L2 L1-2 (A) Wimbledon Saturday February 16, 2013. K.O. 3:00PM. #bcafc

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

Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
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The "Social media Corner"
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Signings, Loans and Injuries


Injuries
Luke Oliver, Achillies, out for the 2012/13 season
Rory McArdle,ankle, ongoing treatment (see below)

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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_pics2012/
(The T&A picture link will dfault to the last match for which pictures are available)

Commentary
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/10233394.AFC_Wimbledon_vs_Bradford_City___live_blog/

"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=345359&action=stats&lang=EN&wjb=
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21448220

AFC Wimbledon: Sullivan; Meades, Bennett, Mitchel-King (Balkestein 63), Hussey; Yussuf (Saint-Luce 63), Pell, Sweeney, Moore (Midson 60); Alexander, Ajala. Unused substitutes: Cummings, Jaimez-Ruiz, Long, Strutton.

Bradford City: Duke; Darby, Dickson, Nelson, Davies; Jones, Doyle, Atkinson, Reid (Wells 85); Thompson, Gray (Hanson 65). Unused substitutes: McLaughlin, McHugh, Hines, Turgott, Good,

Referee: S Bratt (West Midlands).

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Final whistle - match report

Unofficial quote of the day

"And to rub it in, referee Steve Bratt apologised to Gary Jones after the match for giving a corner when it should have been a goal kick!"

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Ref takes centre stage as Bradford City fluff their lines

6:20am Monday 18th February 2013

By Simon Parker

AFC Wimbledon 2, City 1

In the world of theatre it's seen as a good thing to have a faulty dress rehearsal.

Make a couple of rickets in the warm-up and it doesn't matter. Get them out the system before the major curtain call.

That's what City will be hoping after suffering the most head-scratching defeat of their season against the side currently propping up the entire

Football League.

Hardly the ideal preparation for the biggest game in the club's modern history six days from now.

So perhaps it's for the best that City leaked two soft goals this week rather than next. Better to be beaten three minutes into stoppage time at

Kingsmeadow than Wembley.

But that shouldn't mask the fact that this was three points criminally tossed away. As one deflated fan remarked later, Wimbledon might as well

have carried a swag bag over their shoulder.

For the second season running, City left Kingston-upon-Thames – which is nowhere near as leafy as it may sound – with a seething sense of

injustice at the referee.

Last time it was Darren Deadman and the two phantom penalties. On Saturday, the visitors were berating the officious Steve Bratt for giving a

corner that should have been a goal-kick.

Bratt even apologised afterwards – as, those with long memories will recall, he did to Steve Schumacher for an errant red card during City's

relegation to the bottom flight. Just like then, it meant nothing.

The damage had already been inflicted by on-loan Crawley striker Gary Alexander, who took advantage of defensive discontent to leap highest and

hardest with a firm flick-header into the far corner of Matt Duke's net.

So the team that had not won at home since October had pick-pocketed victory from the team that are in the last two of the Capital One Cup.

Football, at least, is never predictable.

There are those who would have seen it coming. Typical City, they will say, after the most professional of midweek away wins at form side Wycombe

is followed by late surrender to the division's wooden spoonists.

But the performance should have been good enough to clinch the win double that would have sent them down Wembley Way with a spring in the

collective step. For 83 minutes, that looked the case with a first league double seemingly secure.

Those doubting their mentality with Swansea so tantalisingly close should have been silenced.

While the Swans finished their preparations at Anfield yesterday, a trip to the home of Wimbledon and Kingstonian could not have been more of an

extreme to City's next port of call.

The Wembley car park is probably bigger than a ground with a capacity of 4,720. Wembley's last fixture saw England take on Brazil – Kingsmeadow's

was a visit from Concord Rangers!

Throw in a pitch with more sand than Southport and a home side fighting for their league lives and all the ingredients were there for a banker

defeat.

It's just nobody would have predicted the manner in which it unfolded. "We snatched defeat from the jaws of victory," sighed a disbelieving Duke

as he boarded the team bus.

Meanwhile, the din drifting from the open window of the Wimbledon dressing room illustrated what the smash-and-grab three points – their first

win in six – had meant to them. The battle for survival could not be tighter.

