Read this article online
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
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Next Game
Sky Sports live games
10/12 v Barnsley
10/18 v Sheff Utd (ko 5.15pm)
BRISTOL CITY AND OLDHAM ATHLETIC MATCH TICKET DETAILS
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/bristol-city-and-oldham-athletic-1966668.aspx
Signings, Loans and Injuries
Injuries
Matthew Dolan is likely to be sidelined for at least the next couple of weeks due to a hip muscle problem
(sep 12)
Hanson Sep 16
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11485017.Hanson_could_miss_five_Bradford_City_games/
Injuries
Andrew Davies, broken left arm (Aug 23)
City fans can send their messages onto Andrew via @Andrew_Davies84
https://twitter.com/officialbantams/status/504949744322756608/photo/1
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Preview
Preview followed by live coverage of Saturday's League One game between Bradford City and Port Vale (15:00 BST).
BBC http://ift.tt/ZW3AQ6
Game links
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11500465.FT__City_1_Port_Vale_1/
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=393871&action=stats
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2012/sport_bantams_pics2014_portvalehome/
Highlight/ Goals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVT3T00nJXE
Post Game Interview
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11500638.Steve_Parkin__Bradford_City_ref_got_it_wrong_on_two_counts/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epsnjrVB9R4
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When the dust settled - match report
Yeates plays Bradford City "get out of jail" card with one swipe of right boot
7:06am Monday 29th September 2014
By Simon Parker
Bradford City 1 Port Vale 1
THE ball flew into the top corner of the net to leave the keeper beaten all ends up.
And for a fair while of another testing Valley Parade afternoon, it appeared that the spectacular blast from Filipe Morais in the pre-match shooting practice would be the highlight for the Kop fans who were in early enough to see.
That was going to take a finish of the highest quality to eclipse – so step forward Mark Yeates.
The Irishman has been crying out for a goal since returning in the summer determined to convince the home faithful that he still carries that Championship quality.
The route from first-year failure to second-year success is becoming more popular at BD8. Alongside Yeates in midfield, Jason Kennedy is attempting to follow a path previously trodden by the likes of Matt Duke and Will Atkinson.
But Yeates knows he has to impress more than most. Trumpeted as the signing of last summer, he instead became the biggest disappointment – early frustration at not playing giving way to injury hold-ups with only a late cameo to put the slightest of shines on a wretched season.
He is now a man on a mission; fitter – and the stats on ground covered each game back that up – and hungrier to stamp his authority on League One.
There had been signs before Saturday. Think of the superb cross that set up the goal against Swindon.
But playing in that creative role at the top of the diamond also requires end product when a shooting chance emerges.
Such an opportunity appeared right on the stroke of an uncomfortable first half.
Just as the boo boys were no doubt clearing their throats, Aaron Mclean shovelled a knock-down in Billy Clarke's direction. He got there a split second ahead of Vale defender Richard Duffy and drew the foul 25 yards out.
Yeates had been sharpening his sights with free-kick sessions at Apperley Bridge in the previous few days. Here was the chance to put that practice into action – and how he did just that.
Up and over the wall of white shirts, the ball was aimed to the right of the goal before bending in to hit a spot that keeper Chris Neal did not have a prayer of reaching.
And suddenly that frustration welling up around the stadium was reserved for the referee and not the home side. It was the sweetest of "get out of jail" cards for the Bantams.
Up to that point, they had been second best in a stodgy contest where the only excitement had been generated by the incompetence of official Seb Stockbridge.
The second-year referee had a shocker – summed up with the reward of Port Vale's penalty 12 minutes in.
City were the architects of their undoing in a sense because Billy Knott, who had a poor game against his former employers, got caught out trying to be clever on the edge of his own box.
Louis Dodds worked enough room to get in a shot but Rory McArdle swooped across to smother it with his body. The ball smashed against his shoulder as he turned and Vale appealed for the corner.
Instead, the referee stunned both sets of players by pointing to the spot for hand ball and Chris Lines accepted the present.
Bantam blood boiled on the touchline – and threatened to explode when Carl Dickinson barged over Gary Liddle with the Vale box in close proximity.
From the naked eye, it looked a yard inside and there was a suspicious divot in the turf to back that up. Instead, Stockbridge awarded the free-kick outside.
That was too much for Phil Parkinson, who sprinted Mourinho-style down the line to confront the assistant. His question was obvious: "You're dead in line with it, why don't you say something?"
But Stockbridge had made up his mind and the hosts continued to stew.
