Read this article online
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/46810838356/
===========================
Signings, Loans and Injuries
Injuries
===========================
Preview
http://bbc.in/1bIlsTj
Game links
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11019426.FT__City_1_Port_Vale_0/
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=386744&action=stats&lang=EN
Highlight/ Goal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pcxgTpDxgs
http://youtu.be/qvH9-mehjfs
Post Game Interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CoMS4NUEIyo
===========================
Final whistle - match report
Stadium erupts into Valley of cheers as McHugh's stoppage-time header gives Bantams first home win since September
7:30am Wednesday 19th February 2014
By Simon Parker
Bradford City 1 Port Vale 0
It’s been a long, long wait – for City and for goal hero Carl McHugh.
The Bantams had waited 14 games for that victory and nearly five months for one at Valley Parade.
For McHugh, it had been 13 months since he last hit the net. But the young Irishman doesn’t do small goals. His last one was that never-to-be-forgotten header past childhood idol Shay Given against Aston Villa.
Last night’s first of the season wasn’t far behind that in terms of significance.
Eighty seven days on from beating MK Dons 3-2, City have finally added to the wins column. For the first time all season, they won a game after being level at half-time.
And Phil Parkinson, his players, the board, the fans and everyone within the vicinity of Valley Parade can take a deep breath.
The feelings at the final whistle after McHugh’s stoppage-time winner were as much relief as joy.
McHugh wouldn’t have even played if it wasn’t for Matthew Bates being ruled out with a hip problem. That meant a return to the left-back role where he had struggled last time at Sheffield United a month ago.
Nathan Doyle took over from Matty Dolan in central midfield after replacing him at half-time in the Carlisle defeat.
And Kyle Bennett got the nod over Garry Thompson on the right wing, with the brief to take on Vale at every opportunity.
There were no defenders on the City bench, which included Mark Yeates for the first time since Bramall Lane.
While City’s recent home woes were well chronicled, Valley Parade had been a happy hunting ground for Vale, who were unbeaten in their previous five league visits.
Last season’s win had been a smash-and-grab in a game that City dominated and the home side started this one on the front foot. James Hanson almost nipped in ahead of keeper Chris Neal and Bennett and Adam Reach had efforts charged down within the opening two minutes.
Reach then clipped an inviting long ball for Hanson to chase and he fired first time across goal from the corner of the box.
But City survived a huge scare in the tenth minute when McLaughlin shanked his clearance. Suddenly he was marooned out of goal as Chris Lines claimed the ball 35 yards out towards the touchline.
The midfielder took aim at the unguarded net but Rory McArdle saved his keeper’s bacon by heading off the line.
Reach restored home confidence with one of those driving runs that is fast becoming his trademark. He forced the first corner and from it, City were so close to an opener.
McHugh flicked Jones’s low kick across goal, where Hanson was blocked by Neal at the far post. The rebound came out to Reach, who had two stabs at it, the second a curler that the keeper tipped over the bar.
As City looked to build up a head of steam, they were almost caught cold on the break by Ben Williamson. But McArdle made another big defensive play, tracking back 50 yards with him to make the block.
Vale skipper Doug Loft took advantage of a poor back header from Doyle and nipped the bouncing ball away from McHugh to burst into the box but McLaughlin made amends for his earlier lapse to make a strong block.
But Loft blotted his own copybook with a cynical body-check on Reach to follow Anthony Griffith into the book. Once again, the on-loan winger was really looking the part on City’s left flank as the Kop modified the Kyle Reid song in tribute.
Gary Jones was also throwing himself forward and swapped passes with Andrew Davies before firing past the post from 20 yards. As half-time approached, City continued to press and McHugh nodded wide from a Jones free-kick.
It had been a hugely encouraging half from the home side and the crowd appreciated their efforts. But – with shades of last season – the scoreline remained goalless.
Mclean made an immediate nuisance of himself from the resumption, his overhead kick from close range causing panic in the Vale ranks as Loft almost cleared into his own net.
