L1 L0-2 (h) Walsall Tuesday March 25, 2014. K.O. 3:00PM. #bcafc

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


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

Signings, Loans and Injuries

League One Bradford City sign Huddersfield Town striker Jon Stead on loan until the end of the season.
http://bbc.in/P6Begf


Injuries

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


Preview
BBC http://bbc.in/1jwZe5R

Check out last night's Tunnel Cam action -
http://t.co/sFIp2vgkYo

Game links
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11101560.FT__City_0_Walsall_2/
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=368515&action=stats&lang=EN


Highlight/ Goals

...huh

Post Game Interview
http://t.co/so2lN6d77M
http://t.co/QiSHD0faB0


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

Final whistle - match report

espn
Craig Westcarr struck twice as ended Walsall ended a run of 10 games without a victory by securing a 2-0 win over Bradford that keeps alive their slim play-off hopes.

The visitors, who enjoyed more possession in a largely uneventful first half, went in front after 68 minutes when Andrew Taylor's low cross from the left found Westcarr, who just beat the advancing Jon McLaughlin to the ball to poke it into the net.

He then put the result beyond doubt with his second goal in the 78th minute with a shot from the edge of the penalty area, which looped into the net over the head of McLaughlin.

The goal, Westcarr's 14th of the season, came as a result of some neat build-up play on the right by substitutes James Baxendale and James McQuilkin.

Bradford offered little threat in attack, failing to deliver a shot on target, and their best effort was a diving header from defender Andrew Davies, which flashed wide of the post in the 29th minute.


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

When the dust settled - match report


Final whistle prompts boos all round for shot-shy Bradford City

6:00am Wednesday 26th March 2014

By Simon Parker

City 0, Walsall 2

It seems a lifetime since Kyel Reid was thrashing City’s goal of the season at the Bescot.

The winger’s spectacular long-range rocket blasted the Bantams into fourth spot in the autumn sunshine – and raised premature hopes that they could follow up one promotion with another.

As we have discovered since, that balmy afternoon was the high spot of the season.

Fast forward five months and Walsall gained their revenge at an unhappy Valley Parade, leaving City still in that League One survival mix.

Referee Keith Stroud last took charge at Wembley, where his final whistle signalled scenes of unbridled joy as promotion was secured.

This time it brought boos all round – at the end of a game when the home side failed to muster a single shot on target. It was that grim.

Walsall, like Shrewsbury on Saturday, had been out of form themselves. This was their first win in 11 games.

There were three City changes from the weekend and the biggest miss – at least until the last half hour – was James Hanson.

Both Walsall goals came after the striker had entered the fray but the Bantams are never the same side without his towering presence.

With the targetman’s back still causing an issue, Andy Gray got his first start at Valley Parade in a year. His only previous one this season was at Wolves – and that was in a hopeless cause after Nathan Doyle’s early dismissal.

There was also a surprise in midfield where Matthew Bates got the nod over Matty Dolan, who had felt ill over the weekend. Gary Jones came back in for the injured Doyle but Phil Parkinson went with the former Middlesbrough man’s experience alongside him.

The holding role was not alien to the defender, who played it regularly in his Premier League days, and Parkinson was looking for his positional discipline to allow Jones to roam.

When Jones and Dolan had partnered each other, Crewe had scored three and with Walsall operating a similar system of playing a deep-lying striker, that may have come into the manager’s thinking – even without Dolan’s sickness.

Bates was only declared fit late on after throwing up during training on Monday. Oliver McBurnie was not so lucky and a sickness bug ruled him out of a squad spot.

There were no such selection issues for Walsall. Nine of their unchanged team had started the first meeting five months earlier.

The visitors fashioned the first threat of the night after ten minutes. Andrew Taylor’s cross was only half-cleared as both City centre halves converged on the same ball.

But Adam Drury threw himself in the way of Adam Chambers’ goal-bound volley and Sam Mantom lashed the rebound high into the Kop.

City’s first attempt was an ambitious drive on the swivel from Aaron Mclean that flew well wide from 25 yards.

Andrew Davies then went close to scoring in a second successive game, meeting Jones’ free-kick with a thumping downward header that bounced past the far post with keeper Richard O’Donnell struggling.

Craig Westcarr found space to test Jon McLaughlin at the other end but his low shot was straight at the keeper.

Excitement was at a premium – the only consolation was that it wasn’t as bitterly cold as Shrewsbury three days earlier.

Rory McArdle almost put McLaughlin in trouble when he left a ball on the edge of the box that the keeper was not expecting. But he managed to recover and slide it away from the marauding Westcarr.

City needed more tempo to their play – at times it had the lethargic air of a pre-season friendly – and Kyle Bennett needed to run with the ball when he had the chance. When he did finally stretch his legs to go at left back Taylor, the cross let him down and was easily swept clear.

The half ended with an overhit Walsall free-kick curling over everyone and into the crowd – it summed up a dour 45 minutes. The few boos that rang out as the whistle sounded showed what the fans thought.

Adam Reach hardly featured at Shrewsbury and had another quiet half in his first game since extending his loan for a final month.

But the Middlesbrough winger briefly lifted the volume with a forceful run to start the second period. He won City’s first corner but, like much of what had gone on before, nothing came of it.

Bennett was making little impression on the other flank and did not do himself any favours when he appeared to back out of a 50/50 tackle in home territory.

His off night soon came to an end when Parkinson opted for Garry Thompson ten minutes in. The substitute had an instant chance to cross but lofted it behind the goal.

City’s second change on the hour created a much bigger buzz as Hanson was unleashed. Gray had not made a dent on the Walsall backline.

Hanson’s arrival kicked up the noise level for a while but still there was no hint of a proper threat on O’Donnell’s goal.

The same could not be said at the Bradford End as Walsall broke the deadlock after 68 minutes.

Taylor fired in a low cross from the left and Westcarr got a thick enough contact to divert it beyond McLaughlin for his 14th goal of the season.

It ended a personal drought that had gone on since the last time the Saddlers won two months ago.

City looked deflated and it needed a good save from McLaughlin to prevent sub James Baxendale making it two with a curler.

But Walsall had their tails up and Westcarr was a whisker away from converting Febian Brandy’s pass.

The Saddlers centre forward was relishing it – and doubled his tally 12 minutes from the end.