At the other end of the table, City's hopes of closing right in on the pack fell by the wayside; that great result in Wycombe wasted in the final

act.

Phil Parkinson had kept the same team as he looked for a similar outcome. That should have been the reward.

Nahki Wells and James Hanson were again left to recharge batteries on the sidelines, while Andrew Davies had another opportunity to establish his

match fitness at centre half.

The big defender did seem to be limping in the closing stages after suffering what turned out to be a spasm in his calf. On a couple of occasions

he reassured the bench that all was well and stayed on for the duration.

It was a call that had some questioning the manager for not forcing a change but Parkinson insisted Davies was, and will, be fine.

A travelling army of 621 was a great turn-out, given the expected costs of cup final weekend. Even if City's numbers are regular boosted by a

healthy number of southern-based fans, there was still a significant amount who had trekked down the M1 a week early.

They were not rewarded with the greatest of spectacles. The first half, in fact, was pretty dire.

Bratt's whistle took centre stage, stopping any flow of a game that was already hampered by the bobbly, uneven pitch.

City were never in any danger. But neither, if truth be told, were Wimbledon as any shots of such were hopeful efforts from long distance that

did not force a save at either end.

Nearly an hour had passed when Dons winger Toby Ajala, whose lack of end product nullified an impressive acceleration, finally forced a

regulation stop from Duke.

That sparked an immediate – and decisive – reply from City. Kyel Reid flicked a through-ball towards the box, defender Alan Bennett got nowhere

near enough on his back-header and Garry Thompson latched on to it with the crispest of volleys past 42-year-old keeper Neil Sullivan.

It was a cracking finish and another powerful statement for a player who must have a great chance of starting on Sunday, though probably back in

a wide midfield role.

Thompson could have nailed the game from City's next attack. With Wimbledon wobbling, he stole a march on Bennett again but the ball kicked at

the crucial moment and his shot skewed wide.

Reid then fired across goal as the visiting momentum continued to build – but a second goal did not materialise. Not for the first time, City

paid dear for being unable to complete the kill.

By this point, Neal Ardley had used all three substitutes and the changes made a difference. Top scorer Jack Midson, mystifyingly left out of the

first 11, gave Alexander the support he needed up front. French winger Kevin Sainte-Luce's arrival injected more pace.

Sainte-Luce was picked up after being bombed by Cardiff over an assault charge. He still can't play away games because he is on a curfew to be

back in Wales by 8pm.

Ryan Dickson certainly knew he was there – though Sainte-Luce had no impact in the 83rd-minute equaliser which was credited to the unfortunate

left back.

City were slow to pick up from a quick throw-in and Pim Balkestein's cross seemed to catch everyone unawares before ending in the net. Midson

milked it – and was still claiming the goal afterwards – but the last touch was off Dickson.

Suddenly three points had become one – and even that disappeared in the last of the three added minutes.

City had just cleared out Wimbledon's first corner of the game when Midson over-ran the ball as he tried to beat Stephen Darby.

Both sides turned to trot upfield for the goal-kick but Bratt, on the advice of an assistant, changed his mind and gave the corner. Alexander's

head did the rest.

Attendance: 4,320


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When the dust settled - match report


Blow for Bradford City ahead of Wembley

7:40am Monday 18th February 2013

By Simon Parker

Referee Steve Bratt admitted he blundered over the game-winning corner as City stumbled in their last warm-up for Wembley.

Bottom club Wimbledon's last-gasp victory left a sour taste to begin the build-up to Sunday's Capital One Cup showpiece with Swansea.

Gary Jones revealed that the official had apologised for getting it wrong over the corner which led to Gary Alexander's winning header.

Jones said: "It was never a corner. The linesman gave it from the other side of the pitch – there must have been ten bodies in the way.

"I asked the referee at the end of the game and he said he'd made a mistake.

"That doesn't cushion the blow after losing in the last minute. It was a massive error from the referee but we've still got to defend it and then

we get a point."

City looked to be cruising towards back-to-back away wins once Garry Thompson fired them in front. But unlike at Wycombe, they were unable to

find a second goal – and were stunned by a late one-two.

Skipper Jones said: "I don't know how we lost that game. The second half was the most one-sided I've played in all season.

"That was probably our best away performance. We were totally in control of the game.

