L2 v Notts County (h) D0-0 March 23rd 2010

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Football League Two - KO 19:45
Bradford      0 (0) - 0 (0)    Notts Co
       
  At Valley Parade on 23-03-2010


Bradford: Glennon, Oliver, Rehman (Bateson, 73 ) , Luke O'Brien, Threlfall, Williams, Flynn, Daley (Kendall, 74 ) ,

Bolder, Evans, Hanson
Subs not used: McCammon,Osborne,McLaughlan,Horne,O'Neill,

Notts Co: Schmeichel, Thompson, Hunt, Edwards, Lee, Ravenhill, Bishop, Davies, Westcarr, Hawley ( Facey, 59 ) ,

Rodgers ( Akinbiyi, 85 )
Subs not used: Clapham, Hoult, Canham, Fairclough, Hamshaw,

Bookings: Bolder , Daley , Oliver (Bradford)
Attendance: 11630

Referee: O Langford

Stats

TEAM STATS
Bradford    Notts Coun
13(7)    Shots (on Goal)    11(5)
9    Fouls            7
6    Corner Kicks    11
0    Offsides    5
50%    Time of Poss.    50%
3    Yellow Cards    0
0    Red Cards    0
4    Saves            5


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Pictures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2003827,00.html?

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics/sport_bantams_pics_nottscountyhome/view/gallery_139967.City_v_Notts_County_16_1_10_/

Video
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8586182.stm



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T&A

Bantams battlers rain on County's promotion parade
7:50am Wednesday 24th March 2010
By Simon Parker

City 0 Notts County 0

Peter Taylor got the response he was after as City slugged it out with League Two's form team last night.

Taylor fumed at the inconsistency after Saturday's disappointment at Hereford.

He demanded better against much better opponents at Valley Parade – and his players showed their battling qualities

to earn a draw against a side who have been beating all before them.

The ground-staff were out in force before the game as the pitch took a bashing from the heavy rain.

The ball was running freely during the warm-ups but the water was laying in several patches.

Taylor made four changes from the weekend loss at Edgar Street. Zesh Rehman, one of those coming back in, also took

the captain's armband from the suspended Lee Bullock.

Rehman lined up at right back while Steve Williams returned to the middle of the back four. Matt Clarke was not in

the squad at all.

City were under no illusions about the task ahead. Notts came to Valley Parade with 16 points from a possible 18 in

the six games since Steve Cotterill took over – including five clean sheets.

The home side were nearly undone within two minutes as Steve Williams failed to deal with a route one clearance

from Graeme Lee. The former City skipper's pass bounced past him to Luke Rodgers but he managed to do enough to put

the striker off getting a clean shot at Matt Glennon.

A draw was not much use to either side so there was a positive feel to the early exchanges. Notts in particular had

a shoot-on-sight policy, with the yellow-booted Rodgers happy to chase everything as he made the most of his

reprieve from Saturday's red card.

Robbie Threlfall, who renewed his loan to the end of the season this week, was in the wars after 17 minutes. The

young full back slid painfully into an advertising hoarding and needed treatment.

While he was off, County went close, with Ben Davies teeing up Rodgers for a glancing header just wide.

Michael Flynn, back in midfield to cover Bullock's absence, was in the hub of things for City as they tried to keep

the ball on the floor despite the conditions.

But Omar Daley was finding it tough to get into the game on the right flank. When he got the ball, there were

usually two opponents facing him.

When the Jamaican did get some space to whip in a cross, it was well dealt with by the stretching Ricky Ravenhill

before Gareth Evans could react.

City were close to a breakthrough on the half hour. Luke Oliver nodded a free-kick into the mix, where Williams

helped it on to Evans but the striker's instinctive stab was shovelled past the post by Kasper Schmeichel.

Daley then gave away a cheap free-kick at the other end but Mike Edwards could not get any purchase on his header.

Threlfall, showing no effects of the earlier collision, chanced his arm from 30 yards but the ball sailed

harmlessly into the TL Dallas Stand.

Adam Bolder was pulled up by referee Oliver Langford for the softest of nudges on Davies – and then booked for

lashing the ball away in frustration.

Rodgers was playing on the last man all the time, looking to get behind the City defence from any pass over the

top.

Notts forced their first couple of corners as half-time approached. The home side saw off the threat but again

didn't deal with a long ball coming back in and Davies sent a curler wide.

Daley joined Bolder in the book for a foul on Davies and the crowd weren't happy with the number of decisions going

against City. An offside flag for Rodgers drew ironic applause.

Luke O'Brien then showed a clean pair of heels to former team-mate Lee wide on the left. He slid the ball back to

James Hanson inside the box but the big man was unable to get it out from under his feet and the danger passed.

City were certainly holding their own against the division's in-form team. Given the pitch and the weather – it was

still pouring – it was a decent, full-blooded contest.

Rodgers still posed the biggest threat and latched menacingly on to a misheader from Oliver on the halfway line.

Cutting inside, he worked the ball on to Ravenhill, who found Craig Westcarr in space to his left.