James McQuilkin and Baxendale combined to feed Westcarr on the edge of the City penalty area and he cut inside to fire over McLaughlin.

That prompted more frustration in the home stands and City’s frantic attempts to pacify the fans again failed to trouble the Walsall rearguard.

The supporters made their feelings abundantly clear when Stroud finally put everyone out of their misery.

Attendance: 12,165

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


Bradford City fans right to have a go, says Parkinson

7:50am Wednesday 26th March 2014

By Simon Parker

Phil Parkinson admitted that City deserved to be booed off after their abject home loss to Walsall.

The Bantams did not have one shot on target in a 2-0 defeat that drags them towards the League One survival scrap.

Fans vented their frustration at the final whistle and Parkinson had no complaints.

He said: “I can’t blame the supporters one bit for booing us off the pitch. We all deserve it, me in particular because I picked the team and set us out how I wanted to play.

“They have backed us so well, so they are more than entitled to get on our backs after that.

“It was as ineffective a performance as I can remember in terms of attempts at goal and crosses.

“I was more disappointed with the lack of reaction to get back in the game when we conceded.

“Our supporters have backed us to the hilt over the last couple of years because we’ll fight tooth and nail if we do go behind. They didn’t see that.”

Craig Westcarr’s second-half double did the damage against a City side without James Hanson, who was sidelined by his ongoing back problem.

With Andy Gray and Aaron Mclean making little headway up front, Hanson came on for the last half hour but also failed to have any impact.

Parkinson said: “I wasn’t even going to put him on the bench but Oli McBurnie was ill. In the end I had to use him to try and give us a lift.

“The front two can give you that by getting a goal out of nothing, chasing a lost cause or sparking us off with a bit of closing down. We didn’t see enough of that in the final third.

“You certainly can’t blame Andy Gray because we’ve thrown him in the deep end. It’s a really tough ask for someone of his age who hasn’t played for a long time.

“It summed up the performance with three minutes to go when we had two chances to put the ball in the box with quality and we came back out.

“That’s not (what you expect from) any team chasing the game – whether you’re top of the Premiership or bottom of the Conference.”

After back-to-back losses and listless performances, Parkinson stressed that City were now very much involved in the dogfight to stay up.

He said: “We’ve got eight games to go and we’re in a real scrap at the bottom of the table. I’ve got to make sure we come through it.

“But we’ll only do that by working together as a team and fighting for each other every step of the way.

“I go back to the Port Vale game when we reminded the lads they were in a scrap. We had to fight for our lives and we did.

“Now I just think since the Colchester and Gillingham games, maybe we’ve started to believe we’re okay. People have started to talk about next season and this and that.

“We’ve got one almighty challenge ahead of us and we have to meet it head on.”


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

City’s under-18s have been crowned north-east champions of the Youth Alliance.

A 0-0 draw with second-placed Doncaster yesterday and Scunthorpe’s loss to Notts County meant the young Bantams cannot be caught.


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

ON THIS DAY – PAUL SCHOLES WONDER VOLLEY AT VP
By Liam Apicella, Features Editor
http://www.sportsmole.co.uk

Video link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=L6BZbvTqMvw

It's widely accepted that English football has produced few players that
were able to strike a football cleaner than Paul Scholes.

The midfielder scored a host of goals during his 20-year association
with Manchester United, but arguably none were more memorable than the one
that he fired in at Valley Parade during a match against Bradford City 14
years ago today.

Having soaked up some early pressure from the home side, league leaders
United took a 2-0 advantage into the break courtesy of Dwight Yorke. The
Trinidad & Tobago international first headed in a cross from the right
by David Beckham, before an intended cross of his own drifted over Bradford
goalkeeper Matt Clarke and into the net.

Both teams created chances after the restart, but the outcome was put beyond
any doubt in the 71st minute as the famously shy Scholes took centre stage.

From a corner on the left, Beckham spotted his flame-haired teammate lurking
around 25 yards from goal. So, instead of sending a hopeful ball into the
area, Beckham decided to pick out Scholes with a drilled pass. After that,
it was all about the United midfielder, who rearranged his body just in time
to volley an unstoppable effort into the bottom corner of Clarke's goal.

Beckham then turned scorer eight minutes later when he scored from the edge
of the area following good work by Ryan Giggs, but it was Scholes that had
claimed the headlines.

Speaking about that goal in an interview with FourFourTwo in 2011, the now
39-year-old said: "We never worked on it in training. Becks just took the
corner, I gave him a little look to let him know I was there, he delivered
it to where I wanted and I volleyed it in. We were on the same wavelength."

However, although many might disagree with him, Scholes does not believe
that it was the best goal of his career, adding: "I'm not sure that's my
best goal, though. My best is probably the one at Aston Villa when I
volleyed it again from outside the area. That was more difficult."

BRADFORD: Clarke; Wetherall, O'Brien, Halle, Jacobs; McCall, Beagrie,
Lawrence; Windass, Saunders, Cadete

MAN UNITED: Bosnich; G Neville, Berg, Silvestre, P Neville; Beckham, Keane
(Wallwork), Scholes, Giggs (Solskjaer); Cole, Yorke

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

L1 L1-2 (a) Shrewsbury Saturday March 22, 2014. K.O. 3:00PM. #bcafc

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


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

Signings, Loans and Injuries

Reach's latest loan extension runs until 21st April 2014 - the longest City could extend it by.
Parkinson expects Doyle (groin) to miss out vs Walsall. Hanson also doubtful with a back spasm.

Injuries

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


Preview
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11095044.Hard_work_paying_off_for_Mclean_at_Bradford_City/


Game links
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=368511&action=stats&lang=EN&wjb=
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11096011.FT__Shrewsbury_2_City_1/

Highlight/ Goals
See 'Goal Cam' footage of Andrew Davies' goal at Shrewsbury Town yesterday -
http://t.co/FIomGbzr13
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Oi5DMpe6B6Q



Post Game Interview
Phil Parkinson rues missed opportunity at Shrewsbury Town this Saturday - A missed opportunity
http://t.co/h5ClrnsKsR


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

Final whistle - match report


Bradford City lose banker – but what did you expect?

6:00am Monday 24th March 2014

By Simon Parker

Shrewsbury 2, City 1

“Nailed on home win” was a common theme among the pre-match predictions.

