Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
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Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2376580,00.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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Signings & Loans
http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=8&aid=14&dir=2011/August/Friday26
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The "Social media COrner"
All updates rehashed from Derm Tanner on Twitter @tannerman774
Kyel Reid (winger) has signed a two year deal. Reid not currently match fit.
Syers to see knee specialist next week to see when he can take knee brace off.
Cooper taking training tomorrow and will then sit down with Parkinson and discuss future.
Currently we do not have permission to talk to Benson @ Charlton. If the deal isn't sorted by Wednesday it isn't happening. Other irons in the fire.
WSC
http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/7654/38/
Wells on Jacko and international call up
http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20110827/SPORT01/708279965
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Match stats
http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=234#teamTabs=results
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Match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/9220824.The_Mitchell_and_Hanson_show_is_top_entertainment_for_Bradford_City_fans/
The Mitchell and Hanson show is top entertainment for Bradford City fans
7:40am Monday 29th August 2011
By Simon Parker
Bradford City 4 Barnet 2
By the end of the season, Colin Cooper's stint in charge will be consigned to the briefest of footnotes.
But however quick his 15 minutes of City fame flashes by, it should be remembered for one significant outcome.
This was the afternoon that James Hanson reminded everyone what an attacking force he still is. Or perhaps that should read, his team-mates suddenly woke up and remembered that the big man can only flourish if he actually gets some decent service.
The knives have been out for Hanson in the opening month. With the much-trumpeted new era making such a stalling start, the centre forward has been an easy target for criticism.
He has looked a marooned, frustrated figure scratching around for any scraps to come his way. It was no surprise if his confidence was on the wane.
Peter Jackson had noticed it when he gave what turned out to be his final press conference on Thursday. He wanted to see more devil in Hanson's play; something to scare defenders.
Twenty-four dramatic hours later and Cooper had his arm round Hanson with a pep talk about everything the targetman was good at.
Cooper said: "Big James has been disappointed with the way the season has started considering he had a smashing pre-season.
"So I had a word with him on Friday to remind him of his strengths. He's 6ft 3in, he can run, he can jump and he makes it hard for defenders.
"If I was playing against him I wouldn't have enjoyed when he's on form.
"He deserves a massive pat on the back because he worked his socks off and got his reward."
Both Hanson's goals came courtesy of Chris Mitchell crosses. The Scot, whose free-kick also paved the way for Guy Branston's header, gave a passing masterclass on his return to the team.
Cooper admitted that the biggest problem they had with Mitchell was where best to play him. He's certainly not an out-and-out right winger but his range of passing is clinical.
The temporary boss had told his team to ping the ball into the box for Hanson and give him the kind of opportunities that he craved. Nobody was listening more keenly than Mitchell.
He said: "I'm not going to take players on, that's not my game. I like to get balls in the box and luckily Hanson was in the right place at the right time.
"You see from our goal-kicks that he always wins his fair share of headers. Coops just told me to get plenty of shots and crosses in for him.
"I ended up with three assists and he got his two goals, which will hopefully kick-start his season."
The first goal was trademark Hanson – and could not have come at a more opportune moment.
He had already tested keeper Dean Brill twice in a lively start. One of those chances, a header set up by Robbie Threlfall, probably should have gone in.
But, as has been the story each week, City found themselves chasing the game when Ricky Holmes went past Branston too easily and teed up Izale McLeod to put Barnet in front.
Step forward Mitchell and Hanson to the rescue. Within 30 seconds – and before any chins could droop – a delicious cross was plonked on Hanson's head at the far post to steer the equaliser back across the keeper.
The crowd revelled in an open spectacle, though Cooper felt it was too open and made the point forcibly in the dressing room at half-time.
But there was nothing to moan about City's attacking play. The rejuvenated Hanson found a willing ally in Mark Stewart and he harried and hastled Barnet's ropy back four.
Ritchie Jones was in string-pulling mood behind them, while Mitchell looked to put in crosses for fun.
City's breakthrough came four minutes into the second half. Hanson's tenacity earned a free-kick which Mitchell curled into the danger zone to be buried by Branston.
The skipper led the wild celebrations as City milked the moment of leading in a league match for the first time since April.
Barnet could not be written off. McLeod was still a handful and left winger Mark Marshall was prepared to take on all comers as he hugged the touchline.
But a City third five minutes later eased any immediate tension. Jordan Parkes tried to be clever dribbling out of defence, Mitchell read it, seized possession and put Hanson's second goal of the afternoon on a plate.
Stewart made way to a well-earned standing ovation. He had done his job in softening up the opposition and on came Nahki Wells to deliver the killer blow.
Wells, whose only previous appearance was on the opening day, had trumped Michael Bryan for a spot on the bench.
And he seized his chance, toying with Danny Senda on the edge of the box before shifting the ball between his feet and firing past Brill.
Wells then nearly repeated the trick but saw his shot come back into play off the inside of the post.
McLeod did manage to bundle a late consolation past the erratic Oscar Jansson but nobody seemed to notice.
Cooper added: "Whether people think it or not, the players have been working ever so hard for the last ten weeks. This result was a reward for that.
"Confidence is the biggest thing in football and that will do them the power of good.
"Peter leaving shocked us all but the funny thing about football is that nothing changes. Managers will come and go.
"As disappointing as it was for Peter, I told the players they had a game to prepare for and they had to be right.
"Go out there with whatever makes you tick. If it's to raise a glass to Peter, so be it.
"They all deserve a pat on the back."
After another traumatic week at Valley Parade, the fans could finally enjoy a result and performance worth cheering. And, just as importantly, the return to form of City's number one striker.
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LAWN'S TV CASH CALCULATIONS
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Mark Lawn today told City fans expecting a TV cash bonanza: Forget it.
The club will be on Sky again next week for the JPT first-round clash with
Sheffield Wednesday.
It is their second appearance on live television in the opening month of the
season but Lawn stressed that does not mean the coffers are suddenly
bulging.
City will get a £10,000 fee for staging Tuesday's match – and the
joint-chairman calculated that will merely make up for the loss of revenue
from fans choosing to watch it at home.
And he also revealed that the estimated £100,000 they pocketed for the
Carling Cup derby with Leeds has already gone.
He said: "That money was spent before we even played the game. We used it as
soon as the draw was made and we were told it would be on TV.
"We immediately upped the manager's (playing) budget by £100,000, so that's
gone.
"It's the same with the Johnstone's Paint game next week. People see that
we're on telly again and think we're going to be rolling in it but that's
not the case.
"The money we'll get from TV will barely cover what we're going to lose out
on in gate receipts because you can watch it at home or in the pub."
City's search for a more experienced striker in time for Barnet's visit on
Saturday has so far drawn a blank. But they still have targets in mind.
They will soon be due a payment from Manchester United as part of the
on-going deal with midfielder Tom Cleverley. They are entitled to a cash sum
after ten league appearances for the champions.
Lawn added: "Once again we are having to use money from other income streams
with things like Cleverley and looking to sell youngsters on to clubs."
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