There was genuine danger as the winger reached the box but Flynn had seen it and positioned himself perfectly to

cut out his shot with a clearing header.

O'Brien whisked a low cross just beyond Hanson and then had a go from Threlfall's pass but it was on his weaker

right foot and flew off course.

City turned a Notts County corner into one of their own as Bolder sprayed a deep ball for Hanson to chase. The

striker nearly got his reward as Williams' header bounced into his path but he skied a drive from 12 yards out.

Home tails were up and Flynn charged forward before warming Schmeichel's hands with a trademark blast. Cotterill

can't have been happy and sent on Delroy Facey for the anonymous Karl Hawley to give Oliver some genuine

competition in the air.

County wasted a great chance on 65 minutes. Rodgers eluded Williams to cut the ball back from the byline,

Westcarr's dummy created space for Davies but the midfielder blazed over from eight yards.

City responded with a well-struck effort from Evans on the right flank which Schmeichel stretched to beat away.

But City's sloppiness threatened to undo the good work. Rehman needlessly conceded a corner with a miscontrol from

a long ball and then a poor touch from Evans set up Rodgers for a snap-shot.

Taylor reacted with a double switch as Jon Bateson and Ryan Kendall replaced Rehman and Daley. But the Notts County

pressure was building as City were pushed further back.

County's corners were clocking up and Hanson was playing a key role, getting a thumping defensive header on several

of them.

Hanson then went back to the day job to fire a low drive straight at Schmeichel.

Oliver received City's third yellow card for a late tangle with substitute Ade Akinbiyi before a good chance fell

to Hanson, who scooped over.

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Nott bad! Taylor happy with a point
7:00am Wednesday 24th March 2010
By Simon Parker

Peter Taylor felt City passed their test against the side he is tipping as promotion favourites.

The Bantams battled their way to a goalless draw with second-placed Notts County at soggy Valley Parade last night.

City bounced back from Saturday's loss at lowly Hereford and Taylor said: "You always enjoy yourself when players

respond like that.

"We knew it was going to be a big test and I'm delighted with the outcome. It was a great clean sheet for us."

It was the first time that free-scoring County had fired a blank in the league since November.

Taylor added: "Notts County have got eight strikers who have scored at this level so they are very strong. They've

also got a goalkeeper that's different class.

"If they don't get injuries, Notts County will be very strong favourites for promotion. So to play as well as we

did against such a good team is really encouraging.

"We started a little bit nervously but once we started having two touches at the back instead of just heading it

away when we didn't have to, we began to have a few more chances.

"Over the 90 minutes I think their goalkeeper was a little bit busier than ours."

Taylor made four changes from the Edgar Street failure and left out Matt Clarke completely. Zesh Rehman played his

first game since Accring-ton and was also made skipper.

The City boss said: "I decided to rest Matt. I thought he looked tired on Saturday.

"We had a long journey back (from Hereford) and you then go and play on that pitch against the good strikers that

Notts County have. I thought it might have been a time to put fresh legs in. I put Steve Williams in there and,

like the rest of the back four, he started nervously but then got stronger.

"You don't get a minute's peace with Luke Rodgers. He's an absolute pest but a good player."

City will be hoping the pitch can recover in time for this weekend's home clash with Dagenham.

Tonight's reserve game against Scunthorpe has been called off as a precaution.

Taylor said: "We could really do with some dry weather."

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Bradford eager to tie Taylor to longer contract

JULIAN RHODES is hoping to conclude a deal to keep Peter Taylor as
Bradford City manager beyond the end of the season within "two to three
weeks".
The Bantams turned to the 57-year-old midway through last month on an
interim basis following Stuart McCall's decision to quit.

City have since won four and drawn one of nine games under Taylor and
the Valley Parade board are keen to tie down the former Hull City
manager on a longer contract.

Initial talks between Taylor and the club took place last week with
further discussions being held yesterday.

Joint chairman Rhodes said: "We have had a chat about next year and,
hopefully, we can get things resolved within the next two to three weeks.

"We have chatted about the budgets for next season and I feel the
preliminary talks went well. Peter certainly seems to be enjoying the
job while we have also been happy with the progress being made.

"It would be great to move it on and get things sorted out. What we
would really like to see is what Peter could do next season with a squad
he has assembled himself."

Taylor may have only been in charge of City for five weeks but his
influence has been keenly felt at Valley Parade with six new loan
signings having arrived and another possibly joining before today's 5pm
deadline.

Veteran trio Chris Brandon, Peter Thorne and Michael Boulding have also
had their contracts paid up as part of the club's re-building plans
ahead of next season.

Rhodes added: "We have been impressed with the job Peter has done, even
in this short space of time.

"The organisation of the team has been impressive and it is clear he
knows what is required to get the best out of a squad at this level,
which is of course what we all want at Bradford City."

Taylor arrived at Bradford with an impressive CV boasting two previous
promotion successes from the basement division with Hull City in 2004
and Wycombe Wanderers last term.