From the outside, it seemed some leap of faith in a team that had not triumphed in front of their own supporters for four months. But seasoned Bradford City watchers knew the signs.

Shrewsbury had not won in ten attempts at the Greenhous Meadow; they had not even scored the first goal in a game under new boss Michael Jackson. The last time that had happened was on New Year’s Day when Graham Turner was still in charge.

But many in West Yorkshire were not fooled. They have long since wised up to the football truism that if you’re on a shocking run and can’t buy a win for love nor money, then Bradford City are the opposition of choice.

It’s a common perception among fans of all clubs that their own particular favourites always slip up in those games that the formbooks suggest you should canter.

For City, though, there does seem to be this rogue element in their DNA whenever they play teams who have not won for X amount of games/weeks/months.

Look at this season. Saturday’s slip-up at Shrewsbury was the latest in a list that also includes Notts County and Carlisle away and Stevenage at Valley Parade.

On each occasion, the opponents were in the bottom two and – according to their recent results at least – supposedly there for the taking. Well that’s now played four, lost four in that sorry sequence since the turn of the year.

Another worrying trend that has crept in is the way City throw away leads.

For the second weekend running, they scored the opening goal and got pegged back. And while there was at least some consolation against Peter Taylor’s Gillingham from the level of performance, there was no such sugar-coating of Saturday’s setback.

Throw in Stevenage, when they led twice and lost – and that against a team that had been beaten in all previous 16 matches when they were behind at half-time – and it’s a careless trait that is costing them dear.

Those discarded points would have pretty much seen City over the line in the race for mid-table stability from their first season back in League One. Instead, they still need to keep a vigilant eye on what is happening beneath them.

The magic number, that gap between City and the fourth relegation spot, is seven points; not close enough for any need to panic, but not wide enough either for any complacency to creep in.

Walsall’s visit to Valley Parade tomorrow will not be easy and then City head for third-placed Leyton Orient. They are not clear of trouble yet by a long way.

No wonder Phil Parkinson looked furious at the final whistle. Talk of lacking “professionalism” and being too careless in the final minutes dominated his terse press conference.

It was not as if Shrewsbury were any good. The gallows humour was already creeping in. That was clear at half-time when one “lucky” supporter had the chance to win a season ticket for next year.

“Sorry about that,” consoled the man on the microphone when he failed his penalty task, before adding with a grin, “but then again, you might not be THAT disappointed...”

City had hardly played like world-beaters themselves. Parkinson had called for another positive away day in the same ilk as Colchester 11 days earlier. He named an unchanged team for the third straight game – but did not get a copycat performance in return.

Instead, it was an ugly game played in ugly conditions where the standard of football was as warming as the Arctic wind. And yet, three points should still have been well within City’s grasp.

When you go ahead 11 minutes from time against a team who have forgotten how to score – did I mention Shrewsbury are also the most goal-shy side in the division – let alone win, the result should be in the bag.

City certainly thought so as the scorer Andrew Davies was submerged in a blanket of claret and amber jerseys. So did the 656 away fans behind that goal who immediately launched into a taunt of “Going Down”.

Those mocking words were still hanging in the breeze as Shrewsbury instantly bounced to the other end, zig-zagging through opponents with minds on a win bonus to level within a minute. And that was not the end of it.

Shrewsbury have had that many loan signings this season that even the supposed experts have lost count. The press-box estimate was that Sheffield United’s Shaun Miller was number 19 – and the 14th to play up front!

Jackson had done the deal that close to kick-off, the new striker had not even had a training session. But don’t let that spoil the dramatic ending.

In fact, Shrewsbury’s three best players were their subs. So either Jackson got his starting line-up horribly wrong or his changes were inspired – I suspect he will claim the latter.

Ironically, City were about to enjoy their best spell when final sub Bahrudin Atajic, another borrowed player from Celtic, entered the fray after 76 minutes.

The visitors had defended stoically against the gusty wind in the first half and arguably scorned the better chances, a weak side-foot shot from the surprisingly out-of-sorts James Hanson being the golden one.

Then City upped the ante with four straight corners, the last leading to the breakthrough when it was returned to taker Matty Dolan. He swung a cross straight back into the mix where Davies nudged home from a yard out.

Given Shrewsbury’s brittle confidence on their own patch, that should have been game over.

But Adam Reach, who had a poor afternoon at the club where he played the first half of the season, failed to track Jermaine Grandison’s gallop up the right wing.

Atajic saw him, fed the overlapping defender and his cross made it simple for Jon Taylor to equalise.

Unexpected hope filled the Shropshire air. Shrewsbury came forward more and more, while City did not help their own cause by failing to hang on to possession and take the sting out of the finale.

So inevitably we came to the fourth of the four added minutes.

McLaughlin’s scuffed clearance was picked off too easily in midfield, allowing Paul Parry to launch one last cross from the left.

Davies tried to clear with a flick header in a crowd of five bodies but it hit Atajic and dropped for an unmarked Miller to bury with a convincing scissor-kick.

Attendance: 5,181


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



Matches to kick off seven minutes late on 11-14 April
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26685698

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

L1 D1-1 (h) Gillingham Saturday March 15, 2014. K.O. 3:00PM. #bcafc

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


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

Signings, Loans and Injuries


Injuries

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


Preview
BBC http://bbc.in/1iJzK9d
Parkinson ahead of Gillingham fixture - http://t.co/ff9MZHTWNI
Mclean ahead of Gillingham fixture - http://t.co/K3818XtPIj
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/sport/taylor-prepared-for-at-tough-14127/


Game links
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11080034.FT__City_1_Gillingham_1/
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=368491&action=stats&lang=EN&wjb=


Highlight/ Goals
Aaron McLean’s first goal for City:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrdUUGOnlsY&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEhOV9eIG6I&feature=youtu.be


Post Game Interview



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

Final whistle - match report

Sky Bet League One
Bradford C (1) 1 McLean 10
Gillingham (0) 1 McDonald 56
Att: 13,089

Stats: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26493035

Report by Simon Parker (T&A)

Aaron Mclean opened his City account at the 11th attempt – but they had to
settle for a frustrating draw against Peter Taylor’s Gillingham.

Mclean got them off to a flying start when he swept home Adam Drury’s cross
in front of the Kop.

