FA CUP FIRST ROUND
Northampton (0) 1 Moult 61.
Bradford City (1) 1 Atkinson 32.
Att: 2,512
Replay: To be confirmed. Probably Tuesday Nov 13, 2012. K.O. 7:45PM.
FA CUP SECOND ROUND Draw : Northampton or Bradford C v Brentford
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CFML Daily News
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Current table
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Fixtures
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Signings, Loans and Injuries
Injuries
Andrew Davies, knee, Out 4 months (from Nov 1st)
Luke Oliver, Achillies, out for the 2012/13 season
Kyel Reid
Loans
City have signed Sunderland centre half John Egan on loan until January.
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Match Media & Stats
Head to Head
http://www.11v11.com/teams/bradford-city/tab/opposingTeams
http://www.statto.com/football/teams/bradford-city/
Pictures
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2011/
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
BBC highlights (uk only)
Match stats
http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=234#teamTabs=results
Stats: Northampton - Bradford C:
Possession: 45 - 55%
Shots on target: 11 - 11
Shots off target: 2 - 7
Fouls: 13 - 9
Corners: 8 - 7
Ref: Geoff Eltrigham (Sunderland)
Yellow cards:
Northampton: Charles 18', Tozer 28'.
Bradford C: Meredith 43'.
NORTHAMPTON: 1. Shane Higgs, 2. John Johnson, 5. Kelvin Langmead, 6. Anthony
Charles 72', 3. Joe Widdowson, 23. Danny East, 28. Emyr Huws, 12. Ben Tozer,
11. Chris Hackett, 19. Louis Moult 79', 10. Adebayo Akinfenwa.
SUBS: 13. Dean Snedker, 7. Ishmel Demontagnac, 9. Clive Platt 79', 15. Henoc
Mukendi, 16. Lewis Wilson, 22. Lewis Hornby, 29. David Moyo 72'.
BRADFORD C: 12. Matt Duke, 2. Stephen Darby, 24. Nathan Doyle, 16. Carl
McHugh, 3. James Meredith, 30. Scott Brown, 14. Will Atkinson, 8. Ritchie
Jones, 18. Gary Jones 81', 17. Alan Connell 76', 11. Garry Thompson 76',.
SUBS: 1. Jon McLaughlin, 9. James Hanson 76', 19. Adam Baker, 20. Zavon
Hines, 21. Nahki Wells 76', 23. Rory McArdle 81', 31. Forrayah Bass.
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Final whistle - match report
Report by Simon Parker (T&A)
City's crammed fixture list must squeeze in another game after the FA Cup
first round trip to Northampton finished 1-1 this afternoon.
Will Atkinson's well-taken first goal of the season gave the Bantams a
deserved half-time lead. But former City loan striker Louis Moult levelled
with a header which means a replay at Valley Parade, probably a week on
Tuesday.
Phil Parkinson had made four changes from the Wigan game, including a debut
for 18-year-old Scott Brown in a diamond midfield. The young Scot gave a
very promising performance.
The reworked City settled well with Ritchie Jones seeing plenty of the ball
and Garry Thompson and Alan Connell linking effectively up front.
Connell fired over before Thompson took too long to cross on a dangerous
break, denying Jones the chance of tap-in in front of goal.
Matt Duke, who had a loan spell with Northampton last season, twice denied
them with saves - one a superb effort low down to keep out a header from
Moult.
City were playing the better football and got their rewards with the opening
goal after 32 minutes. Connell received Gary Jones' pass on the right and
Atkinson finished his cut-back with a precise shot into the bottom corner.
Northampton came out firing for the second half but Duke was equal to it. He
saved superbly from Moult's header, although the offside flag was up, and
then slid at his feet when Adebayo Akinfenwa tried to slip the striker
through.
But Moult got his revenge on 62 minutes, climbing above Carl McHugh to nod
home John Johnson's cross.
City picked up their game again after the equaliser and were inches away
from regaining the lead with a Connell shot which deflected off Kelvin
Langmead.
James Hanson and Nahki Wells took over in attack for the last`15 minutes and
the Bermudian thought he should have had a penalty when Danny East tackled
him from behind in the box.