City had restarted in the same vein and Griffith was lucky not to see red when he caught Bennett after the winger had crossed the ball. Davies headed over from the free-kick and Reach drove across goal as the charge continued.
The one-way traffic was briefly interrupted as McLaughlin beat out a snap-shot from Loft but it was a rare excursion up the other end.
Vale were generally content to shut down City at every turn and Mclean seemed a regular victim for some strong-arm treatment. Not that referee Mark Brown seemed over-concerned with their approach.
Garry Thompson replaced Bennett with just under 20 minutes left but all eyes were once again on the other wing as another Reach raid ended with an unanswered shout for hand ball against Adam Yates.
Hanson’s cross to the near post was taken off Reach’s toe by the diving Neal before the Middlesbrough man struck the Vale woodwork, meeting Stephen Darby’s centre with a half-volley against the foot of the post.
Try as they might, it just wouldn’t go in and Vale fired another warning from a sporadic counter-attack through substitute Jordan Hugill.
For all the incessant City pressure, the away team had the bulk of the shots on target – a fact backed up when Jones drove into the Kop.
They huffed and puffed but the elusive breakthrough just would not materialise – until stoppage time.
Then Jones swung over corner number eight and McHugh rose above the pack to steer the ball back in the direction it came from into the top corner.
It felt like a cup winner; it probably meant more in the grand scheme of things.
City can now relax and look forward to the next two home games with renewed vigour.
===========================
When the dust settled - match report
Mc-Phew! Parky admits he is a relieved man as he heaps praise on Bantams match-winner
8:00am Wednesday 19th February 2014
By Simon Parker
Phil Parkinson hailed Carl McHugh’s “extra half yard of desire” as City finally celebrated their first win since November.
The defender’s header in stoppage time sunk Port Vale and ended a 14-game wait for a victory.
The 1-0 win at Valley Parade, their first at home in 11 attempts, removed the pressure that was building on Parkinson and his team as they risked being sucked into the relegation battle.
A delighted Bantams boss said: “You need big moments in games of football and in seasons. That header was a big moment for us and so similar to the one he scored against Aston Villa last year.
“We always talk to the lads about having that extra half a yard in desire, whether it’s sliding in to score a goal or defending at the other end. That’s what wins games and Carl showed it.
“I’m so relieved because it’s been a long time coming. We’ve had so many close calls to getting those three points – the point-blank save against Crewe being the most recent.
“I felt we played well right across the game. We can bemoan our luck but we needed to put in a performance from the first minute until the last.
“We did that to a man and I don’t think anyone could deny us that victory.”
McHugh was only recalled to the side at left back after Matthew Bates was ruled out with hip trouble. A scan on Monday revealed that there is a muscle problem.
Parkinson added: “I’ve said it about Carl McHugh before. He’s probably got the biggest heart of a player I’ve ever worked with and the goal typified what he’s all about.
“He did it for us last year and he’s a massive threat in those situations.
“We’ve asked him to play slightly out of position but he stuck to his job and did well.”
City had battered away at Vale but it looked to be heading for a fifth straight home draw when they could not convert the constant pressure into a breakthrough. Adam Reach hit the post and there were several goal-mouth scrambles.
“Last time we played Port Vale here was a very similar scenario,” said Parkinson. “We had chances and they nicked it but I just felt that it couldn’t happen again.
“There was a determination to get the win and the lads were absolutely buoyant in the dressing room.
“Rightly so because they’ve given everything and some of the football we played on a very difficult pitch was top draw.
“I found it a tortuous day waiting for the game to come. We were waiting around for the kick-off but I felt we came out of the traps really quickly.
“That’s what we’re all about. Bradford City is all about getting the opposition on the back foot and making them defend. That’s got to be for 90 minutes and you could see how tired the Port Vale players were on the pitch. They were really at full stretch to contain our attacking players.”
Joint-chairman Julian Rhodes had called on the home crowd to help lift Parkinson and City at the start of a run of three successive home games.
He said: “The fans were magnificent and I want to thank them. They never stopped singing and the team fed off that.”