For an hour, the Bantams carried on where they left off at Colchester and
played some really good stuff.

But for all their control of the game, a second goal eluded them.

Adam Reach was a real handful and hit the top of the bar with one cross – as
did Kyle Bennett. James Hanson also had a header well saved.

Gillingham brought on Adebayo Akinfenwa for the second half and the hefty
striker made a difference.

He was involved in the build-up to the equaliser, sliding a pass through for
Cody McDonald to beat the advancing Jon McLaughlin.

It ensured Taylor got some reward on his first return to Valley Parade since
leaving City three years ago.

But for the home side, it was definitely a case of two points dropped.


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

When the dust settled - match report


Former Bantams boss Taylor avoids a blast for his past on return to Valley Parade

7:40am Monday 17th March 2014

By Simon Parker

Bradford City 1 Gillingham 1

It was a cheeky request from the Kop but they tried it anyway.

Having got Phil Parkinson to oblige with a wave after City went 1-0 up, they asked the same from Peter Taylor.

Given the history between the former manager and the crowd, it was interesting to see how many – if any – fingers would be lifted.

But the response was an immediate thumbs up.

The Taylor anti-party had never materialised; instead he got the type of reception usually saved for a friendly old uncle you’ve not seen in a while.

That moment of acknowledgment to the home supporters demonstrated how far City have moved on since the uninspiring year under his command.

The dark days of scrapping around the wrong end of League Two have been erased from the memory banks.

The upward curve that Taylor used to dream of launching himself continues to materialise and there is no need to rake up past disappointments.

Of course, three points on Saturday would have firmed up the immediate goal of consolidation in the first season back in the third tier.

And City will be wondering how they let Gillingham escape with a share of the contest when the visitors had spent most of the afternoon hanging on.

But with no damage from the results beneath them, the draw didn’t hurt either side’s ambitions of being in the same division next season.

Phil Parkinson is not planning ahead just yet – publicly at least. When asked afterwards, he would only say that his thought process does not extend beyond Shrewsbury next Saturday.

But Taylor reckons two more wins will do it. And given the way City played, that should not be too demanding a target from the final ten-game straight of the marathon.

If the final result seemed wasteful, it is hard to be too critical on the performance. Like Taylor, it was worth a thumbs-up all round.

Okay, the equaliser was sloppy as Cody McDonald seized on some indecision from the centre halves to poach a goal similar to the one he scored in the corresponding fixture last season.

And City’s final pass could have been more clinical when they got into the areas to hurt Gillingham.

But for the most part, the first half especially, City were very pleasing on the eye.

Parkinson was right to keep with the side that had dominated Colchester, a performance he had described as one of the best of the season.

That victory took the heat off having to rush Gary Jones back from his virus and his late appearance on Saturday was only due to Matty Dolan’s ankle swelling up after he twisted it before half-time.

But Dolan had done plenty to show that there is genuine competition in the City engine room and that he can be part of a bright future.

He linked up well again with Nathan Doyle, another having a good game, and his left-footed approach gave the midfield a real balance.

With Adam Drury looking comfortable at left back on his home debut, there was a genuine sense of round pegs in round holes and the team were much better for it.

Drury provided the cross for the moment that Valley Parade had been waiting two months for – an Aaron Mclean goal.

It was a very well-worked move after James Hanson flicked on Rory McArdle’s clearance.

Adam Reach, who had the run of Gillingham’s backline for most of the game, picked up possession and laid it into space for the overlapping Drury.

The left back crossed first time, low and hard, and Mclean was on his toes to get in front of his marker and rifle home from six yards. A proper poacher’s goal to announce his arrival on the City scoresheet at the 11th attempt.

“His performances have deserved it,” said Parkinson. “The longer he’s been here, the harder he’s worked and the more the supporters have been patient with him.

“The minute you start talking too much about goals to a striker it does create pressure.

“The supporters have seen the player has done everything he can to get that goal. He’s made them for others and played tremendously well at Colchester without scoring.”

Mclean later left in a slight daze after a smack on the cheekbone. But he was virtually running on empty by that point.

His efforts should have been in a winning cause but City failed to turn territorial control into further goals.

For the second home game in a row, they suffered for not getting a second goal. The performance may have been far removed from the sloppiness of the Stevenage defeat but again there was a penalty to pay for not cashing in.

Credit to Taylor for changing Gillingham at the break. He had noticed like the rest of us that his team were being totally overrun in midfield.

So he went for the heavyweight option and put the visitors into “beast mode”. On came Adebayo Akinfenwa and the balance of the game started to tilt.

Akinfenwa always came out second best against the Bantams last season during his frequent battles in Northampton colours.

But he won this one, using his considerable girth and strength to wrestle back some of that lost ground. McDonald’s equaliser came from his pass after Andrew Davies had misjudged a bounce on the halfway line.

Craig Fagan celebrated it rather too enthusiastically and vocally right under the Kop’s nose and was then subjected to the kind of stick that Taylor had been braced for.

City felt like victims of a mugging having appeared in no trouble whatsoever up to that point.

They were not the same team after Gillingham drew level but the result should have been put beyond doubt by then.

But the point made it ten from the last six games, as Parkinson was quick to point out. That’s the return of a team comfortable in their surroundings – even if the manager won’t say so just yet.

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

The fitter Aaron Mclean gets, the more he'll score, says former Bradford City striker Craig Fagan
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11080602.The_fitter_Mclean_gets__the_more_he_ll_score__says_former_Bradford_City_striker_Fagan/

L1 W2-0 (a) Colchester Tuesday March 11, 2014. K.O. 7:45PM. #bcafc

Read this online
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/46810838356/


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

Signings, Loans and Injuries


Signs are good that Stephen Darby will extend his Bradford City stay
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11072379.Signs_are_good_that_Darby_will_extend_his_Bradford_City_stay/

Injuries
Matt Taylor's season is over after it was confirmed that he will need surgery on a foot injury. He is expected back for pre-season.

Raffaele De Vita returned to training this week after a recent troublesome hip injury. The Italian hasn't played since December.

Hanson, Groin?
Jones, Virus - trains today after illness but he is still rated as doubtful for Saturday.

