Nana Ofori-Twumasi.

But Jake Speight showed no mercy by sending the keeper the wrong way with a
confident penalty. It was the £25,000 signing's first league goal for the
club.

It was a bitty first half with little quality on either side. Other than
City's goal, the most memorable incident came from Luke O'Brien whose
25-yarder was tipped over the bar by Chris Dunn.

Luke Oliver did not appear after half-time because of a suspected hamstring
pull which meant a reshuffle at the back. David Syers came on at full back
while Lewis Hunt moved into the central role he had played against Wycombe a
month ago.

It was City's turn to moan about Lewis on the hour mark when the official
pointed to the spot for the second time.

Lewis Hunt was adjudged to have checked Shaun Harrad and the former Burton
striker scored against City for the third successive game by blasting home
the penalty.

There was no late winner for City this time and it needed an alert piece of
defending from Steve Williams to prevent Guillem Bauza nicking a second for
the Cobblers.

With Lewis blowing for everything, it looked inevitable that somebody would
see red before the end. And Worthington was given his marching orders in
stoppage time for a second foul.

The draw made it seven points out of the last nine for interim boss Peter
Jackson. But it was an unsatisfying afternoon.

The boos afterwards for the referee said it all.

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Monday morning match report


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REPREIVE FOR BRADFORD CITY OVER FANS
By Simon Parker (T&A)

Bradford City have escaped punishment from the Football Association after
items were thrown on the pitch in the Stockport and Chesterfield games.

But the FA will continue to monitor future behaviour of home fans.

Supporters can text 07949-814243 to report incidents of misbehaviour at
Valley Parade.

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David Syers will line up in City colours again next season after earning a new deal.

The rookie midfielder, a stand-out success in his first year in league football, has triggered the one-year option in his current contract.

Syers made his 20th league start in the win over Stockport last month, which automatically guaranteed him another season with the club.

And Peter Jackson hopes to pin him down for longer, should the caretaker boss get appointed full-time.

Jackson said: "The clause has kicked in to trigger another year, which I'm delighted about.

"David has not been involved as much as he likes since I've come in but I really see him as part of my plans for the next couple of seasons if I get the job.

"We've got him for next year and I want to sit down with him at some point and talk about a contract for the following one."

Syers, who played non-league for Farsley Celtic, Ossett and Harrogate, was signed last summer by Taylor after a trial and has proved an instant hit. He is joint top scorer with James Hansonwith eight goals and has impressed with his high-octane performances.

But the 23-year-old is yet to start under Jackson, playing only 19 minutes from the bench against Rotherham.

Jackson admits he has opted for Jon Worthington and Michael Flynn in the centre of City's midfield for their greater experience.

He added: "I just went with Worthington and Flynn because they are players I know and we had big games coming up. I don't know that much about Syers.

"I have explained that to David and he's well aware of the situation.

"We've got four of five in our squad (coming from non-league) and it's a big jump up for them. But he's done well, like Hanson has. The priority is to pick a side that could win games and I wanted players I knew well. That's nothing against David, who will definitely get his chance."

Jackson championed the Academy products during his time with Huddersfield and also hopes to blood some of City's youngsters. Reserve-team regulars Dominic Rowe and Alex Flett were both recently given squad numbers.

Jackson said: "We know money's tight and it will be next season. You sometimes have to take a chance with lads from non-league and youngsters coming from the youth system.

"Peter Horne and David Wetherall are doing a great job there and I will try to involve these young lads. It's something I've done before.

"We need to get safe first and then obviously I will try to look at everyone, especially those who will be out of contract. But the important thing is that we keep getting more points."

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MANAGERS UNITE IN REF FRUSTRATION

Both managers criticised referee Rob Lewis' performance as Bradford City and
Northampton drew 1-1 at Valley Parade.

Referee Lewis sent off Bradford midfielder Jon Worthington for a second
bookable offence in stoppage time and also booked nine other players - four
from the Bantams and five from Northampton.

Striker Jake Speight put Bradford in front from the spot after eight minutes
when Cobblers right-back Seth Nana Ofori-Twumasi handled Kevin Ellison's
cross. But Shaun Harrad equalised for the visitors after 59 minutes after he
had been brought down by defender Lewis Hunt.

Bradford interim manager Peter Jackson said: "I was disappointed with the
referee's performance. There were too many cards and I was also disappointed
with the Northampton penalty and the sending off.

"I thought Jon Worthington slipped for the foul for which he was sent off.
We didn't play as well as we have been doing. We didn't really get going. We
got the perfect start with Jake Speight's penalty, but I couldn't understand
why we were a bit flat.

"It was a stop-start game, but, although we were disappointed to drop two
home points, we extended our unbeaten run to three matches."

Northampton manager Gary Johnson also felt referee Lewis did not have one of
his better days.

He said: "We were disappointed we didn't win the game. We thought we did
enough to win and were disappointed with the penalty that Bradford were
given, but the lads kept going and kept their spirit.

"I thought our back four did well. They survived a bombardment. There were
lots of free-kicks and corners and we had to deal with them.

"There were 43 fouls and 11 cautions in the match which is an extraordinary
ratio. I don't think every foul that the referee awarded was a foul let
alone a booking. Once you start showing yellow cards you have to show
consistency and then someone gets sent off."

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ROB LEWIS - REFEREE

A few notes on the ref from Saturday.

News & Star Sport can reveal that Rob Lewis is no stranger to controversial
decisions - because he was running the line for the infamous Pedro Mendes
'goal' at Manchester United in 2005.

Lewis failed to spot the Tottenham player's long-distance shot had crossed
the line by more than a metre before goalkeeper Roy Carroll scooped it back
into play.

- - - - - - - -
Carlisle Utd boss pledges never to speak to ref Rob Lewis again.
(Southampton v Carlisle)

The ref's latest controversial call, which saw Borrowdale dismissed after 41
minutes at St Mary's, was cited by angry United players and staff as the
turning point in a tight game in which they performed well against the odds.

Boss Greg Abbott, whose side will bid to end their four-match losing run at
Oldham without the suspended defender tomorrow, said Lewis had got the big
call wrong and would "never speak to him again".

- - - - - - - -
By Simon Parker (T&A)

City 1, Northampton Town 1

It's hard to trust anyone who has sent off David Wetherall. So maybe we
should not be too surprised that referee Rob Lewis dished out more cards
than a Las Vegas croupier.
...

Wetherall aside, Lewis' major claim to fame was the night he ran the line at
Old Trafford and somehow managed to miss a Pedro Mendes 'goal' from the
halfway line that landed a couple of feet behind the line.

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Ref Stats for Rob Lewis (2010-11)

http://www.andysstats.co.uk/refs.asp?ref=R Lewis&division=CONF&season=201011