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When the dust settled - match report
Unwanted replay adds to Bradford City fixture pile-up
6:40am Monday 5th November 2012
By Simon Parker
Northampton 1, City 1
So that's another Tuesday night in front the telly gone out of the window.
Perhaps the club shop should start running up car stickers: "We're Bradford City, we do it three times a week."
The two sides must meet once again for the replay in eight days' time after a draw at Sixfields that nobody really wanted.
That fills in the rare gap to stretch City's current run to five successive midweek matches, or nine Tuesdays in ten.
Take it right through to the Arsenal game and they will have had only two blank dates since mid-September – a run of 11 midweekers out of 13.
City will have played on 13 Tuesdays by Christmas (that's providing they don't need a second crack at the FA Cup second round). That's the same
number as the whole of the 2010-11 campaign and only one behind last season, which included two rearranged for the wintry weather.
The players won't have a problem with all this activity. They would take proper competitive games over intense training sessions any day of the
week.
But it's a headache for managers, especially when the squad isn't the biggest like City's. That is why Phil Parkinson has drafted in Sunderland
defender John Egan for the next months.
He can expect to see plenty of action as the Bantams chief willingly rotates his options to keep his squad as fresh as possible through all the
constant football.
It will be a surprise to see too many, if any, unchanged line-ups. That's not tinkering on Parkinson's part but making full use of what is
available.
Before a ball was kicked, Parkinson made it clear that his squad were all first-team ready with no passengers just filling out the numbers.
City have been a victim of their own success to a degree with the remarkable run to the last eight of the Capital One Cup – and how good does
that keep sounding!
But Parkinson's faith in those who have not been regulars in the first 11 has been backed up by the performances in the knock-out competitions.
This FA Cup opener was a case in point. Watching Andrew Davies and Luke Oliver shut down Adebayo Akinfenwa a fortnight ago, who could possibly
have imagined City would return to Northampton 11 days on with a central-defensive pairing of Nathan Doyle and Carl McHugh?
And yet while the Cobblers had the clear edge in physicality, you could hardly see the join in the visiting back four. Once again the City back
door stood firm against the Northampton battering ram.
It was a very different side all-round that returned to Sixfields. Parkinson caught everyone on the hop – including opposite number Aidy
Boothroyd – with the personnel and formation.
James Hanson and Northampton's nemesis Nahki Wells were given a breather on the bench as City started Garry Thompson and Alan Connell as the
attacking tandem.
The midfield was shorn of all wingers. Instead, Parkinson dusted off the diamond with Gary Jones at the front tip and Scott Brown sitting behind
Will Atkinson and Ritchie Jones.
It worked a treat, certainly for the first half when the hosts were bamboozled as to who to mark and where.
Brown is huge for an eighteen-year-old – a beast, as Archie Christie described him when he first arrived from Scotland.
But little had been seen of this supposed wonder kid since Parkinson took over. He saw no need to rush Brown through, dropping him back to the
youth team to learn his craft without any spotlight.
So by the time he was finally unleashed for senior action, the teenager looked like he had been out there for years. It was a debut of remarkable
maturity and he can be sure of more calls to arms.
At the other end of the scale, Matt Duke handed Parkinson a goalkeeping dilemma with a performance just as assured as his heroics at the DW
Stadium.
From the moment he plunged low to save Akinfenwa's header, Duke delivered a faultless display highlighted by two excellent blocks from Louis
Moult.
The one-time City loanee looked far sharper than he had ever done in his spell at Valley Parade and he eventually got his reward for persistence
by outjumping McHugh to convert Northampton's equaliser.
But Duke could not be blamed for that as he more than fulfilled his end of the bargain, especially with one reflex stop with his left hand midway
through the first half when Moult's downward header looked destined for the net.
The centre of the pitch was no place for the faint-hearted, with three effectively facing four in a packed midfield. But with the nous of Connell
and Gary Jones, City still managed to pick their way through and find little holes to exploit.
Ritchie Jones, just as eager to impress, looked bright and was denied a clear run on goal by Joe Widdowson's pace after Connell's clever reverse
pass slipped him away.
Then Thompson took too long to cross from a promising counter-attack as Jones made 50 yards to prime himself for a tap-in.
