FAC2 D1-1 (H) Brentford Friday November 30, 2012. K.O. 7:45PM. #bcafc

Replay (to be confirmed) December 18th

Third round draw
Bury or Southend v Bradford or Brentford

Read this article online
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/46810838356/

CFML Daily News
http://paper.li/f-1315926867

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

Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/clubhouse?teamId=387&lang=EN

The "Social media Corner"
http://paper.li/f-1315926867
http://www.bradfordcity.tv/

Official Mobile app
http://communicatoremail.com/IN/Y2tx0dX-0UIRu4P1_588C9Eehl64XmQ-JA8WroOSpEQ/WebView.aspx

===========================

Signings, Loans and Injuries


Injuries
Andrew Davies, knee, Out 4 months (from Nov 1st)
Luke Oliver, Achillies, out for the 2012/13 season


Tom Naylor on loan from Derby County until 12 January

===========================

Match Media & Stats

Head to Head
http://www.11v11.com/teams/bradford-city/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Brentford
http://www.statto.com/football/teams/bradford-city/


Pictures
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2012/
(The T&A picture link will dfault to the last match for which pictures are available)

"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
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=357966&action=stats&lang=EN

Bradford City: Duke; Darby, McArdle, Good, Meredith; Turgott, Doyle, Ravenhill (G Jones 61), Thompson (Atkinson 61); Hanson, Connell (Wells 61).

Unused substitutes: McLaughlin, R Jones, McHugh, Baker.

Brentford: Lee; Logan, Craig, Dean, Bidwell; Forshaw, Saunders (Barron 70), Diagouraga, Forrester (Dallas 76); Hayes (German 82), Donaldson.

Unused substitutes: Moore, Redwood, Oyeleke, Pierre.

Referee: G Sutton (Lincoln).

===========================

Final whistle - match report


Road trip if Bradford City win FA Cup replay

6:40am Monday 3rd December 2012

By Simon Parker

City will hit the road in the FA Cup third round if they can overcome Brentford in the replay.

But the Bantams missed out on a potential money-spinner against Premier League opposition after being paired away to either Bury or Southend in

yesterday's draw.

Their game at Gigg Lane on Saturday finished 1-1 – the same score as City's draw with Brentford.

Phil Parkinson reckons his side are capable of beating the League One high-fliers when they meet again at Griffin Park on Tuesday, December 18.

"Brentford probably feel they've done the job and the pressure will be on them massively," he said.

"They are a big club in that division with a big budget and are right up there.

"We can go down and play confidently and I do believe we can give them problems."

===========================

When the dust settled - match report


Bradford City marathon men preserve gr-eight cup record

7:00am Saturday 1st December 2012

By Simon Parker

City 1 Brentford 1

City have played more football than anyone in the country this season – and they will have to squeeze in yet another game after last night's

second-round FA Cup clash with Brentford ended in stalemate.

James Hanson's second goal in successive outings ensured they are still unbeaten in all knock-out competitions.

His close-range strike stretched that impressive run to eight – and cancelled out the League One side's opener from local lad Clayton Donaldson.

City were transformed after a treble change on the hour as Phil Parkinson threw on the cavalry. It was a bold throw of the dice which so nearly

paid off.

But it does mean a replay at Griffin Park on Tuesday, December 18, sandwiched between equally lengthy league trips to Southend and Wycombe.

That is hardly the build-up to Christmas that anyone would have wanted – but the prospect of a third-round FA Cup money-spinner remains.

This was already City's 28th game of a jam-packed campaign – a relentless schedule that has also included four extra-times and three penalty

shoot-outs.

So once again Phil Parkinson gave his pack a bit of a shuffle and handed debuts to loan deadline-day signings Blair Turgott and Curtis Good.

Alan Connell and Ricky Ravenhill were the other changes from the Bristol Rovers draw but those left out were all on the bench as the City chief

kept plenty in reserve.

Turgott got an early chance to cross after Connell forced an error from Jake Bidwell. But Hanson's attempted volley was blocked by Bees skipper

Tony Craig.

Garry Thompson, playing on the left, was bundled over 25 yards from goal but Connell's free-kick floated high into the deserted TL Dallas Stand.

Turgott made a confident start and linked well with Connell, whose effort cannoned off the imposing figure of Toumani Diagouraga.

Matt Duke's only concern in the opening quarter was to carefully tip over a Donaldson cross that went spinning goalwards off Good.

Richard Lee, recalled in Brentford's goal, was equally redundant as there was an absence of any goalmouth action to warm the fans who had braved

the sub-zero temperature.

City were comfortably holding their own against higher-division opponents – something they had demonstrated time and again in their cup exploits

already.

Duke was finally forced into action after 35 minutes, turning away a low drive by Harry Forrester.

Brentford won a gaggle of corners which City saw off. But their resistance was broken two minutes before the break and inevitably it was

Donaldson who made them pay with his 11th goal of the campaign.

Brentford broke from their own half through Adam Forshaw and Paul Hayes. Ravenhill slipped in trying to make a challenge and the ball ricocheted

past Good into the path of the striker.

The Manningham-born frontman, who had snubbed Peter Jackson's advances to sign for the West London club the summer before last, was on to it in a

flash and rifled past Duke into the bottom corner.