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


Preview
BBC http://bbc.in/1g1ADCj
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11065961.Bantams__key_men_Hanson_and_Jones_set_to_miss_Colchester_clash/
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11066011.U___s_wouldn___t_believe_my_unforgettable_history_with_Colchester__says_Bantams_left_back_Drury/
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11065441.Bradford_City__Yeates_gets_first_crack_at_Colchester/

Game links
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11069026.FT__Colchester_0_City_2/
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=368480&action=stats&lang=EN&wjb=


Highlight/ Goals
View highlights from last nights match - http://t.co/0Ef1inqPHP
Footage of James Hanson's BULLET header http://t.co/XHYHFMZPXK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLymlzBhUFI

Goal Cam
1-0 http://t.co/2sIdYxTaNQ
2-0 http://t.co/5eseIUy1Di

Post Game Interview
Steve Parkin interview after Bradford CIty win over Colchester
http://t.co/9B1wy4EKkv



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

Final whistle - match report


All two easy for Bradford City in dominant display

6:50am Wednesday 12th March 2014

By Simon Parker

Colchester United 0 Bradford City 2

Phil Parkinson is lauded in these parts for taking the unheralded Essex club into the Championship.

He returned last night to mastermind a victory that goes a long way to making sure the Bantams stay put in League One.

Parkinson had never won in three previous visits to Colchester since leaving the U’s on the back of that promotion eight years ago.

But there never seemed any doubts last night that City would put the record straight with a strong, all-round display.

James Hanson, back in tandem with Aaron Mclean, headed his sixth goal in his last nine outings. Then Kyle Bennett sealed the deal with a quality strike early in the second half.

Once in command, City saw off a late flurry from the home side to clinch the win that has put them back in the top half.

The only missing ingredient was a goal from Mclean and he missed one great chance. But he was lively throughout, proving a constant thorn in the Colchester ranks and surely it cannot be far away.

After back-to-back defeats, City were beefed up from Saturday with the return of Hanson and Andrew Davies from injury.

Hanson, in particular, had been seriously missed at Brentford. Given that it’s over two years since the Bantams last won a game without him on the pitch, his presence was a welcome lift.

But Gary Jones missed his first league game of the season with a virus, so Matty Dolan got the nod as Nathan Doyle’s partner in the midfield engine room. Stephen Darby took the captain’s armband.

And City had a genuine left back in the team at last – Adam Drury was handed his first start after coming off the bench against the Bees.

Colchester’s preparations were hit by serious traffic problems which delayed five of their players. They eventually arrived half an hour before the start, allowing Joe Dunne to name an unchanged team after their first win in seven games.

City threatened to catch the hosts cold from the kick-off as Aaron Mclean latched on to a long ball forward to force an immediate save from Sam Walker.

Despite the difficult surface, Colchester tried to get the ball down and former Bantam loanee Ryan Dickson began and tried to finish a neat move, heading Sanchez Watt’s cross wide.

Freddie Sears twice fired over as the hosts tried to build up a head of steam – but it was City who drew first blood after 15 minutes.

Doyle’s 20-yard drive was well saved by Walker but Magnus Okuonghae conceded a panicky corner as City kept the ball alive. And Colchester’s defending from Dolan’s set-piece was equally slack, allowing Hanson to power home a far-post header for his 12th goal of the season.

The difference in both sides straight after the goal was clear. Colchester lost their early zip and it was City playing with belief.

Bennett typified the growing confidence with a drifting run and curler wide. Then Mclean continued his mission for that elusive first goal with a thumping strike that was picked out of the air by Walker.

Not content with one half chance, he immediately had two more – firing over from a Hanson flick-on and then stretching Walker into a save by the foot of the post.

There was an edge to Mclean’s play and his movement and he was linking up well with the supporting midfield.

His hard work should have been rewarded with an appearance on the scoresheet but he blew a massive chance to double City’s advantage two minutes before the break.

Bennett was the instigator when he ripped the ball away from Dickson just inside the Colchester half. Suddenly the winger was away, with Mclean screaming for the pass.

Bennett duly delivered and the ground waited for the net to ripple with only Walker to beat. But Mclean screwed his shot wide to City’s consternation – and huge home relief.

The ball appeared to bobble on the poor surface but it was still a gilt-edged opportunity to stamp his team’s dominance on proceedings. It would not have flattered them.

City nearly had their second within a minute of the restart after Bennett was fouled midway inside home territory.

Rory McArdle clipped the free-kick towards the penalty area, where Davies rose to guide a header agonisingly past the post. McArdle jumped up and down in frustration at the near-miss as Colchester were once again let off the hook.

But the goal was coming – and City’s continued positive approach got its reward ten minutes in.

Dickson and Walker messed up between them to cough a cheap throw-in which Darby quickly relayed to Bennett. And the winger burst through before firing past Walker from a tight angle.

Like Mclean, Bennett was proving a handful and showing his undoubted promise and threat.

With the game now firmly slipping away, the home side finally sparked into life and City found themselves under a bit of pressure.

Colchester had the ball in the net from a lofted free-kick but the decisive touch was an illegal one from Marcus Bean’s hand.

The pony-tailed midfielder then threw himself at Jon McLaughlin as another free-kick hovered dangerously around the City goal-mouth but the keeper did well.

Adam Reach tested Walker at the other end as Colchester looked in vain for a way back into the contest.

They threw three men up front for the final 15 minutes but City’s defence had a resolute air.

It was easy to see why Colchester have found goals hard to come by – their first, and only, shot on target did not come until the 84th minute.


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

When the dust settled - match report


Parkin hails professional display as win lifts Bantams into top half of table

7:30am Wednesday 12th March 2014

By Simon Parker

Steve Parkin saluted City for a classic away display as they eased fears of being sucked into the relegation dogfight by beating Colchester.

The Bantams claimed their first win on the road since November as goals from James Hanson, who passed a late fitness test, and Kyle Bennett saw off Phil Parkinson’s old club.

The victory over a side who had been only two points behind lifted them back into the top half of League One – and assistant boss Parkin felt the scoreline should have been more emphatic.

He said: “It was a thoroughly professional away performance. There were a lot of good things defensively and a lot of great things attacking-wise.

“Maybe we could have done with a few more goals but the way we broke and passed it round on a tricky pitch was very pleasing.

“We’ve not always seen that over the last few weeks so that’s why it’s given us a lot of delight. We know it’s in there but confidence is a big thing.”

