L2 L0-1 (A) Shrewsbury T. Monday April 9, 2012. K.O. 3:00PM. #bcafc

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Signings, Loans and Injuries

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Crawley Fined £18,000 City fined £9000

The Bantams have been fined £9,000 for their part in the Valley Parade free-for-all with Crawley.

But, more importantly, they escaped being docked any points by the Football Association.

The club accepted their fate at today's 75-minute hearing at Wembley. They were also warned over their future conduct.

Director of operations David Baldwin and goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin – one of the three City players sent off in the melee – attended the meeting

along with Crawley chief executive Alan Williams.

Both clubs were seen jointly by the disciplinary panel, who watched video footage of the post-match brawl, which resulted in five red cards from

referee Iain Williamson. Crawley defender Kyle McFadzean was also later charged.

City accepted responsibility for failing to control their players. They are not looking to appeal the FA's verdict.

McLaughlin and Luke Oliver have been fined two weeks' wages by the club – the maximum allowed by the Professional Footballers' Association. On-

loan defender Andrew Davies' punishment will be decided by Stoke City.

Baldwin said: "The players wanted to make it clear to the fans they are very sorry for their actions and extremely remorseful.

"Jon and Luke have accepted their fine. With regards to Andrew, discussions are still on-going with the player and his parent club on the basis

that Stoke are his employer.

"Now we want to move on as a club and concentrate on achieving our League Two status before the end of this season. Then we can crack on with a

fresh vigour for a positive campaign next year."

Crawley's fine was doubled to £18,000 because it was the club's second offence in the last 12 months. Their skipper Pablo Mills also faced a

separate hearing after he was charged with an additional offence. He was fined £1,000 and given a three-match ban for violent conduct.

Both McLaughlin and Oliver are eligible to return for City's trip to Northampton on Saturday after missing the last three games. Davies is still

banned for the next two following his third dismissal of the season.

City's reshaped defence have conceded only two goals in their absence and Phil Parkinson admitted it will be a tough selection call.

The City chief said: "You look at what we've had to change after the Crawley game with the players missing. Don't forget Marcel Seip who's been

out as well because he's been a big player for us.

"With all that change, we still got a very important three points last week against a strong Southend side.



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Match Media & Stats

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Monday evening match report

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Shrewsbury 1 City 0
4:53pm Monday 9th April 2012
By Simon Parker

City could not make it an Easter double as they became the latest victims of Shrewsbury's unbeaten home record.

Having beaten Southend on Good Friday, Phil Parkinson's side were looking to shock another of the promotion pack.

But there was no repeat of their New Year's Eve victory as they suffered a sixth straight defeat on the road.

Having started fairly brightly, City were undone by Shrewsbury's third corner in the 16th minute.

They could not clear an almighty scramble in the box and right back Jermaine Grandison scored from close range.

Mark Wright was instantly denied a second by a good save from Matt Duke and the winger was just wide with a curler.

City were under the cosh with Grandison a real danger on Shrewsbury's right flank.

But Craig Fagan wasted a great chance to equalise after 27 minutes, volleying wide from right in front of goal after James Hanson had nodded the

ball in this path.

Parkinson had named an unchanged starting line-up. But Kyel Reid and Chris Dagnall both came on for the second half.

Fagan had an early half-volley saved by Chris Neal as City were more of a match for their high-flying hosts.

Matt Duke tipped over a free-kick from Matt Richards but had one or two indecisive moments.

Reid threatened a couple of times but City could not find an equaliser.

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Tuesday morning match report

Huff and puff just not enough in another 1-0 Bradford City defeat
6:30am Tuesday 10th April 2012
By Simon Parker

Shrewsbury 1, City 0

There were no Arab princes sitting with Mark Lawn in the New Meadow directors' box.

George Gallaway, Bradford's newest high-profile MP, has grandly promised to use his Middle Eastern contacts and attract big investment for City.

But if there were any money men having a gander in cold and soggy Shropshire, they were keeping a very low profile.

In truth, it was no footballing feast fit for a king.

The afternoon went with the form book as promotion-hunting Shrewsbury stretched League Two's only unbeaten home record to a 29th game.

For the Bantams, it was a sixth away match in a row without reward.

With Good Friday's precious three points under their belt, the pressure had been eased to an extent.

And other results again fell kindly, with bottom two Hereford and Macclesfield both beaten. The gap above the trapdoor remains at seven points –

with only four games now left.

