Monday, January 31, 2011
L2 D2-2 (A) v Chesterfield January 29 2011. K.O. 3:00PM
Next fixture
L2 (H) v Lincoln City Feb 1st 2011 K.O. 7.45pm
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
===========================
Match stats
Chesterfield: Lee, Robertson, Ford (Vidal, 46 ) , Breckin, Niven (Bowery, 85 ) , Whitaker, Allott, Mattis, Lester
(Smalley, 52 ) , Talbot, Davies
Subs not used: Morris,Griffiths,Lowry,Redmond,
Goals : Whitaker 11 Bowery 90
Bradford: McLaughlan, Duff, Oliver, Eckersley, O'Brien, Worthington ( Flynn, 79 ) , Osborne ( Daley, 36 ) ,
Adeyemi, Syers, Evans, Hanson
Subs not used: Speight, Threlfall, Cullen, Elliott, Hunt,
Goals: Syers 12 Hanson 53
Bookings: Smalley (Chesterfield)
Attendance: 7556
Referee: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire)
Spireites STAT ATTACK Bantams
61% Time of Poss. 39%
5 Shots On Target 4
6 Shots Off Target 1
6 Fouls (Conceded) 8
7 Corners 6
1 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0
===========================
Match report
Last-gasp leveller leaves Bantams with mixed emotions
7:30am Monday 31st January 2011
By Simon Parker
Chesterfield 2 Bradford City 2
Well they couldn't quite "do a Rochdale" as the lads in the dressing room call it.
A win at the new b2net Stadium would have been every bit as impressive as Peter Taylor's debut victory at Spotland
last March.
And they so nearly pulled it off.
But when the head shaking over Chester-field's late, late leveller subsides, City and their magnificently vocal
travelling fans can acknowledge a heartening afternoon.
At least we can see a chink of light in that black cloud that has parked above Valley Parade in recent weeks.
It could have been brighter; it should have been brighter had City dealt with that final stoppage-time cross as
they had done with most of its predecessors.
But after four losses on the spin, a point's a point; especially against the team with the division's best home
record.
Chesterfield don't just score in every game at their new home. They also usually win them.
Only three of the previous 13 visitors had left with any reward. So Saturday's draw should not be underestimated.
Of course, it will only mean something if City follow it up with the right result against Lincoln tomorrow.
The Imps themselves have won three in a row. But then Chesterfield were unbeaten in seven – and had not conceded in
the last three.
James Hanson, whose header for so long looked like being City's winner, hopes a line has been drawn in the sand
after all the recent misery.
Hanson said: "You expect to hold on when you're coming to the last ten minutes 2-1 up. We thought we had done but
didn't deal with that ball in the end and got punished.
"We're all gutted but it's still a great point. It's what we needed after the back-to-back defeats.
"We worked extremely hard and the gaffer was always confident we'd get something. Chesterfield score a lot of goals
but they can also concede.
"We haven't been scoring many but he said we could cause them some problems and I think we did that.
"It's a big week for us and this is a good start. We're not going into training on Monday morning feeling down, as
we have done in the last two or three weeks."
The home fans crowed "You're getting sacked in the morning" as Taylor's team struggled to get out their own half in
the opening exchanges.
The manager responded, as always, with sarcastic applause but must have feared the worst when Chesterfield struck
the first blow in the tenth minute.
Jack Lester produced his one moment of note in an otherwise disinterested display, teasing enough of an opening to
supply left winger Danny Whitaker for a sweet finish.
We all settled in for a very long afternoon.
But City came straight back at them. Hanson was foiled by the agility of one-time Oakworth Junior Tommy Lee before
the big man's presence played a significant part in the equaliser.
Intended target Hanson missed Leon Osborne's cross but his dive took Ian Breckin with him and deceived the home
defence, leaving David Syers on his own to half-volley his eighth goal of the campaign.
Chances were swapped at either end. Gareth Evans and Osborne found good positions for City, while Luke Oliver
pulled off an inch-perfect tackle on Craig Davies in the away box.
City's performance was chalk and cheese compared with the last Saturday outing at Oxford a fortnight earlier. There
had been good moments against Crewe but this time they put it all together.
A solid back four kept the clamp on free-scoring Davies and Lester, overseen by Jon Worthington in the holding
role. What a useful acquisition he's going to be when fully up to match speed and fitness.
Worthington's calming presence gave Syers and Tom Adeyemi scope to bomb up and down alongside him, backing up a
front three boosted by Hanson's aerial control over Breckin.
City's attacking edge improved further when Omar Daley replaced the injured Osborne before half-time. Even though
Chesterfield spotted the danger by bringing on quicker right back Javan Vidal at the break, Daley gave them a run
for their money with every touch.
Vidal was flailing in his slipstream when Daley's sprint and cross went unrewarded as nobody had gambled at the
near post.
But Hanson was in exactly the right place for the right ball eight minutes into the second half.
He was also right to applaud the contribution from Evans in the build-up after it seemed that City's best chance
had just gone begging.
Adeyemi burst into the box but narrowly failed to reach Hanson's knockdown from a cross by Luke O'Brien. But Evans
refused to let the opportunity disappear, rescuing possession on the touchline and delivering the sort of cross
that Hanson dreams about.
"I knew it was mine as soon as he put it up there," smiled Hanson. "It was a great ball in from Evo. I've been
asking them for a while to hang it up in a good area where I can attack like that.
"I was quite disappointed not to get another one after that from OB's cross. I just mistimed my jump.
"But playing like we did should bring confidence back to the attacking players. If we can go to the leaders and
score a couple then we should be able to take that forward."
City inevitably got pushed further and further back as Chesterfield threw everything at an equaliser.
Jon McLaughlin saved from Mark Allott and Michael Flynn arrived on the pitch in the nick of time to cut out a
dangerous cross from Drew Talbot. Sub Deane Smalley then blew a glorious chance by skying a free header from eight
yards. City's three-point mission looked complete.
But then Gregor Robertson pinged in one last centre, City failed to react to Breckin's flick-on and Jordan Bowery –
who'd been on the pitch for less than ten minutes – found room to swivel and shoot past McLaughlin.
===========================
Dobie signs for Bradford City to end of season
7:18pm Monday 31st January 2011
By Simon Parker
Bradford City tonight confirmed St Johnstone striker Scott Dobie had signed on loan until the end of the season,
although the deal is subject to international clearance.
It is unclear whether Dobie will be able to play for City in tomorrow night's League Two game against Lincoln at
Valley Parade.
Dobie, 32, a former Scotland international, has played for West Brom, Nottingham Forest and Carlisle and has racked
up 399 league appearances.
===========================
Baldwin: Let's hear an encore from the Bantams fans
7:36pm Monday 31st January 2011
By Simon Parker
City are calling on Valley Parade's 12th man to pull out all the stops against Lincoln tomorrow night.
The fans were in superb voice in Saturday's battling draw with leaders Chesterfield.
Now the club hope that backing can be replicated for the Lincoln showdown.
Director of operations David Baldwin said: "The away crowd on Saturday had a very positive contribution to the
outcome and really motivated the players. Even when we went 1-0 down, they kept going and that support and
enthusiasm rubbed off on the pitch.
"It would be great if we could emulate that at home tomorrow.
"If we don't get off to the best start, I really hope the fans will stick behind the team again like that because
it can make such a difference."
Baldwin admitted the City hierarchy were blown away by the constant noise of the away supporters at the b2net
Stadium.
"I nearly jumped on the radio at half-time to say a big thank you to our fans," he added. "Regardless of the
result, they were absolutely magnificent."
Three straight wins have lifted Lincoln to within three points of their hosts – and the Imps have three games in
hand.
Baldwin said: "It's a very important game given the league position.
"We're playing a team in a bit of form and we need to use anything we can in our favour. That's why the 12th man
can have a real impact.
"We're all in this together. We've got fantastic support and we should use that to our advantage."
===========================
Point at leaders feels more like a defeat, admits Bantams boss Taylor
7:50am Monday 31st January 2011
By Simon Parker
Peter Taylor admitted he felt for his players after watching two points snatched from City's grasp at Chesterfield.
The Bantams snapped their four-game losing run with a stirring effort against the leaders.
But Jordan Bowery's stoppage-time equaliser cost them the chance to put some daylight on the bottom two ahead of
this week's clashes with Lincoln and Macclesfield.
Sympathetic Taylor said: "I'm really disappointed for them. I had a little bit of a pop over the second goal but I
really feel for the players.
"They worked their socks off for everyone – themselves, the supporters, the club, everybody.
"It does feel a bit like a defeat but there were a lot more pluses out of it. The performance was decent and we
scored two against the leaders.
"I thought we carried on from Tuesday night (against Crewe) and we covered the ground. If we keep doing that, we'll
be hard to play against.
"Hopefully we can kick on tomorrow night."
City, who lost Leon Osborne with a hamstring injury in the first half, hit back quickly from going a goal down. Top
scorer David Syers levelled with his eighth of the campaign before James Hanson's header had them eyeing an
unexpected victory.
Taylor added: "When you concede (first) against the league leaders, there's the chance you could go on and lose by
four or five.
"But we showed good character and got back at the right time, which may have unsettled them a little bit.
"It was a good game after that. You can see why Chesterfield have done well but I think we've shown at times we can
be a very good away from home team by breaking out with the athletes we have."
Jon Worthington again made a difference in midfield and Omar Daley's pace caused plenty of problems after he
replaced Osborne.
The Jamaican should be back in the starting line-up to face the in-form Imps.
"I thought Omar was really exciting," said Taylor. "He causes some problems.
"Our crossing in the final third was better because we got the ball in a little bit earlier. Gareth Evans put in a
tremendous ball for Hanson with the second goal.
"When you work with the players every day, you know they can do it.
"That's where it's even more upsetting and frustrating when they don't perform.
"But they are good, caring lads who want to do well. You've always got a chance with an honest squad."
===========================
===========================
BBC Coverage of transfer deadline day
1501: DONE DEAL Forget Stamford Bridge, it's all happening at Sincil Bank at the monment. Following their extension
of Gavin Hoyte's loan deal earlier, BBC Lincolnshire reports that the Imps have signed striker Scott Spencer on a
free transfer until the end of the season following his departure from Southend last week, and they have also
snapped up ex-Millwall man Ali Fuseini, who has signed until 2012. Fuseini had recently been playing for Lewes in
the Blue Square South.
===========================
===========================
DEATH OF FORMER CITY KEEPER
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Former Bradford City goalkeeper David Knowles has died, aged 69, after a
long illness.
Knowles, born in Halifax, played 21 games for the club during the 1966-1967
season. He later became postmaster at Oakenshaw.
===========================
Friday, January 28, 2011
L2 L1-2 (A) v Crewe A. January 25 2011. K.O. 7:45PM
Next fixture
L2 (A) v Chesterfield January 29 2011. K.O. 3:00PM
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
===========================
Match stats
Crewe: Phillips, Dugdale, Ada, Blanchett, Tootle, Bell, Murphy, Westwood, Donaldson (sent off 46), Miller (Powell, 80 ) , Moore
Subs not used: Grant,Mitchell-King,Shelley,Leitch-Smith,Davis,Fogler,
Bradford: McLaughlan, Duff, Oliver, Eckersley, O'Brien, Worthington ( Daley, 55 ) , Osborne ( Flynn, 82 ) , Adeyemi, Syers, Evans ( Speight, 55 ) , Hanson
Subs not used: Threlfall, Saxton, Cullen, Hunt,
Bookings: Bell , Westwood (Crewe) Evans , O'Brien , Worthington (Bradford)
Attendance: 3665
Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire)
===========================
Match report
CREWE (2) 2 BRADFORD CITY (1) 1
By Simon Parker (T&A)
City slumped to a fourth defeat on the bounce at Crewe tonight against a
side who played the whole second half with ten men.