Aaron Mclean looked a threat but is still to break his goal duck after ten games. He had several chances last night, including one great opportunity set up by Bennett just before half-time.

“We’re confident that Aaron will score goals,” added Parkin.

“The one thing we were worried about is that he’s not had a lot of football and sometimes it’s very difficult to catch that up.

“But he is working tremendously hard to do that. He worked his socks off and just could have done with a goal.

“He probably should have had one but that will come. He looks like he is getting fitter and sharper and getting on the end of things, which he didn’t when he first arrived.

“I’m sure him and Hanson will be a real threat.”

After losing at Brentford on Saturday, City took the decision to go down to Essex the day before. Parkin felt the benefits of travelling early and staying overnight made a big difference.

“No players go out there and deliberately play poorly or don’t give a lot of effort. There were a lot of tired legs after Saturday and it was a case of trying to pick them up.

"We could have driven down for five hours on the day of the game or got them into a hotel and monitored everything properly.

“There are a lot of new players and we’re trying to build that team spirit – and there was an abundance of that in our performance.”

City are now eight points ahead of the bottom four as they prepare for Saturday’s visit from Gillingham and a Valley Parade reunion with Peter Taylor.

Parkin said: “It was a case of putting some distance between us and Colchester and now we can start looking at clawing back a few teams above us.

“Gillingham are doing really well at the moment but if you look at the span of five matches, we’ve won three and should have beaten Stevenage after being in front twice.

“We’ve got Andrew Davies and Hans back in the team and it was great to see him get that goal because he’s been struggling with his groin.

“The fans were terrific and we need them. When VP’s full and rocking, it puts an extra yard on the players’ distances and adds to their confidence.

“Saturday will be good. I know Peter, he’s a good fella and he’s got an appetite and that burning ambition to keep going like we all have.”

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

From the Official BCFC Website:

ROTHERHAM v CITY ON SKY TV

City's forthcoming Yorkshire derby with Rotherham United at New York Stadium
next month will now be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

As a result, the game have been moved to a day earlier - Friday 11 April
2014 - and will now kick off at 7:45pm.

The fixture will be City's second visit to Rotherham this season following
their F.A Cup first round encounter with Steve Evans' side back in November.

The match will also be the second Bradford fixture this season to be
broadcast live on Sky Sports following City's thrilling 3-3 draw with
Coventry City at the Coral Windows Stadium, also in the month of November.

Any tickets already purchased for the Rotherham fixture will remain valid
despite the change in match date.

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

Stewart case decision confirmed
http://t.co/WSd5eHE6TL

PUBLISHED

16:46 14th March 2014
It has been confirmed this (Friday) afternoon that Bradford City will have to pay Scottish Championship side Falkirk €185,000 in development compensation for former striker Mark Stewart.

The football club's appeal against FIFA's original ruling to award Falkirk around €250,000 in compensation was partially upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, meaning City will now have to pay €65,000 less than first thought.

This news comes after Falkirk originally claimed for €330,000 in compensation following Stewart's move to the Coral Windows Stadium back in the summer of 2011.

The final confirmed compensation fee of €185,000 equates to just over £150,000.

The club can confirm to its supporters that this money has been accounted for in this season's budget.

Speaking to the club's Director of Operations David Baldwin, he said: "Clearly we are disappointed with this outcome as we felt there was no case to answer in this first place, hence why we appealed the original decision.

"We didn't feel any compensation was due.

"However, looking on the positive side of the outcome, we have seen a 25% reduction in the original judgement passed down by FIFA.

"From the club's perspective, despite our disappointment, we have to accept this appeal decision now and we move on."

In addition to today's appeal outcome, the club can reveal that it has already paid for all of costs that come with asking for a Court of Arbitration for Sport sitting.

As part of the appeal decision, however, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled that Bradford City only pick up 80% of the court costs and Falkirk pay for the extra 20%. This means that 20% of the court costs for the appeal hearing will be due back to the club.

Read more at http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/stewart-case-verdict-made-1421433.aspx#Og8gXdYq1gcij42X.99


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

L1 L0-2 (a) Brentford Saturday March 8, 2014. K.O. 3:00PM. #bcafc

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


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

Signings, Loans and Injuries

City sign Adam Drury on loan from Leeds United
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11061997.Bradford_City_sign_Adam_Drury_on_loan_from_Leeds/

Injuries

James Hanson, missed Brentford complaining of a tweaked groin.
Andrew Davies, who felt his calf problem was not quite ready for Griffin Park.

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


Preview
Bradford City http://bbc.in/1cfAtfl
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11059289.Davies_provides_major_boost_to_Bantams/
City fans and club Director of Operations David Baldwin on the Soccer AM set this Saturday!
http://t.co/sSSaMb64rg

Game links
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11063328.FT__Brentford_2_Bantams_0/
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=368467&action=stats&lang=EN&wjb=


Highlight/ Goals
http://t.co/rPXzKCDNPq


Post Game Interview
http://t.co/uAy7zy7q16


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

Final whistle - match report


Nemesis Donaldson adds to goal collection against Bradford City

6:30am Monday 10th March 2014

By Simon Parker

Brentford 2, City 0

Somewhere out there, in a parallel universe, Clayton Donaldson is banging goals for fun in a City shirt.

Cheered on by his family in the Valley Parade box promised him by Peter Jackson, Donaldson is fulfilling his lifelong ambition of leading his home-town team.

Meanwhile, on planet earth, the marksman from Manningham sees the Bantams as the juiciest of targets.

Saturday’s game-breaking strike just after the hour point was the fifth time he had scored against the club where he grew up in their last six meetings.

And the odd-one-out in that sequence was only because Brentford played three quarters of it with ten men at City in September.

Donaldson also brought up his half century of goals for the club he chose over Jacko’s overtures in the summer of 2011.

Not content with opting for a higher division, at the time, more money and the glamour of London life, the 30-year-old forward seems intent on continuing to punish his one-time pursuers.

In contrast, the line-leading presence so crucial to the present-day Bantams was a mere spectator at Griffin Park.

James Hanson had his name serenaded by the impressively-noisy away following but that was only because he had been spotted walking out of the dressing room.

The big man was nowhere to be seen in the thick of it after complaining of a tweaked groin at the 11th hour – and with his late withdrawal went City’s best hopes of unseating their lofty opponents.