"Thommo scored a great goal and maybe should have scored a second but the pitch had a lot to do with it. The ball wouldn't sit down for him.

"It's a massive disappointment because we were in total control."

Defeat leaves the Bantams still seven points adrift of the League Two play-offs, with a game in hand as they switch focus to the cup final.

Jones said: "Football's like that. It kicks you when you don't expect it.

"It would have been brilliant going to Wembley on the back of two wins. That's not the case.

"But we've got to pick ourselves up. There's no point in dwelling on it now and we've got a great week coming up."

Phil Parkinson denied that Wimbledon's first home win since October was down to City thinking of Wembley.

The City chief said: "People might say that but it's totally inaccurate. I thought the lads were magnificent.

"We just needed that extra goal to kill them off but couldn't get it. I thought they were there for the taking and we should be talking about

three points.

"I just felt so confident. I couldn't see them having a shot, let alone scoring a goal – and they scored two.

"Their corner looked like a goal kick to me. All the players started walking towards the halfway line then the ref appeared to change his mind.

"The fourth official said to him on his mic that he thought he was wrong. But we've still conceded two sloppy goals."

Parkinson also confirmed that Andrew Davies was "fine" after the defender was troubled by a calf spasm in the closing minutes.

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CITY SEEK ADVICE ON STEWART COMPENSATION RULING
By Simon Parker (T&A)

City have moved a step closer to appealing against FIFA's decision to order
them to pay Falkirk £215,000 in training compensation for Mark Stewart.

The club's solicitors have asked for the details of how the governing body
came to their ruling.

Ben Jones, partner at Bradford firm Petherbridge Bassra, said: "The
motivated decision has been requested and will be scrutinised by myself and
Simon Csoka QC of Carmelite Chambers.

"The early indications are that it will lead to positive advice on appeal
being submitted to the club."

The same legal team successfully restored City to the FA Cup in December
after they were initially kicked out for fielding Curtis Good when he was
ineligible.

Director of operations David Baldwin said: "We've instructed legal counsel
and we will sit down in due course when all the information has been
provided by FIFA to decide about an appeal."

Stewart, who now plays for Dundee, moved south of the border to City in the
summer of 2011 before Phil Parkinson came in. But he failed to score a goal
and finished the season on loan at Hamilton.


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McArdle fighting to be fit for Bradford City at cup final

7:30am Saturday 16th February 2013

By Simon Parker

Rory McArdle is staying open-minded about his chances of making Wembley.

City are pulling out all the stops to get their versatile defender back in time for the Capital One Cup final a week tomorrow.

McArdle has been sidelined for a fortnight since injuring his ankle in the first half at Fleetwood. But intensive treatment with medical team

Matt Barrass and Chris Royston has raised the chances of a quick recovery.

The Northern Ireland international refuses to give up but remains philosophical about lining up against Swansea.

"Each day so far it's been a lot better but I don't really know if I'll be ready," he said.

"If I do make it, that will be a relief. If I don't, I will be gutted but it's one of those things.

"If there are any problems and Matt says it's not worth risking it, then I'll have to accept it.

"But Matt and Chris are doing everything they can. I'm getting treatment twice a day and hopefully all their hard work will pay off."

McArdle had played more minutes than anyone else in the squad until he was forced to hobble off at Highbury.

After initial fears about the severity of the problem, the swelling had subsided by the following morning.

A scan at the end of last week still suggested there could be more serious damage. But that did not stack up with how McArdle was feeling and a

specialist confirmed that he was on the mend.

The defender said: "The scan came back saying the injury was a grade three, which was a torn ligament. That's the worst-case scenario.

"But Matt was adamant it didn't feel like that when he checked and I wasn't in any pain.

"We saw the specialist and luckily he agreed and was happy with how stable the ankle was.

"I've been in the gym, on the cross trainer, on the trampoline and started straight-line running again on Thursday morning. I'm slowly getting

there.

"If I keep on top of it then hopefully it won't get any worse and by next week I can get back into training.

"The final is a once in a lifetime opportunity but just to miss games in general is hard.

"But Tuesday was a great result because the league form's not been what it should be. I see no reason why we can't get another win at Wimbledon

and then that sets us up nicely for an enjoyable week before Wembley."

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