Bradford-born Clayton Donaldson had stuck the knife into his hometown club
with his 16th goal of the season before he was red-carded before the break.
But the Bantams failed to make the man advantage count to remain in their
losing rut.
Gareth Evans wasted a gilt-edged chance early on and Crewe made him pay when
Donaldson tapped in their opener on 15 minutes.
City fought their way level six minutes before half-time, Shane Duff heading
his first goal for the club.
But their elation disappeared within seconds as Crewe went straight up the
other end to restore the lead through Byron Moore.
Donaldson was then sent off for sticking his head into City's new loan
signing Jon Worthington. Evans was also dismissed in a fiery end to the half
- only to be recalled over a case of mistaken identity.
City had 45 minutes to capitalise on their one-man advantage.
David Syers and Omar Daley went close as the visitors camped in the Crewe
half. Michael Flynn also volleyed wide after coming on late for his first
league outing of the season.
But City could not come up with an equaliser and were left once again with
that familiar empty feeling.
===========================
TAYLOR ADMITS TO RELEGATION FIGHT
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Peter Taylor surveyed the impact of City's fourth straight loss and
admitted: We're in a battle for survival now.
The 2-1 defeat at Crewe last night left the Bantams only five points above
the bottom two.
And Taylor conceded that the focus has turned to the foot of the table
instead of the top. He said: "We've got to be realistic. We're looking at
relegation more than promotion.
"We've lost four on the spin and you can't hide from that fact. But I still
say we've got a group of players that are honest and want to put it right.
"If we can keep going the way we played second half, I'm sure we will turn
it round."
City played the second half with a man advantage after Crewe top scorer
Clayton Donaldson was sent off.
Bradford-born Donaldson had fired Crewe ahead before Shane Duff levelled -
only for Byron Moore to net Crewe's second within a minute.
Taylor was fuming with the decisive goal after City failed to deal with a
long ball.
He added: "The second goal was embarrassing. There was no way we should
allow big holes in front of our back four from a kick like that.
"Crewe pass the ball around really well and create lots of chances but
that's probably the easiest goal they've scored all season.
"It doesn't mean it's a foregone conclusion that 11 men are going to beat
ten. They got bodies behind the ball.
"But the final decision let us down. A couple of times we got it right but
there were others when we shot in unrealistic situations and from silly
distances.
"But Gareth Evans should have scored first half - it was an easy chance.
"All of a sudden that changes the game. Then we get the equaliser and
concede a ridiculous goal - that's why we're in this position."
Jon Worthington, brought in on a month's loan from Oldham, played 55 minutes
and Taylor is confident he will make an impact.
"He hasn't had lot of football and had been booked so I wanted to get some
fresher legs on but he's going to be okay for us.
"We need noisy ones, we don't want people going into their shell. That's the
last thing we need in our situation."
===========================
===========================
BfB's interview with Mark Lawn
http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/2011/01/talking-to-mark-lawn-part-one/
http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/2011/01/talking-to-mark-lawn-part-two/
===========================
JON WORTHINGTON SIGNS PERMANENT DEAL
Posted on January 27, 2011 by admin
Jon Worthington has left Oldham Athletic after having his contract
terminated. The 27-year-old has now signed permanently for Bradford City
until the end of the season after initially joining the Bantams on an
emergency loan deal.
The Birkenshaw born midfielder who played for the first 55 minutes of the
Crewe defeat said: "We're in a results business and we'd like to have got
one, especially when they went down to ten men. So it was disappointing to
get beaten. But on a personal point of view, I'm delighted to be here.
You can't kid yourself, it was tough out there in my first game back. But
I'm quite a fit lad so give me a couple of games and I'll be straight back
in the swing of it. It's been a frustrating time since my move to Oldham.
I suffered a bad injury last season and then there was the change of manager
this year. I've been desperate to get back playing again. When I got the
call from Bradford, I jumped at the chance. There have been a couple of
times over the past few years when there was a chance I might have come
here. Luckily that's come now and I'll give it my all."
===========================
New Kit
Bradford have signed a four year deal to have kit made and supplied by Nike.
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2275398,00.html
===========================
KIERNAN RETURNS TO WATFORD
Bradford City defender Rob Kiernan has returned to parent club Watford
following the end of his loan spell.
Kiernan, 20, arrived at Valley Parade in mid-November and extended his stay
earlier this month. He has made eight appearances for the Bantams.
Bradford manager Peter Taylor said: "I'd like to thank Rob for all his
efforts while he's been with us.
"He's shown a good attitude towards training and matches throughout his time
here and we wish him all the very best for the future."
===========================
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2277735,00.html?
Former Bantams midfielder Lee Hendrie has joined Indonesian Premier League side Bandung FC on a two year deal.
He will also be a football ambassador for coaching grassroots and youth development during his time at Bandung.
===========================
L2 (A) v Chesterfield January 29 2011. K.O. 3:00PM
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
===========================
Match stats
Crewe: Phillips, Dugdale, Ada, Blanchett, Tootle, Bell, Murphy, Westwood, Donaldson (sent off 46), Miller (Powell, 80 ) , Moore
Subs not used: Grant,Mitchell-King,Shelley,Leitch-Smith,Davis,Fogler,
Bradford: McLaughlan, Duff, Oliver, Eckersley, O'Brien, Worthington ( Daley, 55 ) , Osborne ( Flynn, 82 ) , Adeyemi, Syers, Evans ( Speight, 55 ) , Hanson
Subs not used: Threlfall, Saxton, Cullen, Hunt,
Bookings: Bell , Westwood (Crewe) Evans , O'Brien , Worthington (Bradford)
Attendance: 3665
Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire)
===========================
Match report
CREWE (2) 2 BRADFORD CITY (1) 1
By Simon Parker (T&A)
City slumped to a fourth defeat on the bounce at Crewe tonight against a
side who played the whole second half with ten men.
Bradford-born Clayton Donaldson had stuck the knife into his hometown club
with his 16th goal of the season before he was red-carded before the break.
But the Bantams failed to make the man advantage count to remain in their
losing rut.
Gareth Evans wasted a gilt-edged chance early on and Crewe made him pay when
Donaldson tapped in their opener on 15 minutes.
City fought their way level six minutes before half-time, Shane Duff heading
his first goal for the club.
But their elation disappeared within seconds as Crewe went straight up the
other end to restore the lead through Byron Moore.
Donaldson was then sent off for sticking his head into City's new loan
signing Jon Worthington. Evans was also dismissed in a fiery end to the half
- only to be recalled over a case of mistaken identity.
City had 45 minutes to capitalise on their one-man advantage.
David Syers and Omar Daley went close as the visitors camped in the Crewe
half. Michael Flynn also volleyed wide after coming on late for his first
league outing of the season.
But City could not come up with an equaliser and were left once again with
that familiar empty feeling.
===========================
TAYLOR ADMITS TO RELEGATION FIGHT
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Peter Taylor surveyed the impact of City's fourth straight loss and
admitted: We're in a battle for survival now.
The 2-1 defeat at Crewe last night left the Bantams only five points above
the bottom two.
And Taylor conceded that the focus has turned to the foot of the table
instead of the top. He said: "We've got to be realistic. We're looking at
relegation more than promotion.
"We've lost four on the spin and you can't hide from that fact. But I still
say we've got a group of players that are honest and want to put it right.
"If we can keep going the way we played second half, I'm sure we will turn
it round."
City played the second half with a man advantage after Crewe top scorer
Clayton Donaldson was sent off.
Bradford-born Donaldson had fired Crewe ahead before Shane Duff levelled -
only for Byron Moore to net Crewe's second within a minute.
Taylor was fuming with the decisive goal after City failed to deal with a
long ball.
He added: "The second goal was embarrassing. There was no way we should
allow big holes in front of our back four from a kick like that.
"Crewe pass the ball around really well and create lots of chances but
that's probably the easiest goal they've scored all season.
"It doesn't mean it's a foregone conclusion that 11 men are going to beat
ten. They got bodies behind the ball.
"But the final decision let us down. A couple of times we got it right but
there were others when we shot in unrealistic situations and from silly
distances.
"But Gareth Evans should have scored first half - it was an easy chance.
"All of a sudden that changes the game. Then we get the equaliser and
concede a ridiculous goal - that's why we're in this position."
Jon Worthington, brought in on a month's loan from Oldham, played 55 minutes
and Taylor is confident he will make an impact.
"He hasn't had lot of football and had been booked so I wanted to get some
fresher legs on but he's going to be okay for us.
"We need noisy ones, we don't want people going into their shell. That's the
last thing we need in our situation."
===========================
===========================
BfB's interview with Mark Lawn
http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/2011/01/talking-to-mark-lawn-part-one/
http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/2011/01/talking-to-mark-lawn-part-two/
===========================
JON WORTHINGTON SIGNS PERMANENT DEAL
Posted on January 27, 2011 by admin
Jon Worthington has left Oldham Athletic after having his contract
terminated. The 27-year-old has now signed permanently for Bradford City
until the end of the season after initially joining the Bantams on an
emergency loan deal.
The Birkenshaw born midfielder who played for the first 55 minutes of the
Crewe defeat said: "We're in a results business and we'd like to have got
one, especially when they went down to ten men. So it was disappointing to
get beaten. But on a personal point of view, I'm delighted to be here.
You can't kid yourself, it was tough out there in my first game back. But
I'm quite a fit lad so give me a couple of games and I'll be straight back
in the swing of it. It's been a frustrating time since my move to Oldham.
I suffered a bad injury last season and then there was the change of manager
this year. I've been desperate to get back playing again. When I got the
call from Bradford, I jumped at the chance. There have been a couple of
times over the past few years when there was a chance I might have come
here. Luckily that's come now and I'll give it my all."
===========================
New Kit
Bradford have signed a four year deal to have kit made and supplied by Nike.
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2275398,00.html
===========================
KIERNAN RETURNS TO WATFORD
Bradford City defender Rob Kiernan has returned to parent club Watford
following the end of his loan spell.
Kiernan, 20, arrived at Valley Parade in mid-November and extended his stay
earlier this month. He has made eight appearances for the Bantams.
Bradford manager Peter Taylor said: "I'd like to thank Rob for all his
efforts while he's been with us.
"He's shown a good attitude towards training and matches throughout his time
here and we wish him all the very best for the future."
===========================
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2277735,00.html?
Former Bantams midfielder Lee Hendrie has joined Indonesian Premier League side Bandung FC on a two year deal.
He will also be a football ambassador for coaching grassroots and youth development during his time at Bandung.
===========================
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
L2 L0-1 (A) v Aldershot Town January 18 2011. K.O. 7:45PM
Next fixture
L2 (H) v Burton Albion January 22 2011. K.O. 3:00PM
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2270626,00.html?
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
http://aldershot2.digital-ink.co.uk/MatchReport.ink?MatchID=18495&type=m
===========================
Match stats
Aldershot: Young, Vincent, Herd, Charles, Vincenti (Panther, 59 ) , Jones, Guttridge, Harding (Morris, 78 ) ,
Small, McGlashan, Hylton (Sills, 72 )
Subs not used: Straker,Ngo Baheng,Clement,Fortune,
Goal: Charles 23
Bradford: McLaughlan, Duff, Oliver, Eckersley, O'Brien, Threlfall ( Cullen, 79 ) , Daley ( Evans, 60 ) , Bullock (
Osborne, 22 ) , Adeyemi, Syers, Hanson
Subs not used: Saxton, Kiernan, Horne, Hunt,
Bookings: Guttridge , Vincent (Aldershot) Threlfall (Bradford)
Attendance: 2160
Referee: A Woolmer (Northamptonshire)
Aldershot Bradford
The Shots / Few shots
6(4) Shots (on Goal) 3(2)
9 Fouls 10
9 Corner Kicks 3
1 Offsides 2
55% Time of Poss. 45%
2 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
2 Saves 5
===========================
Taylor asks his players to show character to get back on course
8:10am Wednesday 19th January 2011
By Simon Parker
Peter Taylor today warned sinking City: Don't expect any favours to get out of this slump.