===========================
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/46810838356/
===========================
Signings, Loans and Injuries
Injuries
===========================
Preview
http://bbc.in/1bIlsTj
Game links
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11019426.FT__City_1_Port_Vale_0/
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=386744&action=stats&lang=EN
Highlight/ Goal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pcxgTpDxgs
http://youtu.be/qvH9-mehjfs
Post Game Interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CoMS4NUEIyo
===========================
Final whistle - match report
Stadium erupts into Valley of cheers as McHugh's stoppage-time header gives Bantams first home win since September
7:30am Wednesday 19th February 2014
By Simon Parker
Bradford City 1 Port Vale 0
It’s been a long, long wait – for City and for goal hero Carl McHugh.
The Bantams had waited 14 games for that victory and nearly five months for one at Valley Parade.
For McHugh, it had been 13 months since he last hit the net. But the young Irishman doesn’t do small goals. His last one was that never-to-be-forgotten header past childhood idol Shay Given against Aston Villa.
Last night’s first of the season wasn’t far behind that in terms of significance.
Eighty seven days on from beating MK Dons 3-2, City have finally added to the wins column. For the first time all season, they won a game after being level at half-time.
And Phil Parkinson, his players, the board, the fans and everyone within the vicinity of Valley Parade can take a deep breath.
The feelings at the final whistle after McHugh’s stoppage-time winner were as much relief as joy.
McHugh wouldn’t have even played if it wasn’t for Matthew Bates being ruled out with a hip problem. That meant a return to the left-back role where he had struggled last time at Sheffield United a month ago.
Nathan Doyle took over from Matty Dolan in central midfield after replacing him at half-time in the Carlisle defeat.
And Kyle Bennett got the nod over Garry Thompson on the right wing, with the brief to take on Vale at every opportunity.
There were no defenders on the City bench, which included Mark Yeates for the first time since Bramall Lane.
While City’s recent home woes were well chronicled, Valley Parade had been a happy hunting ground for Vale, who were unbeaten in their previous five league visits.
Last season’s win had been a smash-and-grab in a game that City dominated and the home side started this one on the front foot. James Hanson almost nipped in ahead of keeper Chris Neal and Bennett and Adam Reach had efforts charged down within the opening two minutes.
Reach then clipped an inviting long ball for Hanson to chase and he fired first time across goal from the corner of the box.
But City survived a huge scare in the tenth minute when McLaughlin shanked his clearance. Suddenly he was marooned out of goal as Chris Lines claimed the ball 35 yards out towards the touchline.
The midfielder took aim at the unguarded net but Rory McArdle saved his keeper’s bacon by heading off the line.
Reach restored home confidence with one of those driving runs that is fast becoming his trademark. He forced the first corner and from it, City were so close to an opener.
McHugh flicked Jones’s low kick across goal, where Hanson was blocked by Neal at the far post. The rebound came out to Reach, who had two stabs at it, the second a curler that the keeper tipped over the bar.
As City looked to build up a head of steam, they were almost caught cold on the break by Ben Williamson. But McArdle made another big defensive play, tracking back 50 yards with him to make the block.
Vale skipper Doug Loft took advantage of a poor back header from Doyle and nipped the bouncing ball away from McHugh to burst into the box but McLaughlin made amends for his earlier lapse to make a strong block.
But Loft blotted his own copybook with a cynical body-check on Reach to follow Anthony Griffith into the book. Once again, the on-loan winger was really looking the part on City’s left flank as the Kop modified the Kyle Reid song in tribute.
Gary Jones was also throwing himself forward and swapped passes with Andrew Davies before firing past the post from 20 yards. As half-time approached, City continued to press and McHugh nodded wide from a Jones free-kick.
It had been a hugely encouraging half from the home side and the crowd appreciated their efforts. But – with shades of last season – the scoreline remained goalless.
Mclean made an immediate nuisance of himself from the resumption, his overhead kick from close range causing panic in the Vale ranks as Loft almost cleared into his own net.