Donaldson then angered the Kop with his goal celebration by "shushing" the fans, ensuring a loud jeer when he next chased for possession.

Donaldson had another chance at the start of the second half but headed over from a Sam Saunders corner.

Connell instantly went clear but was pegged back by an offside flag as he accelerated away.

It was threatening to become the Donaldson show and the striker cleverly spun away from James Meredith's clutches to shoot on the turn from

Saunders' pass. But Duke was equal to it, spreading himself well to make an excellent save.

City responded with a corner of their own but Good's shot from the loose ball was a typical centre half's effort and flew over.

It was time to call for the cavalry and Parkinson went for bust in the 61st minute by making all three substitutions.

Top scorer Nahki Wells, Gary Jones and Will Atkinson came on for Connell, Ravenhill and Thompson – the changes bringing an immediate increase in

volume.

The difference was noticeable straight away. Lee just managed to finger away a cross by Atkinson and then stood strong at his near post to beat

out a Wells shot.

Brentford did not have such an assured air about their play and right back Shaleum Logan was the first name in the book for a late challenge on

Atkinson.

And City's growing control was rewarded with an equaliser from Hanson with 20 minutes left.

It owed a lot to Atkinson's good work on the left wing, working the room for Meredith's cross. Brentford made a mess of the clearance as Turgott

tried to reach Hanson's knockdown and the ball dropped for the striker to rifle his second goal in a week from ten yards.

The pattern of the game had changed completely, with City now in the ascendancy.

Jones fired just over and Hanson held off Diagouraga but could not keep his shot down.

Then Duke had to be diligent at the other end with a save from Logan after Meredith had slipped over in the box.

But City thought they had got their noses in front when Hanson's flick on dropped for Wells to poke past Lee.

The ball bounced against the foot of the post and, as the Bermudian was poised to tap home the rebound, Diagouraga appeared with a goal-saving

interception.

Both sides pushed for a decisive late strike to avoid the extra game and City spent the bulk of the four added minutes deep in Brentford

territory.

But the stalemate remained and that's one more Tuesday night taken up on the calendar.

ATTENDANCE: 3,620

===========================

Gunners get in Christmas spirit with Bradford City

4:00pm Friday 30th November 2012 in Sport By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter

Arsenal will make a £1,000 donation to the Bradford Burns Unit as part of City's traditional Christmas fund-raising campaign.

The Gunners have agreed to pay for 1,000 Santa hats from the Friends of Bradford City which will be distributed to away fans at Valley Parade

before the Capital One Cup quarter-final on December 11.

===========================

> Here is a message received from Andy McCormack, editor of the Port Vale
> fanzine 'Derek I'm Gutted!!!'
>
> ''Please inform any City supporters travelling to the Paint Pot match on
> December 4th that the Bulls Head is the pub to visit - very away fan
> friendly and my matchday headquarters."
>
> The Bulls Head is in St. John's Square, Burslem, ST6 3AJ (01782-834153).
> '2012 CAMRA West Midlands Region Cider & Perry Pub of the Year.' Sounds
> like they have a good selection of ales.
>
> Sorry I didn't pass this message on sooner.
>
> John Watmough

===========================


Turgott admits Bradford City loan will help him 'man up'

7:40am Monday 3rd December 2012

By Simon Parker

Rising England star Raheem Sterling is backing pal Blair Turgott to come of age at Valley Parade.

Striker Sterling was catapulted into Roy Hodgson's side less than a year after making his Liverpool debut – and he is confident Turgott can

propel his own career during his loan stint with the Bantams.

The 18-year-old West Ham winger made his senior debut in Friday's 1-1 draw with Brentford in the FA Cup and showed plenty of promise.

Turgott, who is seven months older than Sterling, said: "I'm good friends with Raheem and we speak all the time.

"We were on the phone again last week and he was saying how important being on loan will be for me.

"It's always good to play in a first-team environment and gain that experience. It's something good on your CV.

"I'm at a good age now and feel I'm ready to be playing. You see how well Raheem has done. When I get to 19, I want to have some games under my

belt."

Turgott has been with West Ham for ten years and admits he has stepped out of his comfort zone but he believes it is a necessary move.

He said: "It's something you have to do as a footballer. West Ham is all I know but it's not always going to be an easy route.

"Coming up here is a great experience for me and I've got to man up a bit going away from home.

"When I first came, I didn't even know where the local petrol station was. But it's all part of the learning process.

"Staying in a different area and being away from familiar territory are things that are going to help me in life and not just football.

"It's a big, big club which is very attractive and I'm really enjoying the chance to join in."

Phil Parkinson has already tapped into the West Ham wing academy with Kyel Reid and Zavon Hines. Seeing familiar faces at the club has helped

England under-19 international Turgott settle in fast.

"I knew them both from before and was quite good friends with Zavon when he was there," he said.

"It helps to have people you already know around the training ground. But to be fair, everyone has been very friendly and made me welcome.

"There is a real buzz around the place. Right down to the youth team boys, they are all in a good mood.

"But the manager has to keep people's feet on the floor to keep the run going.

"It's completely different to England because you're playing for three points every week, fans are screaming your name or booing you.

"You have to get used to everything that's in the territory of being a footballer. England helps but there's so much more to learn."