Last night's loss at Aldershot was the third on the bounce as the Bantams fluffed another chance to close in on the
top half.
The City chief acknowledged that confidence has tailed off with the poor run – but they will have to tough it out.
"I can understand the players aren't in top form but we've got to overcome it," said Taylor.
"It's a beautiful game we're involved in but also a very tough one. Nobody's going to give you a goal or a win;
you've got to earn that result.
"We've got to keep working extremely hard as a group. Some of the players will have been through this before but it
will be new to others.
"Our season has been nowhere near good enough and I hold my hands up to that.
"If we were top of the table I'd be happy to take the praise. But we're not so I'll take that on the chin."
Defender Anthony Charles scored the Aldershot winner, just like last season. But Taylor could point to missed
opportunities from Tom Adeyemi, Richard Eckersley and Mark Cullen.
He said: "You've got to take chances. I'm not saying we started the game greatly but we had better chances before
they scored.
"If one of them had gone in, it could have been a different kettle of fish.
"Goalscorers get you a goal when you deserve them and often when you don't. But we're not scoring enough."
City also fear Lee Bullock will be out for the next month after injuring a thigh muscle.
With Tommy Doherty facing an ankle operation tomorrow, it leaves Taylor short in the centre of midfield.
He admitted: "It doesn't look a very good one with Lee and I'd be surprised if it's not a month. We'll look when it
settles down and then take things from there."
Jon McLaughlin came in back for Lenny Pidgeley, who was ill, and Taylor felt the keeper impressed in his first
outing since the end of October.
He said: "I was very pleased with Jon. As much as I'm disappointed with the result, there were still some good
performances and I think Jon was one of them."
===========================
Charles proves Bantams' nemesis as McLaughlin can't prevent third loss in row
6:40am Wednesday 19th January 2011
By Simon Parker
Aldershot 1, City 0
It was the same old story for sorry City last night.
The same result as last season; even the same scorer.
The same scenario for Peter Taylor on a ground where he has now lost all four of his visits with various clubs.
And far more significantly, the same negative outcome as the Oxford and Barnet games. Three defeats in a row has
left the Bantams sinking fast.
While Aldershot's new manager Dean Holdsworth celebrated his first triumph in charge on his home debut, Taylor must
be scratching his head as to where the next points are coming from.
After back-to-back defeats, it had been a big night for City. It was a huge one for Jon McLaughlin.
Taylor had made it clear that Lenny Pidgeley's spot in goal was far from safe after his blunder for Oxford's
equaliser.
And while the decision was taken out of the manager's hands after Pidgeley was sent back home suffering with a
migraine, the onus was on McLaughlin to prove he could keep the shirt.
There were two other changes from Saturday, with James Hanson and Shane Duff both fit to return. Hanson's presence
in particular gave the side a better balance as they looked to claw back lost ground from recent costly defeats.
On paper, City were at the best place to rectify the Barnet and Oxford slip-ups. The Shots had the worst home
record in the division, losing their previous four EBB Stadium outings.
But this was their first home appearance under the new gaffer, so there was just as much at stake for their players
as the visitors.
McLaughlin was called into action after just two minutes to beat away Ben Harding's 30-yard free-kick. Danny Hylton
nodded the rebound back towards goal, where David Syers was handily placed to snuff out the danger.
But City had two big chances to snatch an early lead – both falling to Tom Adeyemi.
Fantastic work down the right from Richard Eckersley set up the first, which was well blocked by centre half Darren
Jones.
Seconds later, Adeyemi had his head in his hands after another golden opportunity went begging. Hanson knocked the
ball down into his path but Adeyemi fired straight at the keeper from close range and Hanson stabbed the loose ball
wide.
Adeyemi and Eckersley linked well again as the right back overlapped for a shot but could not connect properly. It
was a positive spell and Luke O'Brien looped a header over from Robbie Threlfall's cross.
But City were stunned by a double blow midway through the half. Lee Bullock had to hobble off after landing
awkwardly in a tackle – and before City had chance to readjust properly, Aldershot struck the first blow.
Peter Vincenti's pass was volleyed goalwards by Anthony Charles, whose shot carried too much power for McLaughlin
as it flew inside the near post. The keeper should have done better but he could also ask why Charles was allowed
to turn so easily.
The Shots centre half had scored the only goal in City's last visit ten months ago and now he had rocked them right
back on their heels again.
Syers was booked for bringing down Guttridge right on the edge of the area – his seventh yellow card. But
McLaughlin spared City further punishment as he flung himself to tip away Harding's free-kick.
Omar Daley got his first real opening to run and cut inside menacingly before testing Jamie Young at his near post.
Adeyemi had moved central to cover Bullock's absence with Leon Osborne taking up the right flank, although the
substitute had seen very little of the ball.
By contrast, Aldershot right winger Jermaine McGlashan had won a flurry of corners and was giving Threlfall plenty
to think about.
City had faded badly since the goal and there were worrying shades of Saturday as they struggled to keep the ball
whenever it was going forward, which allowed the hosts on to them more and more.
The Bantams put themselves under more pressure at the start of the second half. Duff gave the ball away too
casually as he carried it out of defence and Eckersley hauled down Hylton in a dangerous position.
Duff claimed he was pulled down as the free-kick came over but got up in time to make a vital block from Jones.
The game had grown scrappy while City looked for a way back in. Osborne's run was checked on the edge of the D and
Daley ran into a similar brick wall.
There was nothing to suggest a recovery was imminent as Taylor tried to shuffle things by replacing the Jamaican
with Gareth Evans on the hour.
City's small contingent of away fans finally made themselves heard when Threlfall's free-kick was punched away by
Young. The 128 loyal followers had little to cheer and Small nearly increased the pain when he was given plenty of
space to try his luck from distance.
Eckersley tried to provide a spark with an energetic burst upfield but O'Brien wasted it with a poor cross. Hanson
flicked a tame shot straight into Young's arms but the Shots keeper had not been seriously tested since that brief
first-half flurry.
Small nodded wastefully wide after he was left free to meet Ben Herd's cross and City almost made him pay when
Evans' drive deflected wide.
Taylor played his final card 11 minutes from time as Mark Cullen made it a three-man attack in place of Threlfall.
Straight away the teenager could have been a hero but looped his header over the bar.
Cullen then miscontrolled by the touchline and gave away a sloppy goal kick; it was a night when little had gone
right for the men in white.
There was a flicker when Syers burst through on the keeper but he was flagged offside.
But a third straight defeat has left City languishing further than ever from their top-seven target.
Attendance: 2,160
===========================
MARC BRIDGE-WILKINSON RELEASED BY CARLISLE
Carlisle United have confirmed that a mutual agreement has been reached with
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson this afternoon that allows the central midfielder to
move on to pastures new. Bridge-Wilkinson, 31, joined Carlisle in June 2007
after he was released by Bradford City following relegation to Division Two.
Marc originally joined City on loan from Stockport County in February 2005
and a month later he made the move permanent after he signed a two-year
contract. He went on to play for the Bantams 95 times and scored 14 goals
before moving to Brunton Park.
The Cumbrian's Manager (and former Bantam) Greg Abbott said: "Marc is an
absolutely fantastic lad but he wants to be playing regular football, and
that's not something that we could guarantee at this moment in time. We have
sat down and had a chat and we have agreed that it would be better for him
to move on so that he can get the pitch time that he needs. He really has
been a pleasure to work with and he leaves us with our very best wishes."
===========================
To be confirmed:
Doherty is having an op on his ankle and will be out for 6 weeks.
In time for Saturday Burton have signed Calvin Zola from Crewe - he's the big bloke we
can never handle and he scored two against us for Crewe last season.
L2 (H) v Burton Albion January 22 2011. K.O. 3:00PM
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2270626,00.html?
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
http://aldershot2.digital-ink.co.uk/MatchReport.ink?MatchID=18495&type=m
===========================
Match stats
Aldershot: Young, Vincent, Herd, Charles, Vincenti (Panther, 59 ) , Jones, Guttridge, Harding (Morris, 78 ) ,
Small, McGlashan, Hylton (Sills, 72 )
Subs not used: Straker,Ngo Baheng,Clement,Fortune,
Goal: Charles 23
Bradford: McLaughlan, Duff, Oliver, Eckersley, O'Brien, Threlfall ( Cullen, 79 ) , Daley ( Evans, 60 ) , Bullock (
Osborne, 22 ) , Adeyemi, Syers, Hanson
Subs not used: Saxton, Kiernan, Horne, Hunt,
Bookings: Guttridge , Vincent (Aldershot) Threlfall (Bradford)
Attendance: 2160
Referee: A Woolmer (Northamptonshire)
Aldershot Bradford
The Shots / Few shots
6(4) Shots (on Goal) 3(2)
9 Fouls 10
9 Corner Kicks 3
1 Offsides 2
55% Time of Poss. 45%
2 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
2 Saves 5
===========================
Taylor asks his players to show character to get back on course
8:10am Wednesday 19th January 2011
By Simon Parker
Peter Taylor today warned sinking City: Don't expect any favours to get out of this slump.
Last night's loss at Aldershot was the third on the bounce as the Bantams fluffed another chance to close in on the
top half.
The City chief acknowledged that confidence has tailed off with the poor run – but they will have to tough it out.
"I can understand the players aren't in top form but we've got to overcome it," said Taylor.
"It's a beautiful game we're involved in but also a very tough one. Nobody's going to give you a goal or a win;
you've got to earn that result.
"We've got to keep working extremely hard as a group. Some of the players will have been through this before but it
will be new to others.
"Our season has been nowhere near good enough and I hold my hands up to that.
"If we were top of the table I'd be happy to take the praise. But we're not so I'll take that on the chin."
Defender Anthony Charles scored the Aldershot winner, just like last season. But Taylor could point to missed
opportunities from Tom Adeyemi, Richard Eckersley and Mark Cullen.
He said: "You've got to take chances. I'm not saying we started the game greatly but we had better chances before
they scored.
"If one of them had gone in, it could have been a different kettle of fish.
"Goalscorers get you a goal when you deserve them and often when you don't. But we're not scoring enough."
City also fear Lee Bullock will be out for the next month after injuring a thigh muscle.
With Tommy Doherty facing an ankle operation tomorrow, it leaves Taylor short in the centre of midfield.
He admitted: "It doesn't look a very good one with Lee and I'd be surprised if it's not a month. We'll look when it
settles down and then take things from there."
Jon McLaughlin came in back for Lenny Pidgeley, who was ill, and Taylor felt the keeper impressed in his first
outing since the end of October.
He said: "I was very pleased with Jon. As much as I'm disappointed with the result, there were still some good
performances and I think Jon was one of them."
===========================
Charles proves Bantams' nemesis as McLaughlin can't prevent third loss in row
6:40am Wednesday 19th January 2011
By Simon Parker
Aldershot 1, City 0
It was the same old story for sorry City last night.
The same result as last season; even the same scorer.
The same scenario for Peter Taylor on a ground where he has now lost all four of his visits with various clubs.
And far more significantly, the same negative outcome as the Oxford and Barnet games. Three defeats in a row has
left the Bantams sinking fast.