But City deservedly took the lead after 32 minutes through Will Atkinson, another who is really coming into his own.
Gary Jones swept a pass out to Connell, who did not even look up as he laid the perfect cut-back into the midfielder's path. The finish was
equally as precise, sweeping the ball low into the far bottom corner.
Northampton upped the ante with the change of shape at the break and Moult seemed to embark on a one-man crusade against his former club.
Duke spectacularly tipped over one header and though the offside flag was up, neither of them knew it at the time.
Northampton thought they had bundled the ball over from a corner but a goal-kick was given instead. But the increased pressure paid off just
after the hour with Moult's second score in successive games.
With neither side keen on the extra fixture, both pushed on for a winner. Duke saved from Akinfenwa, while Northampton keeper Shane Higgs watched
helplessly as Connell's deflected effort wrong-footed him but crept wide by inches.
Hanson and Wells were thrown into the fray – and City's top scorer looked set to add to his bundle of goals on this happiest of hunting grounds.
Latching on to a pass from Gary Jones, Wells was goal-side of right back Danny East bursting into the box when the defender slid in from behind
to get a toe on the ball.
East may have got contact but he clearly took the man first – but referee Geoff Eltringham gave nothing to the fury of Parkinson on the
touchline.
So we'll have to do it again next week to complete the Northampton trilogy. But even allowing for the frustration from the late non-call, City's
boss had plenty to smile about.
Parkinson said: "We knew that Northampton were the worst team to play with the back four we had out. But we had a good footballing side out
there.
"The change of system gave them something to think about and it worked great. Gary Jones was different class and Thommo and Alan Connell were
excellent in front of him.
"They changed to 4-4-2 for the second half and I was just going to do that when they scored. But it was a performance that I was really pleased
with and you couldn't ask for more."
Attendance: 2,512
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BRADFORD CITY SIGN EGAN ON LOAN
By Simon Parker (T&A)
City have signed Sunderland centre half John Egan on loan until January.
The 20-year-old Cork-born defender will train with the club for the first
time on Monday. He could be involved in the home game against Chesterfield.
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From the Official BCFC website…
HANSON DOUBTFUL FOR CHESTERFIELD GAME
City boss Phil Parkinson has revealed that James Hanson is a doubt for
Tuesday's npower League 2 home fixture with Chesterfield after missing
training today (Monday) with a virus.
Apart from the long-term injured trio of Luke Oliver, Kyel Reid and Andrew
Davies, plus the suspended Ricky Ravenhill, Hanson was the only senior
player missing from the training pitch this morning as City put together
their final preparations for tomorrow night.
Hanson was expected to battle it out with Nahki Wells, Alan Connell and
Garry Thompson for one of City's striking berths but Parkinson admits a late
call will now have to be made regarding the involvement of the giant
striker.
Parkinson said: "Big Hans (James Hanson) has picked up a virus so we will
have to make a late decision over him."
"It's similar to the sort of thing Ritchie Jones had last week.
"He (Hanson) wasn't in today but we'll have to see if he improves any more
tomorrow."
The question mark over Hanson's fitness is just one of a number of selection
posers Parkinson will need to think through ahead of the visit of the
Spireities this Tuesday.
New loan signing John Egan is in contention for his first start following
the completion of his temporary transfer from Sunderland, while Craig
Forsyth is now back available after being ineligible for City's recent cup
double-header.
The Bantams boss also made changes to his starting eleven for the Wigan
Athletic and Northampton Town cup ties last week, with several players
impressing during either one or both of those recent matches.
After coming through both ties unbeaten, Parkinson knows he can turn to
pretty much all of his squad members when selecting a side for tomorrow
night or in the future.
Parkinson added "As I said after the game on Saturday and again to the
players this morning, it's all about the squad at the moment."
"It's not just about the eleven players selected for a particular match.
"I have a squad of players here who can all play. Everyone here is good
enough to start and to make a contribution.
"Whoever is left out for tomorrow night, they know that they have to keep
going to make sure they are ready for when their next chance comes around.
"We will have to keep chopping and changes things slightly over this next
run of games to make sure we always put out the strongest and freshest team
possible in every single game."