Phil Parkinson had planned to smother Brentford’s 4-3-3 by employing Chris Atkinson as the extra midfielder and link man with Hanson up front.

Aaron Mclean would pay the price for the tactical reshuffle as his hunt for that elusive first goal goes on.

But a week’s preparation on the training ground went out of the window when Hanson complained of a problem on Friday. Best laid plans and all that and instead it was Mclean given the role of the lone forager.

Like Donaldson at Valley Parade at the start of this season, when Brentford removed his attacking partner after the keeper’s red card, it became a thankless task – especially for a forward whose confidence must be low until he does get off the mark.

It was never likely to happen on Saturday, with City’s attacking bursts few and far between. And when they did get the ball in potential promising situations, the momentum too often broke down with a casual pass or lack of thought.

In a first half when they effectively blunted any edge to Brentford’s play, City were guilty of not taking more care on the counter.

While the home side dominated possession, the best chance of a featureless opening 45 minutes had fallen to the visitors. But Atkinson leant back and scooped Kyle Bennett’s pass over the Brentford bar.

Apart from one threatening cross from Jake Bidwell that Jon McLaughlin pawed away, City’s policy of containment was working well. Brentford knocked the ball round well but it was all in front of the packed sky blue lines.

Even without Andrew Davies, another frustratingly late pull-out, the back four had a far more solid look than the week before against Stevenage.

Rory McArdle put his head and body in the way of most things and Carl McHugh struck a confident figure back in the middle where he belongs.

With no goals in their previous two outings, Brentford were growing restless and the frustration was creeping into the stands.

Mark Warburton, the City of London trader turned manager, recognised the signs and urged his team to play “15-20” yards further forward in the second half. The difference in intensity was immediate.

Two corners inside the opening minute signalled a verve to the home play that had been lacking. Suddenly City’s day in the west London sun did not seem quite so comfortable.

Will Grigg fired a warning shot with a half-volley flashing past the post. Then inevitably Donaldson came to the party. He had not scored for six games – but then this was his favourite opposition.

There were shades of Stevenage as City did not close him down 25 yards from their goal. Gary Jones was slow to spot the danger and Donaldson had the time and space to pick his spot and find the bottom corner. It was the first shot on target of the afternoon.

City were now forced to come out and play and the inevitable gaps encouraged Brentford to push forward at will. They did not need a second invitation.

Donaldson should have doubled his tally after great work from newly-arrived substitute Marcello Trotta put a chance on a plate.

Then one-time Leeds man Jonathan Douglas looped a header onto the top of the bar, before McLaughlin foiled Bidwell’s follow-up.

Parkinson resorted to 4-4-2 by replacing Atkinson with Andy Gray and the veteran finally forced a save out of David Button. But his downward header bounced straight into the keeper’s clutches.

That rare chance poked Brentford with a stick and they responded by killing the contest.

From their next attack, Trotta and Alan Judge appeared to get in each other’s way in the corner of the City box. But the ball broke kindly to George Saville and the youngster scored the fourth goal of his loan from Chelsea with a bobbly shot through a sea of City legs, appearing to clip McHugh along the way.

McArdle flicked a Jones corner agonisingly across the face of Brentford’s goal – the closest the visitors came – but it needed a superb point-blank save from McLaughlin to stop Trotta adding a third.

But just like Wolves away a month earlier, City had been routinely seen off without two of their big-hitters.

With a visit to Leyton Orient, the other team in the three-into-two rumble for automatic promotion, scheduled in three weeks’ time, Parkinson will be hoping that he can actually pick his side to order.

For now, City’s thoughts turn to matches against the two clubs immediately below them. Slip-ups then and the table will potentially take on a much darker complexion.

Attendance: 8,063


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



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

Sunderland friendly highlights
http://t.co/JPrv5txstn


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

Vote for your favourite Season Ticket Campaign Video - http://t.co/MscpntcsSh

Rory McArdle features in Northern Ireland friendly  
http://t.co/jP3AOYqhVH

Online petition to kick former Bradford youth player out of England squad
http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/update/2014-03-05/online-petition-to-kick-former-bradford-youth-player-out-of-england-squad/

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

L1 L2-3 (h) Stevenage Saturday March 1, 2014. K.O. 3:00PM. #bcafc

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


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

Signings, Loans and Injuries


Injuries
Andrew Davies, calf injury, to be assessed

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


Preview
http://bbc.in/1kgkG2M

Game links
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11047009.FT__City_2_Stevenage_3/
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=368455&action=stats&lang=EN&wjb=


Highlight/ Goals
http://www.thecomet.net/stevenage-fc/video_highlights_bradford_city_2_stevenage_3_1_3391904
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byT10TS2iuU&feature=youtu.be

Post Game Interview
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/parkinson-after-stevenage-home-1391495.aspx


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

Final whistle - match report


Bantams allow Stevenage to wriggle off the hook and net all three points

8:10am Monday 3rd March 2014

By Simon Parker

Bradford City 2 Stevenage 3

Stevenage’s first visit to Valley Parade will be remembered as the win that got booed off.

That stinker of a game in August 2010 also marked the beginning of the end for Peter Taylor, who lost the fans from that day onwards following his criticism of the crowd.

Saturday’s fare did not dip that low – certainly not in terms of the quality of some of the goals – but there were still some audible grumbles after the final whistle of a foot-shooting exercise from the home side.

City should be building up for a hectic and potentially decisive March period in the best of spirits after luxuriating in the glow of a third home win on the bounce.

Instead, they are once again casting nervous looks behind them after a defeat that, for most of the game, nobody had seen coming.

After two steps in the right direction, this was a big one back the wrong way. In fact, it feels more like one and a half given Bristol City’s win that slashed three points off their current safety margin over the bottom four.

While Graham Westley and Stevenage cavorted on the touchline as their own escape bid gathers pace, Phil Parkinson’s side were kicking themselves at a missed opportunity.

The missed opportunity in particular came 12 minutes into the second half.

City were 2-1 to the good and knocking on the door. Stevenage keeper Chris Day was put in trouble by a hanging cross from Adam Reach and fingered the ball in the direction of Aaron Mclean.

Six yards out, the goal gaping... this was surely the moment for Mclean to finally announce himself on the Valley Parade scoresheet.

But no, the shot squirmed off his boot across goal and wide. And with it, ultimately went City’s ambitions of that home hat-trick.