While Aldershot's new manager Dean Holdsworth celebrated his first triumph in charge on his home debut, Taylor must
be scratching his head as to where the next points are coming from.
After back-to-back defeats, it had been a big night for City. It was a huge one for Jon McLaughlin.
Taylor had made it clear that Lenny Pidgeley's spot in goal was far from safe after his blunder for Oxford's
equaliser.
And while the decision was taken out of the manager's hands after Pidgeley was sent back home suffering with a
migraine, the onus was on McLaughlin to prove he could keep the shirt.
There were two other changes from Saturday, with James Hanson and Shane Duff both fit to return. Hanson's presence
in particular gave the side a better balance as they looked to claw back lost ground from recent costly defeats.
On paper, City were at the best place to rectify the Barnet and Oxford slip-ups. The Shots had the worst home
record in the division, losing their previous four EBB Stadium outings.
But this was their first home appearance under the new gaffer, so there was just as much at stake for their players
as the visitors.
McLaughlin was called into action after just two minutes to beat away Ben Harding's 30-yard free-kick. Danny Hylton
nodded the rebound back towards goal, where David Syers was handily placed to snuff out the danger.
But City had two big chances to snatch an early lead – both falling to Tom Adeyemi.
Fantastic work down the right from Richard Eckersley set up the first, which was well blocked by centre half Darren
Jones.
Seconds later, Adeyemi had his head in his hands after another golden opportunity went begging. Hanson knocked the
ball down into his path but Adeyemi fired straight at the keeper from close range and Hanson stabbed the loose ball
wide.
Adeyemi and Eckersley linked well again as the right back overlapped for a shot but could not connect properly. It
was a positive spell and Luke O'Brien looped a header over from Robbie Threlfall's cross.
But City were stunned by a double blow midway through the half. Lee Bullock had to hobble off after landing
awkwardly in a tackle – and before City had chance to readjust properly, Aldershot struck the first blow.
Peter Vincenti's pass was volleyed goalwards by Anthony Charles, whose shot carried too much power for McLaughlin
as it flew inside the near post. The keeper should have done better but he could also ask why Charles was allowed
to turn so easily.
The Shots centre half had scored the only goal in City's last visit ten months ago and now he had rocked them right
back on their heels again.
Syers was booked for bringing down Guttridge right on the edge of the area – his seventh yellow card. But
McLaughlin spared City further punishment as he flung himself to tip away Harding's free-kick.
Omar Daley got his first real opening to run and cut inside menacingly before testing Jamie Young at his near post.
Adeyemi had moved central to cover Bullock's absence with Leon Osborne taking up the right flank, although the
substitute had seen very little of the ball.
By contrast, Aldershot right winger Jermaine McGlashan had won a flurry of corners and was giving Threlfall plenty
to think about.
City had faded badly since the goal and there were worrying shades of Saturday as they struggled to keep the ball
whenever it was going forward, which allowed the hosts on to them more and more.
The Bantams put themselves under more pressure at the start of the second half. Duff gave the ball away too
casually as he carried it out of defence and Eckersley hauled down Hylton in a dangerous position.
Duff claimed he was pulled down as the free-kick came over but got up in time to make a vital block from Jones.
The game had grown scrappy while City looked for a way back in. Osborne's run was checked on the edge of the D and
Daley ran into a similar brick wall.
There was nothing to suggest a recovery was imminent as Taylor tried to shuffle things by replacing the Jamaican
with Gareth Evans on the hour.
City's small contingent of away fans finally made themselves heard when Threlfall's free-kick was punched away by
Young. The 128 loyal followers had little to cheer and Small nearly increased the pain when he was given plenty of
space to try his luck from distance.
Eckersley tried to provide a spark with an energetic burst upfield but O'Brien wasted it with a poor cross. Hanson
flicked a tame shot straight into Young's arms but the Shots keeper had not been seriously tested since that brief
first-half flurry.
Small nodded wastefully wide after he was left free to meet Ben Herd's cross and City almost made him pay when
Evans' drive deflected wide.
Taylor played his final card 11 minutes from time as Mark Cullen made it a three-man attack in place of Threlfall.
Straight away the teenager could have been a hero but looped his header over the bar.
Cullen then miscontrolled by the touchline and gave away a sloppy goal kick; it was a night when little had gone
right for the men in white.
There was a flicker when Syers burst through on the keeper but he was flagged offside.
But a third straight defeat has left City languishing further than ever from their top-seven target.
Attendance: 2,160
===========================
MARC BRIDGE-WILKINSON RELEASED BY CARLISLE
Carlisle United have confirmed that a mutual agreement has been reached with
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson this afternoon that allows the central midfielder to
move on to pastures new. Bridge-Wilkinson, 31, joined Carlisle in June 2007
after he was released by Bradford City following relegation to Division Two.
Marc originally joined City on loan from Stockport County in February 2005
and a month later he made the move permanent after he signed a two-year
contract. He went on to play for the Bantams 95 times and scored 14 goals
before moving to Brunton Park.
The Cumbrian's Manager (and former Bantam) Greg Abbott said: "Marc is an
absolutely fantastic lad but he wants to be playing regular football, and
that's not something that we could guarantee at this moment in time. We have
sat down and had a chat and we have agreed that it would be better for him
to move on so that he can get the pitch time that he needs. He really has
been a pleasure to work with and he leaves us with our very best wishes."
===========================
To be confirmed:
Doherty is having an op on his ankle and will be out for 6 weeks.
In time for Saturday Burton have signed Calvin Zola from Crewe - he's the big bloke we
can never handle and he scored two against us for Crewe last season.
Monday, January 17, 2011
L2 (A) v Oxford United L1-2 January 15 2011. K.O. 3:00PM
Football League Two
Oxford 2 (0) - 1 (1) Bradford
At The Kassam Stadium on 15-01-2011
Next fixture
L2 (A) v Aldershot Town January 18 2011. K.O. 7:45PM
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
Taylor's post match interview is now on Youtube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Td6hmXv8wc
===========================
Match stats
Oxford: Clarke, Tonkin, Wright, Batt, Worley, Hall (Heslop, 58 ) , McLaren, Clist, MacLean, Craddock (Sangare, 89 ) , Midson (Constable, 58 )
Subs not used: Eastwood,Green,Payne,Deering,
Goals
MacLean 77
Craddock 82
Bradford: Pidgeley, Oliver, Eckersley, O'Brien, Threlfall ( Hanson, 88 ) , Kiernan, Daley ( Speight, 58 ) ,
Bullock, Adeyemi, Syers, Cullen ( Evans, 46 )
Subs not used: Osborne, McLaughlan, Horne, Hunt,
Goal
Syers 9
Bookings: McLaren (Oxford) Speight , Syers (Bradford)
Attendance: 7068
Referee: David Phillips (West Sussex)
STAT ATTACK
U's / C's
8 Shots On Target 2
10 Shots Off Target 0
6 Fouls (Conceded) 9
13 Corners 1
1 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
===========================
Saturday evening match report
City lost a game they had been winning at half-time for the second week running.
Trailing to David Syers' seventh goal of the season, in-form Oxford hit back with two late goals to claim their
sixth win in seven games.
But the Bantams could have little complaint after an afternoon that was dominated by the home team.
City got off to the perfect start when David Syers hooked home from Robbie Threlfall's corner after nine minutes.
It was their only shot and corner of the first half, with the rest of it spent protecting what they had got.
City had the strong wind at their backs but found themselves constantly pushed back by the home side.
Determined defending kept Oxford at bay although Lenny Pidgeley almost gave away an equaliser right on the break,
fumbling an Asa Hall shot but Jack Midson could not force in the loose ball.
Pidgeley made a crucial near-post save from Tom Craddock early in the second half as Oxford looked to carry on
where they had left off.
Oxford cranked up the pressure with Rob Kiernan preventing a certain goal from Craddock and Pidgeley saving at full
stretch from sub James Constable.
The one-way traffic continued. Threlfall produced another fantastic sliding block and Constable thumped a free
header wide.
City's resistance was finally broken 13 minutes from time. Pidgeley found Constable's shot too hot to handle and
Steve Maclean forced in the rebound.
It was no surprise that having got their breakthrough at last, Oxford quickly struck again.
Constable was the provider driving low across goal and Craddock popped up at the far post to turn home.
So back-to-back defeats have left the new year bubble well and truly burst ahead of another long road trip to
Aldershot on Tuesday.
===========================
Monday morning match report
McLaren pulls strings as Wilder's men show they have learned fast since Valley Parade hiding
6:50am Monday 17th January 2011
By Simon Parker
Oxford United 2, City 1
A visit to Britain's oldest seat of learning provided a reminder of football's most basic lesson for the bedraggled
Bantams.
In the city famed for its universities and academia, City were schooled by their hungry hosts – and you didn't need
a university degree to work out why.
Putting it simply, if you don't get the ball, you can't expect to win the match.
The stats showed that Oxford enjoyed 63 per cent of the possession. It seemed much more than that. The only sum
that didn't add up was the final score.
Just as there weren't five goals between the teams at Valley Parade in October, the 2-1 verdict did not reflect
what had just gone on. This was as one-sided an afternoon as City are likely to suffer all season.
Oxford, on this evidence, have learned fast from the naivety that saw them collapse during the second half in West
Yorkshire.
That lopsided loss was one of six in seven games which suddenly threw up question marks about whether the league
new boys and boss Chris Wilder had been found out by the step-up a division.
The answer is a resounding no. Saturday was their sixth win in seven since, a run that has seen them ease five
points past Peter Taylor's sorry lot.
Wilder's side are full of confidence; the youthful enthusiasm from the likes of Damian Batt and Anthony Tonkin, the
goals of Tom Craddock and James Constable and the round-the-block know-how he recently added by recruiting Paul
McLaren from Tranmere.
City fans know what McLaren is all about, though he himself has been the first to admit that his year at the club
was a complete flop.
But given time and space, there is no more precise passer from that deep midfield role – and City gave him all the
room needed to pull the strings effortlessly on his first appearance at the Kassam.
With full backs Tonkin and Batt bombing past him up and down the flanks, Oxford were given a free rein to attack,
attack and attack again.
So we saw a 90-minute version of an attack v defence training drill. And all this after the Bantams had, once
again, struck first.
Only nine minutes had gone when they forced their solitary corner. Robbie Threlfall's kick swirled on the strong
wind, David Syers nodded goalwards and Omar Daley's flailing leg caused enough unrest in the six-yard box to see
the ball sneak in.
It was an unexpected reward from a rare excursion into Oxford territory. The rest of the first half, and most of
the second, was spent defending the away goal.
Taylor had opted for pace over power up top, with Mark Cullen and Daley forming a diddy strike force. James Hanson,
who had not trained all week, and Gareth Evans were consigned to bench duties.
The thinking was to exploit any lack of speed in a back four that had shipped more home goals than any other in
League Two. The plan never got off the ground.
Taylor had seen enough by half-time and replaced a tiring Cullen with Evans. Jake Speight quickly followed in place
of Daley, who had just wasted a huge opportunity to double City's advantage.
A second goal would have rewarded the gutsy defending going on at the other end. Oxford, though, would have viewed
it as a travesty.
Having peppered away at the City box, a blunder by Asa Hall on the halfway line threatened to hand the visitors
some much-needed breathing space.
Evans accepted the gift and released Daley one on one with Ryan Clarke. The Jamaican looked favourite to score but
the Oxford keeper celebrated his new contract by pulling off a top-class smother.
Normal service swiftly resumed as wave after yellow wave pounded at the City penalty area.
Lenny Pidgeley blocked from Craddock and substitute Constable, while Rob Kiernan and Threlfall threw themselves
boldly in the path of other goal-bound efforts.