But City will still feel they could have got something. Unfortunately, like all the other 1-0s of late, there was plenty of huff and puff with no

cutting edge.

Phil Parkinson had kept faith with the 11 that brushed aside Southend on Friday. It was the first time he had named an unchanged side for seven

months.

Shrewsbury had not lost on home soil since March 1 last year but it was the visitors who had the opening effort on goal, Nahki Wells trying his

luck on the skidding surface from Craig Fagan's lay-off.

As City settled in, Wells showed some neat footwork to elude Shane Cansdell-Sherriff just outside Shrewsbury's box, only to take a wrong option

and run into a host of striped shirts instead of having a shot.

But City's bright start was wiped out after 16 minutes as Shrewsbury struck from a corner. The Bantams failed to clear Matt Richards' kick and,

after two stabs at it, Jermaine Grandison made no mistake with his second attempt from close range.

Suddenly it became the Alamo in the City box. Mark Wright weaved his way past Lee Bullock's sliding lunge to force a good save from Matt Duke

before blazing over with the rebound.

Then winger Aaron Wildig cut inside the box but Rob Kozluk got across in the nick of time to take the full brunt of his drive, allowing Duke to

scoop up the loose ball.

City's back four were working overtime and Bullock had to whip the ball off James Collins. Then the elusive Wright turned inside Simon Ramsden

and beat the far post with a curler.

But the real problems for the visitors were coming down their left flank, where Grandison enjoyed plenty of room to roam free at every

opportunity.

City were under the cosh – but suddenly had two good chances to level.

Wells looked to be in on goal after Ian Sharps slipped before Cansdell-Sherriff nicked the ball away just as he prepared to pull the trigger. But

that was nothing on the opening that fell to Fagan moments later.

Ramsden's angled ball into the box was won by James Hanson, who steered it right onto Fagan's boot barely five yards from goal. He looked certain

to score but instead skewed his volley horribly wide with the net gaping.

Ramsden held his head in frustration while the City fans behind that goal simply looked on stunned.

Ritchie Jones was rightly booked for a crunching foul on Joe Jacobson level with the City penalty area. Bullock cleared the initial free-kick,

only for Fagan to concede another in exactly the same spot for an equally late challenge on Wright and he was also yellow-carded.

The sting was taken out of the game as half-time approached. Not a bad thing from City's point of view, allowing the defence to catch their

breath after the non-stop shift they had been forced to put in.

But City almost fell further behind in freaky circumstances right on the break. Jacobson's long free-kick was flicked on by Grandison, Guy

Branston got his head to it – and then Duke and City watched anxiously as the ball looped over the keeper and dropped just the wrong side of the

post.

It was no great surprise to see Parkinson change things for the second half. Kyel Reid replaced Michael Flynn, to give Grandison something to

think about out wide, and Chris Dagnall took over from Wells up front.

Fagan showed an immediate positive intent as Hanson nodded on Kozluk's free-kick from the halfway line, controlling on his chest before testing

the keeper with a well-hit half-volley. And Jones, still with only one City goal under his belt, screwed a low drive wide from 25 yards.

Terry Gornell almost threaded Collins through. Branston was at full stretch to cut out the pass in the City D and then just managed to flick it

away from beneath the striker's feet.

Bullock became the third City name in referee David Coote's book after nudging over Gornell as he appeared to get goalside in pursuit of

Jacobson's long pass.

City had the chance to break out as Shrewsbury's free-kick went straight into the wall. Jones made a great run through the middle but Reid failed

to pick him out with a poor ball.

Branston wrestled Gornell to the ground 30 yards out but Richards bent the free-kick harmlessly into the away end.

Reid had been quiet since coming on but suddenly got past Grandison to deliver a great cross which just eluded the leaping Bullock in the

goalmouth.

The substitute looked to get away again but was halted in his tracks by a thumping tackle from Sharps. City were fuming as nothing was given

against the defender.

City were back in desperation mode at their own end after Branston headed an incoming free-kick up in the air. Duke failed to reach it with a

punch before Branston managed to clear from right in front of goal.

But the Bantams were still in the game and Hanson caused trouble from a Fagan set-piece. Shrews keeper Chris Neal was fortunate the loose ball

dropped within range to grab it after their aerial tussle.