It is easy to point a finger at the well-paid marksman but it was the sort of gilt-edged chance that you would expect a striker of his former prowess to gobble up in his sleep.

But at the moment it is just not happening. Parkinson was right to commend Mclean’s workrate afterwards, he runs and closes defenders down as willingly as anyone.

Unfortunately, sweat and toil doesn’t justify the big bucks of a targetman. Goals are the currency with which they are judged and right now he is broke.

It was the pivotal point in a strange contest that featured too much long ball, too little midfield and two of the sweetest second-half strikes you will see.

Stevenage boss Westley, as is his wont, had bragged before the game that City would play right into their hands.

Despite arriving in West Yorkshire in bottom spot, he had confidently predicted a “powerhouse” finale to the season.

They did spring a surprise with an attacking approach that you don’t usually find from a visiting side in such a precarious league position.

Rather than bottling it up tight and trying to kill the game, Stevenage looked to use their attacking pace and power at every opportunity.

It was a rude awakening for a City defence flying high on the back of successive clean sheets.

Jon McLaughlin, in particular, had an uncomfortable ride from the early skirmish with Francois Zoko just outside the box. Lucas Akins forced a frantic save from the keeper’s legs from the free-kick – an indication that Stevenage had come to have a go.

All looked well when City went in front after 11 minutes, Adam Reach converting their first goal before half-time for eight games with a fizzing volley inside the near post.

After a muted display against the MK Dons, the left winger was back on his game and looking to shoot whenever the chance was there.

Unfortunately, a significant part of City’s subsequent demise was the way he was under-used after the break.

Another problem was the loss of Andrew Davies to a calf injury ten minutes before the break.

Stevenage were already level by that point, Zoko picking his way through to make room for a low drive after Stephen Darby had blocked the initial shot by Luke Freeman.

But we all know City’s record without the talismanic presence of the blond number five marshalling the ranks. The back four was never the same for the remaining hour.

That did not seem an issue when the hosts restored their lead just before the break. Reach was again at the heart of it, Day denying him well before the ball came out for James Hanson to calmly slide home his fifth goal since waving goodbye to Nahki Wells in January.

Before Saturday, Stevenage had lost all 16 games when they had trailed at half-time.

So with noses back in front as the teams headed off, thoughts of a looming third home win on the bounce were understandable.

Had Mclean then displayed the necessary composure, that would surely have been the case. Instead, Stevenage were able to wriggle off the hook.

Bira Dembele sent an immediate warning, rattling against the City bar from Freeman’s cross. Then the midfielder took matters into his own hands.

Nobody in a claret and amber shirt went to close him down when Freeman picked up possession 35 yards out.

Nathan Doyle loitered to his left, Matthew Bates hung back in front: their reticence to move in making up Freeman’s mind to let fly.

He really gave it some welly, though maybe McLaughlin might have done better. His team-mates certainly should have, to ensure the scorer was not given quite so much of an invitation to line it up.

Gary Jones tried to fire City back in front for a third time but it was Stevenage who then shattered the stalemate after 87 minutes with a free-kick move straight from the training ground.

Carl McHugh felled Freeman right on the corner of the box and Westley’s groans that “it was five yards inside” were quickly silenced as the victim exchanged quick taps with Jimmy Smith before blasting into the top corner.

City should still have salvaged something but Mark Yeates smashed wide from right in front of goal when a side-foot option would surely have scored. It summed up their sloppy afternoon.


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

When the dust settled


Mc-lean spell a worry for Bradford City boss Parkinson

6:30am Monday 3rd March 2014

By Simon Parker

Misfiring Aaron Mclean faces an intensive week at training to try to rediscover his scoring boots.

Mclean fired another blank on Saturday as City were stunned by lowly Stevenage at Valley Parade.

Two superb strikes from midfielder Luke Freeman took them off the bottom of League One after coming from behind to win 3-2.

Both his goals came after Mclean had spurned a glorious chance to put City two up early in the second half.

The striker is still to get off the mark in eight attempts since being signed as the replacement for Nahki Wells.

Phil Parkinson admitted it is becoming a concern and City will focus their efforts in practice on trying to restore Mclean’s confidence in front of the net.

Parkinson said: “There was nothing wrong with his all-round effort. I thought he put in a good shift for the team.

“He set the tone with his closing down right at the start of the game.

“But strikers thrive on goals and he can’t hide away from the fact that he hasn’t got his first one yet.

“Obviously he’s frustrated and it looks like he is snatching at things.

“The only way (to solve that) is to work hard on the training ground, to concentrate and for us to make sure we’re giving him as much work in and around the penalty box as possible.

“If he’s scoring in training, he can take that into the game.”

McLean was not the only guilty party as City blew the chance of a third straight home win. Sub Mark Yeates also fired wide from close range when he seemed certain to equalise.

A bad day was compounded with the loss of Andrew Davies with a calf injury, sparking fears that he could be sidelined for another significant spell.

City’s advantage on the bottom four was cut to six points because of Bristol City’s win – and they head for promotion-chasing Brentford next.

Parkinson added: “We lacked a bit of composure in the second half in our all-round play. I don’t know whether that was an expectancy to win or Davies going off which unsettled the balance of the team.

“When we play at our best, we have a good balance in our team going to our front players but also playing through the midfield.

“We didn’t get that right. It just needed someone to calm us down on the ball, pick a right pass and there wasn’t enough of that.

“There’s an element of frustration but when you’re not playing great, you do need that third goal.

“We had a massive boost with the two wins and this is a setback again for us. But we’ve got to go again. The dividing lines are so tight and we’ve lost the game to two terrific strikes. We’ve had the chances to have killed the game but didn’t take them.”

City had led twice in the first half through Adam Reach and James Hanson.

Reach, whose volley was the first goal of his loan spell, said: “It’s very frustrating. They were bottom for a reason and don’t often come back and win games.

“We thought the game might have been won already at half-time and that was our downfall.”

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

City awaiting Bermudian bill for Nahki Wells
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11049034.Bradford_City_awaiting_Bermudian_bill_for_Wells/

Davies’ calf problem ‘nothing too serious’ believes Bantams boss Phil Parkinson
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11050063.Davies____calf_problem____nothing_too_serious____believes_Bantams_boss/

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