City had one last sniff of a breakaway but Speight's sloppy pass found a defender rather than intended target
Evans.
Constable, Oxford's leading scorer, had provided fresh impetus on his arrival. Prepared to shoot at the slightest
possibility, he rumbled around and got the crowd going.
He knew, they knew, we all knew that City's resistance would be breached sooner or later. The fact that they hung
on as long as the 77th minute should not disguise Oxford's total dominance.
Constable was the instigator but Pidgeley should have done better dealing with his well-struck thump. Instead the
ball deflected off the keeper and fell for Steve Maclean to force in at the far post, despite the desperate efforts
of Kiernan.
From that point, there was only going to be one outcome. City's shattered defensive limbs faced another huge
examination to stave off Oxford's renewed surge for a winner. They survived only four more minutes.
Constable, who else, charged down the right and when his low cross spun off Threlfall's heel and across the
goalmouth, there was Craddock to convert another scrambly finish.
Taylor threw the dice and brought on Hanson and there was a slither of hope when Luke Oliver's flick skimmed past
the post. But having seen so little of the play for so long, it was expecting too much for City to suddenly conjure
up a last-gasp comeback.
They had failed their Oxford examination and the 500-plus away fans trailed away convinced that this will be
another flunked season.
Attendance: 7,068
===========================
We have to mind the gap, says Bantams ace Threlfall
5:40pm Monday 17th January 2011
By Simon Parker
City can prove the critics wrong at Aldershot tomorrow night, according to Robbie Threlfall.
Back-to-back losses have left them six points behind the play-offs and removed the feelgood factor that began the
new year.
Wins over Lincoln and Bury have been consigned to history after City were beaten by Barnet and Oxford.
Threlfall admitted: "That's the highs and lows of football. Losing the last two has cancelled out what we'd done.
"We can't let the gap (to the play-offs) get any bigger now. We know we need to be more consistent.
"Aldershot's going to be another tough one but we've got to look at it as a great chance to come back and prove
everyone wrong."
Threlfall made only his second start since September at the Kassam Stadium. Like the rest of the back four, he
faced a huge workload as the home side poured forward at will.
Despite the one-sided pattern of the game, the young left back felt that City could have seen the job through.
"I think it was 80 minutes of solid defending but we still thought we could hang on.
"We were under the cosh but you expect a bit of pressure away from home. It was just frustrating we couldn't see it
through.
"We had a great chance to go 2-0 up with Omar (Daley), and if that had gone in it would have changed the game as
well.
"The team defended pretty solidly and we're all disappointed with the goals at the end.
"Their first one took it out of us and then the second just spun off my heel. I lost my bearings and the lad got
the cross in.
"But it was coming because we were under so much pressure. Now we've got to put that behind us and look to bounce
back against Aldershot.
"They've got a new manager but sometimes that can work both ways. Hopefully we can get a result there."
===========================
===========================
===========================
HUTCHINGS SET TO BE JEWELL'S ASSISTANT AT IPSWICH
Ipswich Town boss Paul Jewell looks set to appoint his former Bradford City,
Wigan and Derby assistant Chris Hutchings as his number two at Portman Road.
Hutchings (53) was sacked as manager of Walsall last week and was always
expected to be reunited with Jewell at Town.
Jewell said: "I'm going to bring in a senior coach to work alongside me.
That will happen next week.
"Chris is a terrific coach and we've enjoyed success both at Bradford and at
Wigan. Chris is most certainly well in the frame.
"I've got a couple of people to speak to and hopefully I want to get it
nailed down no later than Tuesday if I can."
The new Blues manager has already brought in his former Bradford strike
partner Sean McCarthy as a coach and says the one-time Truro City boss has
enjoyed his first two days at Playford Road: "I played with Sean, he was the
greediest striker I've ever played with.
"Sean will work alongside us. He has great enthusiasm, a good knowledge of
the game and he's loving every second of it."
Jewell confirmed that Darren O'Dea will be on loan until May and he will
look at Rory Fallon and Jake Livermore's situations next week: "I think
Darren's is done to the end of the season, I think that was agreed before I
got here and I'm quite happy with that.
"Rory's loan is up next weekend. I'll speak to Rory and I spoke to Peter
Reid yesterday and we'll make that decision next week."
Jewell will have the on-loan Pablo Couñago and Lee Martin watched when they
play for Crystal Palace and Charlton respectively this weekend, while Town's
third loanee Kevin Lisbie is ineligible to face the Blues for Millwall.
The new boss, who will also talk to people at the club who know more about
the players involved, confirmed that Town can recall any of the loanees from
their spells if he wants them.
===========================
SEAN McCARTHY JOINS JEWELL AT IPSWICH
Paul Jewell has appointed Sean McCarthy as coach as he builds his backroom
staff at Portman Road. The City striker has signed a contract to keep him
with the club until 2013 and will be in the dugout when Jewell takes charge
at Millwall on Saturday.
The big Welsh striker was signed from Plymouth Argyle for £250k at the
beginning of the 1990-91 season. He went on to play for the Bantams 160
times and he scored an impressive tally of 79 goals, before joining Oldham
Athletic for £500k in December 1993.
He was City's top scorer four seasons in a row. In the 1992-93 season he
scored 17 league goals and his strike partner Jewell weighed in with 16.
===========================
RONNIE WALLWORK ARRESTED IN STOLEN CARS PROBE
Ex-Bradford City loanee Ronnie Wallwork - who played for us back in 2004 -
has been arrested by police investigating serious and organised crime across
the north west.
The former Manchester United player (33) was questioned in connection with
the handling of stolen vehicles which have allegedly been used in crimes
across the region.
He was arrested on suspicion of theft of motor vehicles as he arrived at
Manchester Airport on a flight.
The arrest was made by officers from Titan - a collaboration of specialist
cops from six forces across the north-west established to tackle serious and
organised crime. Mr Wallwork, from Failsworth, Oldham, was bailed until next
week, when he could be charged with the offences.
Midfielder Wallwork joined City on loan in January 2004 from West Brom. He
made 7 appearances for the Bantams and scored 4 goal before returning to The
Hawthorns in the March.
===========================
Oxford 2 (0) - 1 (1) Bradford
At The Kassam Stadium on 15-01-2011
Next fixture
L2 (A) v Aldershot Town January 18 2011. K.O. 7:45PM
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
Taylor's post match interview is now on Youtube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Td6hmXv8wc
===========================
Match stats
Oxford: Clarke, Tonkin, Wright, Batt, Worley, Hall (Heslop, 58 ) , McLaren, Clist, MacLean, Craddock (Sangare, 89 ) , Midson (Constable, 58 )
Subs not used: Eastwood,Green,Payne,Deering,
Goals
MacLean 77
Craddock 82
Bradford: Pidgeley, Oliver, Eckersley, O'Brien, Threlfall ( Hanson, 88 ) , Kiernan, Daley ( Speight, 58 ) ,
Bullock, Adeyemi, Syers, Cullen ( Evans, 46 )
Subs not used: Osborne, McLaughlan, Horne, Hunt,
Goal
Syers 9
Bookings: McLaren (Oxford) Speight , Syers (Bradford)
Attendance: 7068
Referee: David Phillips (West Sussex)
STAT ATTACK
U's / C's
8 Shots On Target 2
10 Shots Off Target 0
6 Fouls (Conceded) 9
13 Corners 1
1 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
===========================
Saturday evening match report
City lost a game they had been winning at half-time for the second week running.
Trailing to David Syers' seventh goal of the season, in-form Oxford hit back with two late goals to claim their
sixth win in seven games.
But the Bantams could have little complaint after an afternoon that was dominated by the home team.
City got off to the perfect start when David Syers hooked home from Robbie Threlfall's corner after nine minutes.
It was their only shot and corner of the first half, with the rest of it spent protecting what they had got.
City had the strong wind at their backs but found themselves constantly pushed back by the home side.
Determined defending kept Oxford at bay although Lenny Pidgeley almost gave away an equaliser right on the break,
fumbling an Asa Hall shot but Jack Midson could not force in the loose ball.
Pidgeley made a crucial near-post save from Tom Craddock early in the second half as Oxford looked to carry on
where they had left off.
Oxford cranked up the pressure with Rob Kiernan preventing a certain goal from Craddock and Pidgeley saving at full
stretch from sub James Constable.
The one-way traffic continued. Threlfall produced another fantastic sliding block and Constable thumped a free
header wide.
City's resistance was finally broken 13 minutes from time. Pidgeley found Constable's shot too hot to handle and
Steve Maclean forced in the rebound.
It was no surprise that having got their breakthrough at last, Oxford quickly struck again.
Constable was the provider driving low across goal and Craddock popped up at the far post to turn home.
So back-to-back defeats have left the new year bubble well and truly burst ahead of another long road trip to
Aldershot on Tuesday.
===========================
Monday morning match report
McLaren pulls strings as Wilder's men show they have learned fast since Valley Parade hiding
6:50am Monday 17th January 2011
By Simon Parker
Oxford United 2, City 1
A visit to Britain's oldest seat of learning provided a reminder of football's most basic lesson for the bedraggled
Bantams.
In the city famed for its universities and academia, City were schooled by their hungry hosts – and you didn't need
a university degree to work out why.
Putting it simply, if you don't get the ball, you can't expect to win the match.
The stats showed that Oxford enjoyed 63 per cent of the possession. It seemed much more than that. The only sum
that didn't add up was the final score.
Just as there weren't five goals between the teams at Valley Parade in October, the 2-1 verdict did not reflect
what had just gone on. This was as one-sided an afternoon as City are likely to suffer all season.
Oxford, on this evidence, have learned fast from the naivety that saw them collapse during the second half in West
Yorkshire.
That lopsided loss was one of six in seven games which suddenly threw up question marks about whether the league
new boys and boss Chris Wilder had been found out by the step-up a division.
The answer is a resounding no. Saturday was their sixth win in seven since, a run that has seen them ease five
points past Peter Taylor's sorry lot.
Wilder's side are full of confidence; the youthful enthusiasm from the likes of Damian Batt and Anthony Tonkin, the
goals of Tom Craddock and James Constable and the round-the-block know-how he recently added by recruiting Paul
McLaren from Tranmere.
City fans know what McLaren is all about, though he himself has been the first to admit that his year at the club
was a complete flop.
But given time and space, there is no more precise passer from that deep midfield role – and City gave him all the
room needed to pull the strings effortlessly on his first appearance at the Kassam.
With full backs Tonkin and Batt bombing past him up and down the flanks, Oxford were given a free rein to attack,
attack and attack again.
So we saw a 90-minute version of an attack v defence training drill. And all this after the Bantams had, once
again, struck first.
Only nine minutes had gone when they forced their solitary corner. Robbie Threlfall's kick swirled on the strong
wind, David Syers nodded goalwards and Omar Daley's flailing leg caused enough unrest in the six-yard box to see
the ball sneak in.
It was an unexpected reward from a rare excursion into Oxford territory. The rest of the first half, and most of
the second, was spent defending the away goal.
Taylor had opted for pace over power up top, with Mark Cullen and Daley forming a diddy strike force. James Hanson,
who had not trained all week, and Gareth Evans were consigned to bench duties.
The thinking was to exploit any lack of speed in a back four that had shipped more home goals than any other in
League Two. The plan never got off the ground.
Taylor had seen enough by half-time and replaced a tiring Cullen with Evans. Jake Speight quickly followed in place
of Daley, who had just wasted a huge opportunity to double City's advantage.
A second goal would have rewarded the gutsy defending going on at the other end. Oxford, though, would have viewed
it as a travesty.
Having peppered away at the City box, a blunder by Asa Hall on the halfway line threatened to hand the visitors
some much-needed breathing space.
