Tuesday, November 25, 2014

L1 D1-1 (h) Gillingham Saturday November 22, 2014. K.O. 3:00PM. #bcafc

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


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Next/Upcoming Game


Signings, Loans and Injuries

Lewis Clarkson has been loaned out to Whitby Town until 18 December 2014.
He has been kept out this season by a torn hamstring

Bradford City sign striker Francois Zoko from Championship club Blackpool on loan until 17 January.
BBC http://ift.tt/1z8ajSa

Filipe Morais out for the next three weeks, injured right shoulder

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Preview
Parky on the Gills
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIb-3EYFusc

Preview followed by live coverage of Saturday's League One game between Bradford City and Gillingham.
BBC http://ift.tt/1uJXi0D

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11617515.Chairman_tells_Gills_boo_boys_to_lay_off_Taylor/

Game links
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11620194.FT__City_1_Gillingham_1/
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=393966&action=stats&lang=EN&wjb=
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2012/sport_bantams_pics2014_gillinghamhome/

Highlight/ Goals            
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtMEcx7WjfY


Post Game Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W3UQCytIlE


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Final whistle - match report


Parkinson: Bantams had enough chances to kill off Gillingham

7:03pm Saturday 22nd November 2014

By Simon Parker

FRUSTRATED Phil Parkinson admitted City paid the price for not "killing the game off" after Gillingham's last-gasp equaliser at Valley Parade.

Peter Taylor's side grabbed a 1-1 draw as Antonio German cancelled out a Leon Legge own goal in the third minute of stoppage time.

City had hit the post twice and Parkinson felt they should have put the result beyond doubt before Gillingham's late show.

He said: "We dominated the game but had to kill it off. We had chances but didn't take them and we had opportunities in and around the box but needed to make better decisions.

"When you don't, you're always susceptible to that killer punch and that's what happened. Unfortunately it's the difference between a buoyant training ground on Monday and a flat one."

Filipe Morais went to hospital to check on his injured shoulder which forced him off after just 18 minutes.


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When the dust settled - match report


Bradford City frustrated by a sting in the 'Tayl'

6:49am Monday 24th November 2014

By Simon Parker

City 1, Gillingham 1

IT WAS a flashback moment for Peter Taylor as he was asked to explain away another episode of Valley Parade frustration.

A reluctant substitute, that his team had tried to send out on loan, had just stolen City's thunder deep into time added on.

The mood around the place had changed in that instant and another home win had gone begging.

Taylor had seen this scenario before during his underwhelming year at the helm. Only this time, the boot was on the other foot.

For the second season running, the former Bantams boss headed for the long trip back to Kent with a comeback point in his pocket.

Once again it was Phil Parkinson gnashing his teeth at another one that got away. Even worse, this sting in the 'Tayl' was of the foot-shooting variety.

For 92 and a half minutes, City had coped fairly comfortably with what Gillingham had to offer. Jordan Pickford had made a couple of regulation saves, Leon Legge wasted one header, Bradley Dack whizzed a well-struck volley over the bar.

Then Gillingham won one last corner and Legge was allowed to rise beyond the far post and head it back into the six-yard box, where it dropped for an unmarked Antonio German to stab home.

German is no fans' favourite with the Gills; far from it if you use Twitter as a barometer. Taylor himself admitted that the striker "frustrated the hell" out of him at times.

But he was the right man in the right place when it mattered on Saturday as League One's worst travellers bagged only their third point on the road.

For City, it means they are still not averaging a point a game at Valley Parade – a shocking shortfall this far into the campaign.

Coming the week after they had upset the division's best home record at Preston, it was even harder to stomach.

In hindsight, Parkinson may have opted to give Francois Zoko his first taste of City life when Billy Clarke was replaced for the final ten minutes.

The Ivorian frontman had beaten the midday deadline to sign on loan in time from Blackpool but spent the afternoon an unused substitute in the dugout.

Parkinson had instead gone with the more cautious choice of Jason Kennedy to bolster midfield and left just one man up top.

In his defence, he could argue that Gillingham were not really threatening to knock down the door at that stage – and Zoko had hardly met his new team-mates, let alone played with them.

The safety-first policy would have paid off if City had kept the ball with any composure in the closing stages.

But having got their advantage, you sensed a feeling that they thought the job was already done. Passes got sloppy, possession carelessly given away and Gillingham seized their opportunity.

It was all so avoidable. Such a dramatic finale should have been out the question long before. City had the positions and the chances to put the game to bed – but how often have we said that?

They forced nine corners in the first half alone and penned Gillingham in their own end for long periods. But what was there to show for it?