He also led Gillingham out of the third tier in 2000 via the play-offs,
Brighton as champions two years later and Hull in 2005.

Taylor, who has been assisted at Valley Parade by Junior Lewis and Wayne
Jacobs, beat off stiff competition from Peter Jackson, Russell Slade,
Martin Allen, Jim Magilton and Steve Cotterill to land the City job.

His quartet of victories as Bantams manager include a 3-1 triumph at
runaway leaders Rochdale and a 2-1 success against promotion-chasing
Rotherham United at the Don Valley Stadium.





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Brandon: My pride has been dented
7:40am Thursday 25th March 2010
Exclusive By Simon Parker

Chris Brandon today admitted he felt "cheated" by his time at Valley Parade.

Brandon, who cut his ties with City last week, made just 31 appearances in two seasons at his hometown club.

The 33-year-old was bitterly disappointed that it didn't work out.

He said: "There's a lot of things I would like to say but I've got to be professional about myself and my conduct and move on. I don't want to upset anybody.

"I've just got to put a line under everything."

Brandon, who joined City in May 2008, missed a huge chunk of last season with ankle injuries. But after surviving a summer cull of the bigger earners, he failed to get a regular slot this term.

His longest run in the side was four successive starts in January, although he was subbed in three of them.

"I feel cheated because it's my home club. My pride has been dented.

"You need to be playing games wherever you go. You need that run to find your feet.

"I never got that chance to prove my worth for a number of reasons.

"I'm a Bradford fan and I wanted to do well so badly. But it was just one problem after another.

"There were a lot of things I didn't agree with but as a professional you've got to go along with those decisions and respect them whether you like it or not.

"You can't keep every footballer happy. You have ups and downs in the game and unfortunately my down was Bradford.

"I don't think the club knew where my best position was and didn't know my best attributes.

"I was on the left, on the right, in a three or playing off the front man. I can play all those positions and was happy to do so but it's not easy when you're being switched around all the time."

Brandon has had a few offers from clubs and is heading for Scotland to train with Dundee United with a view to signing in the summer.

He insists there is still plenty in the tank.

"I've got to resurrect my career. I still feel I've got a lot of football left in me. I'm a naturally fit lad but people start looking at your age.

"After the two years I've had, I feel like I'm starting again – I've got to prove that I'm not washed up.

"I look at people like Peter Thorne and that gives me a lot of inspiration. He came here after a bad time at Norwich and did a fantastic job.

"You don't become a bad player overnight but you go through a lot of emotions when things don't work out.

"I genuinely wish Bradford all the best but it's time for me to move on now.

"I've got to be strong-minded and keep believing in myself."

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Leave City, score goals

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2004810,00.html?


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(from BCFC site)

McCammon returns to Gillingham

On loan transfer deadline day, the Bantams have decided not to extend
Mark McCammon's loan deal with the football club.

The giant striker will therefore return to his parent club Gillingham
this week, unless the League 1 side can secure a loan deal for him
with another club before the window slams shut.

McCammon joined the Bantams on 26 February 2010 before making his
debut against Darlington at the Coral Windows Stadium the following
day alongside James Hanson.

The 31 year old went onto make three further appearances for Bradford
with his only other start for City coming at Aldershot Town's EBB
Stadium.

The football club would like to thank Mark for his efforts during his
short spell with the Bantams and wish him all the best for the future.

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(from T&A)

Mark McCammon has returned to Gillingham after his month's loan at City.

And the big striker, who started only twice, could be on his way straight back out - if he can find another club before today's 5pm transfer deadline.

Peter Taylor said: "I wouldn't think we are an easy team to play for at the minute so it was probably a little more difficult for a striker.

"Mark didn't join us 100 per cent match fit and I think that affected his touch and timing.

"He helped James Hanson, no doubt about that, and gave him a few ideas.

"I said I would always keep an eye on his situation but he knows he's got to get fit. You've got to be fit in any sport."


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EASTER FOOTBAL COURSES

By Bill Marshall (T&A)

Bradford City Football Club's Community Foundation are running two-day and
four-day Easter courses.

The four-day courses are from Tuesday, April 6 to Friday, April 9 at
Thornton Grammar School, Sandy Sports Centre (Skipton) and GOALS Soccer
Centre at Hanson.

Tong School and Marley Activities and Coaching Centre (Keighley) stage
two-day courses on Monday, April 12 to Tuesday, April 13.

And Ben Rhydding Sports Club (Ilkley) and Buttershaw Business and Enterprise
College host two-day courses on Thursday, April 15 to Friday, April 16.

The camps are for boys and girls of all ability levels aged from five to 13
and last from 10am-3pm.

For further information, ring 01274-706850 or e-mail City at
bradfordcityfitc@aol.com. Alternatively look at their website at
www.bradfordcityfitc.org.uk.

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T&A website news

Our coverage of City on the T&A website is now better than ever. We have added a new section on League Two, with statistics, player profiles, an updated league table and all this season's fixtures & results: telegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/