Evans accepted the gift and released Daley one on one with Ryan Clarke. The Jamaican looked favourite to score but
the Oxford keeper celebrated his new contract by pulling off a top-class smother.
Normal service swiftly resumed as wave after yellow wave pounded at the City penalty area.
Lenny Pidgeley blocked from Craddock and substitute Constable, while Rob Kiernan and Threlfall threw themselves
boldly in the path of other goal-bound efforts.
City had one last sniff of a breakaway but Speight's sloppy pass found a defender rather than intended target
Evans.
Constable, Oxford's leading scorer, had provided fresh impetus on his arrival. Prepared to shoot at the slightest
possibility, he rumbled around and got the crowd going.
He knew, they knew, we all knew that City's resistance would be breached sooner or later. The fact that they hung
on as long as the 77th minute should not disguise Oxford's total dominance.
Constable was the instigator but Pidgeley should have done better dealing with his well-struck thump. Instead the
ball deflected off the keeper and fell for Steve Maclean to force in at the far post, despite the desperate efforts
of Kiernan.
From that point, there was only going to be one outcome. City's shattered defensive limbs faced another huge
examination to stave off Oxford's renewed surge for a winner. They survived only four more minutes.
Constable, who else, charged down the right and when his low cross spun off Threlfall's heel and across the
goalmouth, there was Craddock to convert another scrambly finish.
Taylor threw the dice and brought on Hanson and there was a slither of hope when Luke Oliver's flick skimmed past
the post. But having seen so little of the play for so long, it was expecting too much for City to suddenly conjure
up a last-gasp comeback.
They had failed their Oxford examination and the 500-plus away fans trailed away convinced that this will be
another flunked season.
Attendance: 7,068
===========================
We have to mind the gap, says Bantams ace Threlfall
5:40pm Monday 17th January 2011
By Simon Parker
City can prove the critics wrong at Aldershot tomorrow night, according to Robbie Threlfall.
Back-to-back losses have left them six points behind the play-offs and removed the feelgood factor that began the
new year.
Wins over Lincoln and Bury have been consigned to history after City were beaten by Barnet and Oxford.
Threlfall admitted: "That's the highs and lows of football. Losing the last two has cancelled out what we'd done.
"We can't let the gap (to the play-offs) get any bigger now. We know we need to be more consistent.
"Aldershot's going to be another tough one but we've got to look at it as a great chance to come back and prove
everyone wrong."
Threlfall made only his second start since September at the Kassam Stadium. Like the rest of the back four, he
faced a huge workload as the home side poured forward at will.
Despite the one-sided pattern of the game, the young left back felt that City could have seen the job through.
"I think it was 80 minutes of solid defending but we still thought we could hang on.
"We were under the cosh but you expect a bit of pressure away from home. It was just frustrating we couldn't see it
through.
"We had a great chance to go 2-0 up with Omar (Daley), and if that had gone in it would have changed the game as
well.
"The team defended pretty solidly and we're all disappointed with the goals at the end.
"Their first one took it out of us and then the second just spun off my heel. I lost my bearings and the lad got
the cross in.
"But it was coming because we were under so much pressure. Now we've got to put that behind us and look to bounce
back against Aldershot.
"They've got a new manager but sometimes that can work both ways. Hopefully we can get a result there."
===========================
===========================
===========================
HUTCHINGS SET TO BE JEWELL'S ASSISTANT AT IPSWICH
Ipswich Town boss Paul Jewell looks set to appoint his former Bradford City,
Wigan and Derby assistant Chris Hutchings as his number two at Portman Road.
Hutchings (53) was sacked as manager of Walsall last week and was always
expected to be reunited with Jewell at Town.
Jewell said: "I'm going to bring in a senior coach to work alongside me.
That will happen next week.
"Chris is a terrific coach and we've enjoyed success both at Bradford and at
Wigan. Chris is most certainly well in the frame.
"I've got a couple of people to speak to and hopefully I want to get it
nailed down no later than Tuesday if I can."
The new Blues manager has already brought in his former Bradford strike
partner Sean McCarthy as a coach and says the one-time Truro City boss has
enjoyed his first two days at Playford Road: "I played with Sean, he was the
greediest striker I've ever played with.
"Sean will work alongside us. He has great enthusiasm, a good knowledge of
the game and he's loving every second of it."
Jewell confirmed that Darren O'Dea will be on loan until May and he will
look at Rory Fallon and Jake Livermore's situations next week: "I think
Darren's is done to the end of the season, I think that was agreed before I
got here and I'm quite happy with that.
"Rory's loan is up next weekend. I'll speak to Rory and I spoke to Peter
Reid yesterday and we'll make that decision next week."
Jewell will have the on-loan Pablo Couñago and Lee Martin watched when they
play for Crystal Palace and Charlton respectively this weekend, while Town's
third loanee Kevin Lisbie is ineligible to face the Blues for Millwall.
The new boss, who will also talk to people at the club who know more about
the players involved, confirmed that Town can recall any of the loanees from
their spells if he wants them.
===========================
SEAN McCARTHY JOINS JEWELL AT IPSWICH
Paul Jewell has appointed Sean McCarthy as coach as he builds his backroom
staff at Portman Road. The City striker has signed a contract to keep him
with the club until 2013 and will be in the dugout when Jewell takes charge
at Millwall on Saturday.
The big Welsh striker was signed from Plymouth Argyle for £250k at the
beginning of the 1990-91 season. He went on to play for the Bantams 160
times and he scored an impressive tally of 79 goals, before joining Oldham
Athletic for £500k in December 1993.
He was City's top scorer four seasons in a row. In the 1992-93 season he
scored 17 league goals and his strike partner Jewell weighed in with 16.
===========================
RONNIE WALLWORK ARRESTED IN STOLEN CARS PROBE
Ex-Bradford City loanee Ronnie Wallwork - who played for us back in 2004 -
has been arrested by police investigating serious and organised crime across
the north west.
The former Manchester United player (33) was questioned in connection with
the handling of stolen vehicles which have allegedly been used in crimes
across the region.
He was arrested on suspicion of theft of motor vehicles as he arrived at
Manchester Airport on a flight.
The arrest was made by officers from Titan - a collaboration of specialist
cops from six forces across the north-west established to tackle serious and
organised crime. Mr Wallwork, from Failsworth, Oldham, was bailed until next
week, when he could be charged with the offences.
Midfielder Wallwork joined City on loan in January 2004 from West Brom. He
made 7 appearances for the Bantams and scored 4 goal before returning to The
Hawthorns in the March.
===========================
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
L2 (H) v Barnet L1-3 January 8, 2011. K.O. 3:00PM
Football League Two - KO 15:00
Bradford 1 (1) - 3 (0) Barnet
Next fixture
L2 (A) v Oxford United January 15 2011. K.O. 3:00PM
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hxz75pVwbE Taylor interview at Lincoln (courtesy City Gent)
===========================
Match stats
Bradford: Pidgeley, Duff (Kiernan, 50 ) , Oliver, Eckersley, O'Brien, Daley, Bullock, Adeyemi (Cullen, 46 ) ,
Syers, Evans, Hanson
Subs not used: Chilaka,Doherty,Osborne,Threlfall,McLaughlan,
Goal Oliver 45
Barnet: O'Brien, Uddin, Devera, Parkes, Francomb ( Kamdjo, 85 ) , Jarvis, Southam, Marshall, Hughes, McLeod, Holmes
( Vilhete, 89 )
Subs not used: Cole, Stimson, Kelly, Taylor, Cox,
Goals: Kiernan 61 (og) Uddin 64 Holmes 67
Bookings: Bullock , Daley (Bradford)
Attendance: 10514
Referee: Dave Foster (Newcastle)
STAT ATTACK
City / Bees
6 Shots On Target 4
4 Shots Off Target 3
6 Fouls (Conceded) 11
13 Corners 9
2 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0
===========================
Saturday evening match report
CITY 1 BARNET 3
4:59pm Saturday 8th January 2011
By Simon Parker
Three goals in six madcap minutes sent shell-shocked City crashing to defeat against bottom club Barnet at Valley Parade.
It was a result that made a mockery of Monday's battling win over Bury.
Luke Oliver had given the home side the lead with the final touch of the first half as a third straight success beckoned.
But the Bantams fell apart after an own goal from sub Rob Kiernan gifted the managerless Bees a 61st-minute equaliser.
Barnet, without an away win before today, suddenly grabbed the initiative as Anwar Uddin nodded home from a corner.
And worse followed with a breakaway tap-in goal from Ricky Holmes following a City corner.
It completely knocked the stuffing out of the home side, who had begun the second half well on top after a stodgy first 45 minutes.
In that first half, Izale McLeod had missed a great chance from close range before Oliver's header broke the deadlock after David Syers had pressured debutant keeper Liam O'Brien into a mistake.
Shane Duff clipped the post soon after the re-start before being replaced by Kiernan, whose header into his own net from Glen Southam's cross then totally changed the course of the match.
Syers was thwarted as he tried to take the ball round O'Brien and there was no way back.
It was such a miserable comedown after the double victory which had kicked off the new year the week before.
While the 86 travelling Barnet fans celebrated a rare road success, City had shot themselves in the foot.
===========================
Monday morning match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8779793./
Bradford City boss Taylor driven mad by crazy six minutes
8:10am Monday 10th January 2011
By Simon Parker
Bradford City 1 Barnet 3
It will be no consolation to Peter Taylor that he avoided one 3-1 embarrassment for another.
Taylor could have been sat on the bench at Broadhall Way watching Newcastle get turfed out of the FA Cup by Stevenage.
Instead he was forced to suffer another afternoon of hari kari which City do so depressingly well from time to time.
Having turned down the Toon advances, this was a real slap in the face for the manager.
Even more so considering that neither he – nor 10,500 others in the stand – saw it coming.
That's what made the goading chants of the 86 jubilant travelling Barnet fans all the more galling.
"Can we play you every week?" they taunted as City were left numbed by six minutes of utter madness half way through the second period.
It had not been a good game. The Bantams were a mere shadow of the team that had ripped into Bury five days before.
But that's par for the course with this club. Turn over the side with the best away record one week; then collapse totally against one with the worst the next.
And yet City had emerged from a sterile first half still a goal to the good.
Despite lacking any kind of tempo or fluidity to their play, they survived a howling miss by Izale McLeod to steal in front with the last touch of added time.
David Syers worried a mistake out of rookie goalkeeper Liam O'Brien, who failed to gather a long punt from Lenny Pidgeley. Syers flipped the loose ball over the stranded stopper and Luke Oliver found the empty net to break his scoring duck for the season.
All well and good, even more so when City re-emerged with the vim and vigour that Valley Parade had been anticipating an hour before.
Corner after corner followed as Barnet struggled to escape the penalty area, let alone their own half.
Shane Duff clipped a post and Oliver bobbed a header on top of the bar and a decisive second goal – and third successive win – seemed only a matter of time.
Then everything went crazy.
Barnet won a throw-in on City's right, Glen Southam was allowed to cross unchallenged and sub Rob Kiernan – equally uninhibited – bulleted a header past his own keeper from six yards.
It was a nightmare moment for the on-loan Watford youngster, who had been outstanding against Bury in his previous outing. Perhaps Pidgeley, too, could have shouted to avert the potential disaster.
Taylor, though, thought the rot set when Syers failed to close down the Barnet midfielder in the first place.
He said: "If Dave Syers does his job right, he just gives away another throw-in or the ball goes back to the thrower. You cannot allow your man just to come off, turn and cross it like that.
"It caused indecision because of the way it was allowed to be played in so easily."
Worse, much worse, was quickly to follow.