Hanson headed wide from a rare corner as the home fans tried to come to life again. A few nerves were on show from the promotion chasers.

Parkinson made his final change with 15 minutes to go. Jones made way for David Syers, who had a point to prove after that hotly-disputed red

card against the same opponents at Valley Parade.

City were cursing another dubious call as Ricky Ravenhill was punished for his challenge on Collins. Duke was equal to Richards' free-kick and

tipped over the bar Indecision from Duke dealing with a long ball caused a few more defensive flutters before Kozluk whacked it away from danger.

Branston caused a roar from the home fans when he seemed to gesture their way. The last thing City need is any more disciplinary hassle,

particularly with their Football Association hearing taking place at Wembley today.

Wildig received Shrewsbury's first booking for a foul on Kozluk, a decision which brought an ironic Hallelujah chorus from the City section.

Reid dashed 40 yards to whip in another ball which Cansdell-Sherriff dealt with at the near post. But once again City had drawn a blank on the

road.

Attendance: 6,272

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City finishing position since the Premiership (unverified)

2002 15th
2003 19th
2004 relegated
2005 11th
2006 11th
2007 relegated
2008 10th
2009 11th
2010 14th
2011 18th -
2012 21st/22nd?


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I got it wrong, admits Bradford City boss Parkinson
7:30am Tuesday 10th April 2012
By Simon Parker

Phil Parkinson admitted he named the wrong team after City again came back goalless and empty-handed from another away trip.

The 1-0 loss at Shrewsbury was their sixth in a row on the road, although other results at the bottom went well for them, with Hereford,

Macclesfield and Barnet all losing.

With four games left, City remain seven points off the relegation zone with a much better goal difference on the sides in trouble.

But Parkinson felt he slipped up yesterday by keeping faith with the side that had beaten Southend three days earlier.

He said: "I have to look at myself and maybe I should have made a couple of changes.

"I wanted to play the same team just to get that bit of continuity with the threat from the bench, which I felt could have won us the game.

"I just felt I'd go with the side that had done so well on Friday. That was a terrific performance but I think it told on our legs."

Jermaine Grandison's first-half goal kept up Shrewsbury's unbeaten home record.

Nahki Wells, who was subbed by Chris Dagnall at half-time, had chances to hit back and Craig Fagan missed a close-range volley when it looked

easier to score.

Parkinson added: "Nahki didn't pull the trigger quick enough. I thought he looked tired and I had to make some changes.

"Fages was in the six-yard box and you expect that to go in.

"The most disappointing thing was to concede a scrappy goal because we had chances to clear and didn't do it. It's frustrating because in the

main we coped reasonably well.

"We worked our socks off in the first half but were slightly low in our intensity levels. But I thought we improved immensely in the second when

the fresh legs helped us."

Skipper Michael Flynn, who again started on the left of midfield, was also taken off at the break for Kyel Reid.

Parkinson said: "Reidy took a while to get his second wind but he's had nearly two and a half weeks when he hasn't trained.

"Flynny created two goals on Friday and did well. He looked a bit leggy for it but he's a good player."

City face the Football Association today to find out their punishment for their part in the Crawley brawl.

The club are not contesting the charge of failing to control their players but Jon McLaughlin, one of the three sent off, will join director of

operations David Baldwin at the Wembley hearing to put their case across.

Parkinson said: "It will be nice to move on from that at last. It's been hanging over us."

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Northampton admission details
Posted on: Tue 10 Apr 2012
 
City travel to the Sixfields Stadium this Saturday (14 April 2012) to take on Northampton Town in their latest npower League 2 fixture.

There will be no advance ticket sales for this fixture. Please pay at Northampton on the day.

Ticket prices for this match will be as follows:

Adults: £19.00
Senior Citizens Over 60: £15.00
Juniors under 16: £6.00
Juniors under 7: FREE (must be accompanied by an adult)
Adult disabled ticket: £13.00
Junior disabled ticket: £6.00
Carer: FREE

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City to host cup final
Posted on: Tue 10 Apr 2012
 
The Coral Windows Stadium will play host to the Co-operative West Riding County Cup Final this Wednesday night when Guiseley AFC take on Bradford

(Park Avenue).

Kick off for the final is scheduled for 7:45pm. Supporters will be able to gain access to the Co-operative Main Stand on the night of the tie.

Adults tickets will be priced at £7.00 each and concessions at £3.00 each.



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