City had restarted in the same vein and Griffith was lucky not to see red when he caught Bennett after the winger had crossed the ball. Davies headed over from the free-kick and Reach drove across goal as the charge continued.
The one-way traffic was briefly interrupted as McLaughlin beat out a snap-shot from Loft but it was a rare excursion up the other end.
Vale were generally content to shut down City at every turn and Mclean seemed a regular victim for some strong-arm treatment. Not that referee Mark Brown seemed over-concerned with their approach.
Garry Thompson replaced Bennett with just under 20 minutes left but all eyes were once again on the other wing as another Reach raid ended with an unanswered shout for hand ball against Adam Yates.
Hanson’s cross to the near post was taken off Reach’s toe by the diving Neal before the Middlesbrough man struck the Vale woodwork, meeting Stephen Darby’s centre with a half-volley against the foot of the post.
Try as they might, it just wouldn’t go in and Vale fired another warning from a sporadic counter-attack through substitute Jordan Hugill.
For all the incessant City pressure, the away team had the bulk of the shots on target – a fact backed up when Jones drove into the Kop.
They huffed and puffed but the elusive breakthrough just would not materialise – until stoppage time.
Then Jones swung over corner number eight and McHugh rose above the pack to steer the ball back in the direction it came from into the top corner.
It felt like a cup winner; it probably meant more in the grand scheme of things.
City can now relax and look forward to the next two home games with renewed vigour.
===========================
When the dust settled - match report
Mc-Phew! Parky admits he is a relieved man as he heaps praise on Bantams match-winner
8:00am Wednesday 19th February 2014
By Simon Parker
Phil Parkinson hailed Carl McHugh’s “extra half yard of desire” as City finally celebrated their first win since November.
The defender’s header in stoppage time sunk Port Vale and ended a 14-game wait for a victory.
The 1-0 win at Valley Parade, their first at home in 11 attempts, removed the pressure that was building on Parkinson and his team as they risked being sucked into the relegation battle.
A delighted Bantams boss said: “You need big moments in games of football and in seasons. That header was a big moment for us and so similar to the one he scored against Aston Villa last year.
“We always talk to the lads about having that extra half a yard in desire, whether it’s sliding in to score a goal or defending at the other end. That’s what wins games and Carl showed it.
“I’m so relieved because it’s been a long time coming. We’ve had so many close calls to getting those three points – the point-blank save against Crewe being the most recent.
“I felt we played well right across the game. We can bemoan our luck but we needed to put in a performance from the first minute until the last.
“We did that to a man and I don’t think anyone could deny us that victory.”
McHugh was only recalled to the side at left back after Matthew Bates was ruled out with hip trouble. A scan on Monday revealed that there is a muscle problem.
Parkinson added: “I’ve said it about Carl McHugh before. He’s probably got the biggest heart of a player I’ve ever worked with and the goal typified what he’s all about.
“He did it for us last year and he’s a massive threat in those situations.
“We’ve asked him to play slightly out of position but he stuck to his job and did well.”
City had battered away at Vale but it looked to be heading for a fifth straight home draw when they could not convert the constant pressure into a breakthrough. Adam Reach hit the post and there were several goal-mouth scrambles.
“Last time we played Port Vale here was a very similar scenario,” said Parkinson. “We had chances and they nicked it but I just felt that it couldn’t happen again.
“There was a determination to get the win and the lads were absolutely buoyant in the dressing room.
“Rightly so because they’ve given everything and some of the football we played on a very difficult pitch was top draw.
“I found it a tortuous day waiting for the game to come. We were waiting around for the kick-off but I felt we came out of the traps really quickly.
“That’s what we’re all about. Bradford City is all about getting the opposition on the back foot and making them defend. That’s got to be for 90 minutes and you could see how tired the Port Vale players were on the pitch. They were really at full stretch to contain our attacking players.”
Joint-chairman Julian Rhodes had called on the home crowd to help lift Parkinson and City at the start of a run of three successive home games.
He said: “The fans were magnificent and I want to thank them. They never stopped singing and the team fed off that.”
===========================
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