Barnet – without an away win in ten months – suddenly sensed this was going to be the day that rotten run was put to bed.
Fair play for not letting their heads drop when City had picked their pocket with Oliver's goal against the run of play. But they must have expected a bit more home resistance once the equaliser did go in.
Instead, Anwar Uddin was left free by Oliver at the next corner and cashed in with a far-post header.
And as City hurled bodies forward for a corner of their own, McLeod led a sniperish counter-attack before teeing up Ricky Holmes for the simplest of finishes. The Bantams had been blown away.
Taylor, all gyrating arms and frustrated posturing for the first 45 minutes, looked shell-shocked on the sideline. Having stirred a 15-minute response out of his lackadaisical players at the start of the second half, that good work had come to nothing in three critical incidents. They were Barnet's only three efforts on target.
Not for the first time, Taylor had a beef about the lack of volume within the home ranks. Nobody was shouting and bawling and maybe sorting out the problems before they could get out of hand.
Duff, back in the team for the injured Steve Williams, had not had the best first half. But having found the woodwork straight after the restart, he was forced to withdraw just five minutes in after taking a bang in the back.
The one commanding voice in the side was silenced but Taylor admitted he had no choice.
"Shane's back was stiffening up and there's nothing we could have done. People would have seen he could only just about run when we took him off."
Tom Adeyemi had made way at half-time, primarily to spare his badly-bruised instep from further punishment, though he had contributed little.
So Hull youngster Mark Cullen was thrown in for his first 45 minutes and twice should have been played in for scoring chances by James Hanson and Gareth Evans.
His frustrated reaction to seeing his positioning go unrewarded was that of a striker used to better service from Championship team-mates. But he looked lively enough on first glance.
Cullen's shot on the turn late on forced a routine save from debutant O'Brien, who had also tipped over from Omar Daley and nipped the ball smartly off the toes of Syers.
But they were isolated incidents and you never felt there was any conviction for any fightback. The game was up long before.
===========================
Peter Taylor has taken a swipe at the City fans who slated him during the Barnet loss.
Taylor is determined to pick up the pieces from Saturday's shock defeat which jolted his team's push up the table.
But while he is keen to move on and prepare for the hectic schedule coming up, the City chief revealed his anger at the way some supporters turned on him during Barnet's comeback.
Taylor, who has stood up to the Valley Parade boo boys before, was unimpressed with what he heard in his first game since turning down Newcastle's offer to become their assistant manager.
He said: "What I can't understand was our crowd's reaction. They weren't fair.
"I got a nice welcome before the game thanking me for staying at the club. Then all of a sudden, two seconds later people are shouting 'Taylor, why don't you go off to Newcastle'.
"I know people get frustrated but that doesn't mean I just have to accept it. And I wasn't happy with their response."
With rearranged games building up, this is City's last free midweek for a month. Taylor admits it could not have come at a better time to get the Barnet result out of the system.
"We are definitely going to have a good strong week on the training pitch because there were some ridiculous things that happened.
"It was an amazing day. The first half was nowhere near good enough but we went in 1-0 up.
"Then we had two tremendous chances to increase the lead and the momentum was with us. But all of a sudden, we let in two very poor goals and then another from a good counter-attack.
"We can't carry on making the type of ridiculous mistakes that we did. But I wouldn't class us as a very experienced team. We've got a lot of new players and some were in non-league last year. Maybe we have to go over things a few times.
"Thankfully for me I've dealt with all sorts of players and all levels. I know the ones who you can tell once and those who might need a bit more."
Jake Speight was back in training with City yesterday for the first time since his loan at Port Vale ended. The striker had been given last week off after a family bereavement.
And Taylor has told him that there are places up for grabs in the forward line.
He said: "It's up to Jake to come back and show us what he's got. There is an opportunity for him after Saturday because I don't think any of them did that well."
In two months with Vale, Speight started only once and came off the bench three times with a single goal.
===========================
Barnet's stand-in manager, Paul Fairclough, stated about Saturday's game.
"Bradford are a big, strong, physical side who don't play a lot of football,
but we stayed strong, kept our composure and stuck to our plan of getting
the ball down and passing our way through the game. That was all down to the
players - they stayed strong."
===========================
ECKERSLEY & KEIRNAN EXTEND LOAN DEALS
Richard Eckersley and Rob Kiernan have extended their deals at Bradford
City, while Jason Price has returned to Carlisle.
Burnley left-back Eckersley will stay with Bradford until February 6 after
arriving in mid-November and has made six appearances for Peter Taylor's
side.
Watford centre-half Kiernan will remain with the Bantams until January 22.
Taylor said: "I thought Rob was outstanding (against Bury) on Monday. That's
the best he has played and we'd be mad to let him go."
Meanwhile, Price has returned to Carlisle following the end of his
three-month loan spell. The 33-year-old made 11 appearances for Taylor's
side.
===========================
NORWICH AGREE TO ADEYEMI LOAN EXTENSION
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Tom Adeyemi will spend the whole campaign at Valley Parade.
City are set to extend the youngster's loan from Norwich after receiving no
objections from the Canaries.
Peter Taylor confirmed he had got the green light after a chat with Paul
Lambert.
He said: "I've spoken to (Norwich manager) Paul and he's happy with it so
I'm going to extend the deal until the end of the season.
"Tom has been playing a little bit out of position, to be fair, and Saturday
was hard for him. He didn't get the ball enough and I wanted to bring Mark
Cullen on for the second half. Somebody had to be sacrificed.
"But Tom is absolutely fine. He has had some tremendous games and some not
so tremendous ones - but you could say the same about everybody. He is
learning the game and he will be a good player."
The 19-year-old midfielder made his 20th appearance at the weekend and has
scored twice.
Having netted City's first of the campaign at Shrewsbury on the opening day,
he also found the target in the crucial win over Barnet in October when
Taylor's position was in doubt.
Adeyemi, a Norwich lad, signed a new long-term deal with his hometown club
last year and they are keen for him to pick up senior experience with the
Bantams.
===========================
City signed Mark Cullen on loan from Hull. He is 18yo 'promising' attacker ..... so was Moult!
===========================
Bradford 1 (1) - 3 (0) Barnet
Next fixture
L2 (A) v Oxford United January 15 2011. K.O. 3:00PM
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hxz75pVwbE Taylor interview at Lincoln (courtesy City Gent)
===========================
Match stats
Bradford: Pidgeley, Duff (Kiernan, 50 ) , Oliver, Eckersley, O'Brien, Daley, Bullock, Adeyemi (Cullen, 46 ) ,
Syers, Evans, Hanson
Subs not used: Chilaka,Doherty,Osborne,Threlfall,McLaughlan,
Goal Oliver 45
Barnet: O'Brien, Uddin, Devera, Parkes, Francomb ( Kamdjo, 85 ) , Jarvis, Southam, Marshall, Hughes, McLeod, Holmes
( Vilhete, 89 )
Subs not used: Cole, Stimson, Kelly, Taylor, Cox,
Goals: Kiernan 61 (og) Uddin 64 Holmes 67
Bookings: Bullock , Daley (Bradford)
Attendance: 10514
Referee: Dave Foster (Newcastle)
STAT ATTACK
City / Bees
6 Shots On Target 4
4 Shots Off Target 3
6 Fouls (Conceded) 11
13 Corners 9
2 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0
===========================
Saturday evening match report
CITY 1 BARNET 3
4:59pm Saturday 8th January 2011
By Simon Parker
Three goals in six madcap minutes sent shell-shocked City crashing to defeat against bottom club Barnet at Valley Parade.
It was a result that made a mockery of Monday's battling win over Bury.
Luke Oliver had given the home side the lead with the final touch of the first half as a third straight success beckoned.
But the Bantams fell apart after an own goal from sub Rob Kiernan gifted the managerless Bees a 61st-minute equaliser.
Barnet, without an away win before today, suddenly grabbed the initiative as Anwar Uddin nodded home from a corner.
And worse followed with a breakaway tap-in goal from Ricky Holmes following a City corner.
It completely knocked the stuffing out of the home side, who had begun the second half well on top after a stodgy first 45 minutes.
In that first half, Izale McLeod had missed a great chance from close range before Oliver's header broke the deadlock after David Syers had pressured debutant keeper Liam O'Brien into a mistake.
Shane Duff clipped the post soon after the re-start before being replaced by Kiernan, whose header into his own net from Glen Southam's cross then totally changed the course of the match.
Syers was thwarted as he tried to take the ball round O'Brien and there was no way back.
It was such a miserable comedown after the double victory which had kicked off the new year the week before.
While the 86 travelling Barnet fans celebrated a rare road success, City had shot themselves in the foot.
===========================
Monday morning match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8779793./
Bradford City boss Taylor driven mad by crazy six minutes
8:10am Monday 10th January 2011
By Simon Parker
Bradford City 1 Barnet 3
It will be no consolation to Peter Taylor that he avoided one 3-1 embarrassment for another.
Taylor could have been sat on the bench at Broadhall Way watching Newcastle get turfed out of the FA Cup by Stevenage.
Instead he was forced to suffer another afternoon of hari kari which City do so depressingly well from time to time.
Having turned down the Toon advances, this was a real slap in the face for the manager.
Even more so considering that neither he – nor 10,500 others in the stand – saw it coming.
That's what made the goading chants of the 86 jubilant travelling Barnet fans all the more galling.
"Can we play you every week?" they taunted as City were left numbed by six minutes of utter madness half way through the second period.
It had not been a good game. The Bantams were a mere shadow of the team that had ripped into Bury five days before.
But that's par for the course with this club. Turn over the side with the best away record one week; then collapse totally against one with the worst the next.
And yet City had emerged from a sterile first half still a goal to the good.
Despite lacking any kind of tempo or fluidity to their play, they survived a howling miss by Izale McLeod to steal in front with the last touch of added time.
David Syers worried a mistake out of rookie goalkeeper Liam O'Brien, who failed to gather a long punt from Lenny Pidgeley. Syers flipped the loose ball over the stranded stopper and Luke Oliver found the empty net to break his scoring duck for the season.
All well and good, even more so when City re-emerged with the vim and vigour that Valley Parade had been anticipating an hour before.
Corner after corner followed as Barnet struggled to escape the penalty area, let alone their own half.
Shane Duff clipped a post and Oliver bobbed a header on top of the bar and a decisive second goal – and third successive win – seemed only a matter of time.
Then everything went crazy.
Barnet won a throw-in on City's right, Glen Southam was allowed to cross unchallenged and sub Rob Kiernan – equally uninhibited – bulleted a header past his own keeper from six yards.
It was a nightmare moment for the on-loan Watford youngster, who had been outstanding against Bury in his previous outing. Perhaps Pidgeley, too, could have shouted to avert the potential disaster.
Taylor, though, thought the rot set when Syers failed to close down the Barnet midfielder in the first place.
He said: "If Dave Syers does his job right, he just gives away another throw-in or the ball goes back to the thrower. You cannot allow your man just to come off, turn and cross it like that.
"It caused indecision because of the way it was allowed to be played in so easily."
Worse, much worse, was quickly to follow.
Barnet – without an away win in ten months – suddenly sensed this was going to be the day that rotten run was put to bed.
Fair play for not letting their heads drop when City had picked their pocket with Oliver's goal against the run of play. But they must have expected a bit more home resistance once the equaliser did go in.
Instead, Anwar Uddin was left free by Oliver at the next corner and cashed in with a far-post header.
And as City hurled bodies forward for a corner of their own, McLeod led a sniperish counter-attack before teeing up Ricky Holmes for the simplest of finishes. The Bantams had been blown away.