Gillingham had been clinging on to the contest by the fingertips of Stuart Nelson.

The keeper made two crucial interventions to keep his side alive by fingering shots from Billy Knott and James Hanson on to the woodwork. But he should have been worked more if the promise shown in some of City's build-up play had extended into the penalty area.

Admittedly, the hosts had been dealt an early blow when Filipe Morais landed heavily on his shoulder.

He tried to play on while holding his arm in the sling position and admirably still managed to whip over one very good cross.

But his exit before even a quarter of the game had passed robbed the home side of one of their most in-form outlets.

Andy Halliday switched wide to accommodate the arrival of Knott, still desperate to rekindle that August spark in his play.

He almost found it ten minutes before the break when the excellent Jon Stead cut back an inviting pass from the byline. The midfielder went for placement with a precise side-foot but Nelson got a thick enough touch on it to push his shot against the upright.

Parkinson had warned before the game of the need for patience against a Gillingham side prepared to sit deep. True to form, the back five became a back eight at any hint of danger as City tried to squeeze their way through a wall of blue.

They were rewarded just before the hour thanks to a couple of slices of good fortune.

The first was a slip by centre half Kortney Hause, which allowed Halliday space to slip into the corner of the box and drill in a low cross.

And there was Gills defender Legge, back-pedalling towards his own goal, sending his attempted sliding interception into the net.

Hause had not been the first player to lose his footing and neither manager was particularly happy with the heavy surface which was cutting up.

Parkinson tried to be diplomatic afterwards, stressing that as the home team City have to get used to the pitch and adapted well. But it is not helping matters.

That goal should still have been the starting point for a first Valley Parade victory since October 4. But then City rarely do the bog-standard home win.

Stead had led the line magnificently, pulling Gillingham's trio of centre halves around with his movement and general all-round play.

But he had run himself into the ground and made way for James Hanson.

Like the Doncaster game, City's one-goal advantage when Stead departed never lasted.

On Saturday they at least finished with a point – but the manner of the equaliser made it feel like a defeat for all concerned.

Hanson's three-month wait to add to his five-goal tally should have ended 12 minutes from time. But again Nelson diverted his effort against the post.

The importance of that save was soon borne out beneath the eyes of a disbelieving Kop where another substitute was making his mark. And Valley Parade was left with a familiar feeling.

Attendance: 12,434
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http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/date-confirmed-for-liverpool-f.a-youth-cup-tie-2093815.aspx
City's forthcoming F.A Youth Cup third round tie away at Liverpool has been confirmed for Monday 15 December 2014.

The tie, which will kick off at 7:00pm, will be played at Langtree Park - the home of Super League champions St Helens.

The venue is often used by Liverpool to host development squad and youth team fixtures.

The Bantams secured their date with Liverpool by defeating Barnsley 2-0 at the Coral Windows Stadium last Tuesday. City fans can see highlights of that particular match by clicking HERE.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu6w1iuh3sk

Further details regarding the Liverpool tie will be announced in due course.

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http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/30th-anniversary-commemoration-details-confirmed-2093011.aspx
Official statement from The Remembrance Panel, Bradford City Supporters Board:


The 30th Anniversary of the Bradford City Fire Disaster occurs on Monday May 11th 2015. Fifty-six supporters lost their lives in the fire, of whom two were supporters of Lincoln City, Bradford City's opponents in 1985. 258 other supporters were injured on that day, many with serious burns.
(see link for full article)

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A minute's silence will precede all top level games to mark the 30th anniversary of the Bradford City fire.
BBC
http://ift.tt/1F7Rwsf

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Bradford fire disaster national silence 'a fine gesture', says Bantams legend Hendrie
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11619961.Bradford_fire_disaster_national_silence__a_fine_gesture___says_Bantams_legend_Hendrie/

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Francois Zoko: Bradford sign Blackpool striker on loan

Bradford City have signed striker Francois Zoko from Championship club Blackpool on loan until 17 January.

The 31-year-old joined the Seasiders in the summer after scoring 17 goals for Stevenage last season.

He has so far made 14 appearances for Blackpool, but his only goal came in a 1-0 home win over Cardiff in October.

Bradford obtained clearance for the Ivory Coast forward in time for him to be added to the squad for Saturday's game against Gillingham.

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Garth heads Inter new territory in Italy as he explains how "toughest of baptisms at Bantams" launched his European tour
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11623508.Garth_heads_Inter_new_territory_in_Italy_as_he_explains_how__quot_toughest_of_baptisms_at_Bantams_quot__launched_his_European_tour/


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