For once at least, City's traditional nemesis Tom Pope offered no goal threat as Christopher Routis further enhanced his growing reputation with a confident home debut.
With Andrew Davies due back for next week's visit from bottom club Crewe, Phil Parkinson has a genuine decision on his hands there.
Routis refused to back down from the rough stuff and his personal battle/feud with Pope was one of the afternoon's most diverting spectacles.
Both, not surprisingly ended up in the book, with a few anglo-French verbals tossed in the pot for good measure.
Pope came in for some stick on social media afterwards and responded: "I hope all the Bradford fans that are abusing me on here have a safe flight back from Cuckooland!"
Routis, by contrast, was seen handing his shirt to a disabled supporter after the game. A class act, indeed.
The Yeates stunner changed the team talks in both dressing rooms and there was an air of much-needed urgency about City's work on the resumption.
For the first 20 minutes at least, they pressed and probed with Yeates at the hub and James Meredith a willing worker up and down the left flank.
The sloppiness of their first-half passing had disappeared and the team, in the words of assistant boss Steve Parkin, looked "more like the Bradford City we know."
But they lacked that telling final ball to turn possession into genuine opportunities. Clarke went close with a curler but the best chance came from distance as Liddle forced Neal into a flying save with a long-range thump.
That scare forced Vale caretaker chief Rob Page to alter his tactics and told Ben Williamson to track the City midfielder wherever he went.
But Williamson still found the room to go close with a shot deflected just wide – completely legitimately – by McArdle and fellow sub Chris Birchall headed against the outside of the post.
Games against Vale, as we know, are notoriously tight affairs and this was no different. Having ended a run of six defeats on the bounce the previous week, the visitors displayed the determination of a team eager to get their manager the full-time job.
A point at least stops the rot from three straight home losses for City but they know it could have been more after Yeates seemingly provided the ideal spring-board. That wait for Valley Parade victory goes on another week.
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http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11500194.Vale_return_rekindles_warm_Bradford_City_memories_for_Rhodes_of_a_very_special_chilly_night/
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http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11506141.Ref_holds_hand_up_over_Bantams_penalty_blunder/
Ref holds hand up over Bantams penalty blunder
7:38am Wednesday 1st October 2014
Exclusive By Simon Parker
REFEREE Seb Stockbridge has admitted he blundered over the contentious penalty call against City in the last home game.
But the appointment of Darren Deadman for Saturday's visit from Crewe, an official that Phil Parkinson once asked should never take charge of the Bantams again, is unlikely to pacify the mood at Valley Parade.
City are still fuming about the Port Vale spot-kick awarded for an alleged handball by Rory McArdle.
Video evidence clearly indicated that the defender had turned his body and blocked the shot from Louis Dodds legally.
Stockbridge has since realised his mistake in a conversation with Dave Allison, the national group referees manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Board.
Parkinson said: "It was frustrating from our point of view because nobody in the whole ground thought it was a penalty – apart from one person.
"None of their players appealed for it; none of their bench appealed for it; none of their supporters appealed for it. So for the referee to give the penalty was baffling to say the least.
"But I have since received an apology through David from the ref to say that he got it horribly wrong. I suppose that's all he can do at this stage."
Parkinson will not be impressed to hear that Deadman will be the man in the middle against bottom club Crewe as City look for their first home win for five games.
The Bantams boss was hugely critical of the civil servant's display after a 3-1 defeat at Wimbledon in his first season at the Valley Parade helm.
Deadman sent off Craig Fagan but it was the two penalties he gave for the home side that night which provoked Parkinson's anger.
Allison subsequently met Parkinson and Mark Lawn at the training ground to watch the incidents again on DVD.
Parkinson said at the time on Deadman's performance: "It won't be right if he gets appointed for our matches in the future."
The Peterborough official has refereed one City game since – the Capital One Cup first-round win over Notts County on the opening day of the 2012-2013 season – but not at Valley Parade.
It is understood that referee appointments for the Football League are drafted weeks before the games takes place. They are then released to the general public at 4pm on the Monday before.
Coming hot on the heels of the Stockbridge spot-kick gaffe, Deadman's presence at the next home game could fuel further controversy. But Allison stressed the PGMOB would not be swayed on which officials to pick.
Allison told the T&A: "No club can ever have an influence on the appointment of referees. If they do, it's a very dangerous thing for the game.
"Since I've been doing this job, I've made sure that doesn't ever happen."
Meanwhile, Parkinson was at Gresty Road last night to see bottom club Crewe lose 3-0 to Notts County.
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