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Rhodes on a Sky high as Bradford City strike it rich from Arsenal tie
7:00am Friday 2nd November 2012 (prior to Northampton FA Cup game)
By Simon Parker
City could bank up to £300,000 from playing Arsenal as Julian Rhodes called for the cup cash to keep rolling in.
The club are looking at their biggest windfall since the Premier League days after Sky confirmed they will be showing next month's Capital One
Cup quarter-final live on TV.
Joint chairman Rhodes believes the money will go a long way towards balancing the books for the season. But he urged City not to take their foot
off the pedal when they kick off the FA Cup at Northampton tomorrow.
Rhodes said: "The Arsenal tie is brilliant and a great reward for the progress we have made in the cups so far. And we've got a chance against
anyone at our place.
"It will be the biggest game at Valley Parade since we beat Liverpool to stay in the Premier League. We're not going to rush into the pricing yet
because we've got to really make this count.
"At the start of the season we set the budget high. We wanted to get a good squad together that could generate extra money like this.
"There are areas where we can generate that extra income. One was cup runs, which have been brilliant so far, and the second is add-ons for
players like Andre Wisdom at Liverpool, which is happening.
"Finally, if all else fails, we would have to look at selling players in January – which we don't want to have to do.
"If we can get enough from the first two areas, then hopefully we can afford to strengthen instead.
"We're making emergency loan signings like Craig Forsyth because Kyel Reid was injured and now we're looking at centre halves because we've had a
disaster in that area."
Another victory at Sixfields, where City won in the league ten days ago, comes with an £18,000 reward – with a further £27,000 windfall on offer
for making it through round two.
Rhodes added: "The Northampton game is very important to the club – as is the JPT tie against Port Vale. The better you can do in the cups has a
knock-on influence in the league and it gets people behind you.
"Tomorrow is another huge game. The FA Cup prize money can be enormous – you don't get any in the League Cup – and the TV fees are so much more
because it's still the number one competition.
"It's fantastic that we are doing well in the League Cup. Nobody could have ever imagined we would be here in the quarter-finals.
"Tuesday night has to go down as one of the best for a long, long time. But we have to keep it going."
Talks began behind the scenes yesterday to decide on ticket prices for the Arsenal game and the economics of opening up areas of the stadium that
have not been used in recent seasons.
The mouth-watering Dece-mber 11 match rekindles memories of the two home games against the Gunners in the top flight when City claimed a 2-1 win
and a draw.
Rhodes joked: "I've heard Arsene Wenger was having nightmares bearing in mind his appalling record at Valley Parade with only point from a
possible six. The one draw he was dreading was Bradford away!
"It's not a nice one for him and he won't enjoy it at all. If we've got that big crowd behind us and perform like we can then who knows.
"Arsenal will be the red-hot favourites obviously but we showed the other night that anything can happen.
"It's great for the club and for the city itself. This week has got everybody buzzing.
"The fans at Wigan were incredible but I shouldn't be surprised anymore. The past ten or 11 years have not been good for them but they keep on
coming and they deserve this more than anyone.
"We're the only team in England still in all three cup competitions right now. Phil (Parkinson) is right, we will need more players if we qualify
for the Europa League!"
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Bradford City: Delay in revealing prices for Arsenal cup tie
7:00pm Monday 5th November 2012
By Simon Parker
City must wait for Arsenal to get back from Germany before finalising ticket details for their Capital One Cup quarter-final.
A meeting at Valley Parade today came up with their suggestions over pricing and allocation, which have been sent to the Premier League side.
But they are not expecting a response until after Arsenal's Champions League game in Gelsenkirchen, where they are playing Schalke tomorrow
night.
Director of operations David Baldwin said: "We can understand people's frustrations. We are just as keen as everybody else to get this resolved
but we have to prepare this right.
"We discussed the situation in full yesterday and have put our proposals to Arsenal with regards to segregation and pricing. There has to be an
agreed ground configuration criteria as well as the league criteria over tickets.
"We now have to wait for a response from Arsenal but all the main decision-makers are currently away on international duty."
The fifth-round tie takes place on Tuesday, December 11. Sky have already confirmed they will be showing it live, netting City an overall profit
of around £300,000 from the night.
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