Taylor, all gyrating arms and frustrated posturing for the first 45 minutes, looked shell-shocked on the sideline. Having stirred a 15-minute response out of his lackadaisical players at the start of the second half, that good work had come to nothing in three critical incidents. They were Barnet's only three efforts on target.
Not for the first time, Taylor had a beef about the lack of volume within the home ranks. Nobody was shouting and bawling and maybe sorting out the problems before they could get out of hand.
Duff, back in the team for the injured Steve Williams, had not had the best first half. But having found the woodwork straight after the restart, he was forced to withdraw just five minutes in after taking a bang in the back.
The one commanding voice in the side was silenced but Taylor admitted he had no choice.
"Shane's back was stiffening up and there's nothing we could have done. People would have seen he could only just about run when we took him off."
Tom Adeyemi had made way at half-time, primarily to spare his badly-bruised instep from further punishment, though he had contributed little.
So Hull youngster Mark Cullen was thrown in for his first 45 minutes and twice should have been played in for scoring chances by James Hanson and Gareth Evans.
His frustrated reaction to seeing his positioning go unrewarded was that of a striker used to better service from Championship team-mates. But he looked lively enough on first glance.
Cullen's shot on the turn late on forced a routine save from debutant O'Brien, who had also tipped over from Omar Daley and nipped the ball smartly off the toes of Syers.
But they were isolated incidents and you never felt there was any conviction for any fightback. The game was up long before.
===========================
Peter Taylor has taken a swipe at the City fans who slated him during the Barnet loss.
Taylor is determined to pick up the pieces from Saturday's shock defeat which jolted his team's push up the table.
But while he is keen to move on and prepare for the hectic schedule coming up, the City chief revealed his anger at the way some supporters turned on him during Barnet's comeback.
Taylor, who has stood up to the Valley Parade boo boys before, was unimpressed with what he heard in his first game since turning down Newcastle's offer to become their assistant manager.
He said: "What I can't understand was our crowd's reaction. They weren't fair.
"I got a nice welcome before the game thanking me for staying at the club. Then all of a sudden, two seconds later people are shouting 'Taylor, why don't you go off to Newcastle'.
"I know people get frustrated but that doesn't mean I just have to accept it. And I wasn't happy with their response."
With rearranged games building up, this is City's last free midweek for a month. Taylor admits it could not have come at a better time to get the Barnet result out of the system.
"We are definitely going to have a good strong week on the training pitch because there were some ridiculous things that happened.
"It was an amazing day. The first half was nowhere near good enough but we went in 1-0 up.
"Then we had two tremendous chances to increase the lead and the momentum was with us. But all of a sudden, we let in two very poor goals and then another from a good counter-attack.
"We can't carry on making the type of ridiculous mistakes that we did. But I wouldn't class us as a very experienced team. We've got a lot of new players and some were in non-league last year. Maybe we have to go over things a few times.
"Thankfully for me I've dealt with all sorts of players and all levels. I know the ones who you can tell once and those who might need a bit more."
Jake Speight was back in training with City yesterday for the first time since his loan at Port Vale ended. The striker had been given last week off after a family bereavement.
And Taylor has told him that there are places up for grabs in the forward line.
He said: "It's up to Jake to come back and show us what he's got. There is an opportunity for him after Saturday because I don't think any of them did that well."
In two months with Vale, Speight started only once and came off the bench three times with a single goal.
===========================
Barnet's stand-in manager, Paul Fairclough, stated about Saturday's game.
"Bradford are a big, strong, physical side who don't play a lot of football,
but we stayed strong, kept our composure and stuck to our plan of getting
the ball down and passing our way through the game. That was all down to the
players - they stayed strong."
===========================
ECKERSLEY & KEIRNAN EXTEND LOAN DEALS
Richard Eckersley and Rob Kiernan have extended their deals at Bradford
City, while Jason Price has returned to Carlisle.
Burnley left-back Eckersley will stay with Bradford until February 6 after
arriving in mid-November and has made six appearances for Peter Taylor's
side.
Watford centre-half Kiernan will remain with the Bantams until January 22.
Taylor said: "I thought Rob was outstanding (against Bury) on Monday. That's
the best he has played and we'd be mad to let him go."
Meanwhile, Price has returned to Carlisle following the end of his
three-month loan spell. The 33-year-old made 11 appearances for Taylor's
side.
===========================
NORWICH AGREE TO ADEYEMI LOAN EXTENSION
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Tom Adeyemi will spend the whole campaign at Valley Parade.
City are set to extend the youngster's loan from Norwich after receiving no
objections from the Canaries.
Peter Taylor confirmed he had got the green light after a chat with Paul
Lambert.
He said: "I've spoken to (Norwich manager) Paul and he's happy with it so
I'm going to extend the deal until the end of the season.
"Tom has been playing a little bit out of position, to be fair, and Saturday
was hard for him. He didn't get the ball enough and I wanted to bring Mark
Cullen on for the second half. Somebody had to be sacrificed.
"But Tom is absolutely fine. He has had some tremendous games and some not
so tremendous ones - but you could say the same about everybody. He is
learning the game and he will be a good player."
The 19-year-old midfielder made his 20th appearance at the weekend and has
scored twice.
Having netted City's first of the campaign at Shrewsbury on the opening day,
he also found the target in the crucial win over Barnet in October when
Taylor's position was in doubt.
Adeyemi, a Norwich lad, signed a new long-term deal with his hometown club
last year and they are keen for him to pick up senior experience with the
Bantams.
===========================
City signed Mark Cullen on loan from Hull. He is 18yo 'promising' attacker ..... so was Moult!
===========================
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
L2 (H) v Bury W1-0 January 3, 2011. K.O. 7.45PM
Football League Two - KO 15:00
Bradford 1 (1) - 0 (0) Bury
Daley 45
At Valley Parade on 03-01-2011
Next fixture
L2 (H) v Barnet January 8, 2011. K.O. 3:00PM
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2257445,00.html?
http://www.buryfc.co.uk/page/MatchAction/0,,10422~2257347,00.html?
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Video
"Greeat goal and great miss"
http://www.goal.com/en/news/3194/video/2011/01/05/2290673/video-a-brilliant-goal-an-incredibly-bad-miss-all-in-one?
Links
===========================
Match stats
Bradford Bury
12(6) Shots (on Goal) 17(3)
10 Fouls 7
8 Corner Kicks 9
2 Offsides 1
47% Time of Poss. 53%
2 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
4 Saves 9
Bradford: Pidgeley, Oliver, Eckersley, O'Brien, Williams (Kiernan, 23 ) , Daley (Threlfall, 89 ) , Bullock,
Adeyemi, Syers, Evans, Price (Hanson, 72 )
Subs not used: Duff,Chilaka,Osborne,McLaughlan,
Bury: Belford, Picken, Sodje, Skarz, Lees, Schumacher ( Bennett, 79 ) , Jones, Mozika, Haworth ( John-Lewis, 73 ) ,
Lowe, Ajose
Subs not used: Sweeney, Fon Williams, Carlton, Gunning, Rothwell,
Bookings: Bullock , Evans (Bradford) Mozika , Sodje (Bury)
Attendance: 11384
Referee: C Webster (Tyne & Wear)
===========================
Monday evening match report
CITY 1 BURY 0
5:09pm Monday 3rd January 2011
By Mike Crowther
City completed the double over Bury to reignite their play-off hopes.
The Shakers came to Valley Parade with the most number of away wins in the whole Football League but the Bantams
made it two wins out of two in 2011 thanks to Omar Daley's stunning goal on the stroke of half-time.
Daley also got the winner when the Bantams won 1-0 at Gigg Lane in the autumn.
Peter Taylor's men should have increased the lead after the break as Gareth Evans went close three times, while
David Syers missed an open goal.
A mistake by goalkeeper Lenny Pigeley at the other end almost let in Ryan Lowe but City were good value for their
three points.
----
Steve Williams went of injured in the 23rd minute. Peter Taylor on BBC Radio Leeds confirmed it was a hamstring
strain and Williams is now expected to be out of action for 3 or 4 weeks.
===========================
Tuesday morning match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8767285./
Daley screamer gives Bradford City fans something to shout about
7:30am Tuesday 4th January 2011
By Mike Crowther
Bradford City 1 Bury 0
Based on this performance, City fans will be hoping Peter Taylor has not been in charge of the Bantams for the last
time.
The Valley Parade chief – who was celebrating his 58th birthday – will admit that things have not gone as smoothly
as he'd hoped this campaign but more displays like this will surely catapult them towards the top of the table.
Omar Daley's stunning winner on the stroke of half-time earned City an impressive scalp.
Not only have they done the double against a side Taylor rates as the "best in the league", this victory came
against a team who had won seven away games – more than anyone else in the whole Football League before the match.
And what a winner it was. The year may only be three days old but Daley's volley will undoubtedly be a contender
for City's goal of 2011.
It may have only been from about ten yards but it came from a towering ball into the box from Tom Adeyemi. Daley
hit it first time with such venom it nearly broke the back of the net and left Taylor singing his praises.
He said: "He is a player other sides talk about more than anybody else because of what he is capable of doing. That
was an amazing goal, amazing technique to keep it down and worthy of winning the match."
After a stuttering start, the strike came after City had got themselves back in the match and they continued where
they left off in the second half.
Chances aplenty were created and only some wayward finishing meant the Bantams were not more convincing winners.
Bury's confidence on the road was evident early on and they nearly took the lead twice in the first six minutes.
A free-kick from Michael Jones was met by the head of Ryan Lowe but Lenny Pidgeley saved from point-blank range. A
minute later, City old boy Steve Schumacher put Lowe in on goal but he shot just wide of the left post.
Schumacher blasted over soon afterwards as Bury looked the more likely side to take the lead.
There was more misery for defender Steve Williams when he was subbed after pulling his hamstring, the defender
walking off disconsolately to be replaced by Rob Kiernan. He had only returned to the side against Lincoln two days
earlier following a lengthy spell out injured.
City had yet to have a serious shot on goal but the home crowd were sparked into life when Damien Mozika was booked
for a high arm on David Syers after 25 minutes. From the free-kick, the same player looked to have been dragged
down by Mozika in the box but the referee waved play on, much to the anger of City's fans, who were convinced a
spot-kick should have been awarded.
Bury were suddenly under the cosh and Andy Haworth tugged on Daley's shirt to concede a free-kick in a dangerous
area but the set-piece came to nothing.
The momentum was now with the Bantams and Richard Eckersley produced a lively run, exchanging passes with Jason
Price to force a corner.
Price had City's first serious effort on goal, forcing a good save from goalkeeper Cameron Belford, and then
Adeyemi's side-foot went just the wrong side of the post after good work from Lee Bullock.
Then came Daley's wonder goal before the break and Taylor's troops never looked back.
Thirteen minutes into the second half, David Syers put Gareth Evans through and his lob from the edge of the box
was just tipped over by Belford.
It signalled a frantic spell of play as Evans and Eckersley linked up well down the right before the striker put it
on a plate for Syers.
City's top scorer had to score but somehow he contrived to miss from a yard out and an open goal gaping, miscuing
his shot into the arms of a grateful Belford.
Play quickly moved down to the other end, when Pidgeley made a mess of a routine save from Lowe, who couldn't
capitalise on the loose ball.
The danger wasn't cleared though and Jones shot wide, leaving Bury's players claiming a penalty should have been
given in the build-up.
Back came City as Price set up Evans following a great ball from Luke O'Brien. The striker – playing with
confidence after scoring the winner at Lincoln on Saturday – produced a good first touch but then screwed his shot
just wide of the left-hand post with just the goalkeeper to beat.
Evans went agonisingly close again with a good first-time effort after being set up by Daley before Adeyemi tested
Belford with a superb long-range effort which would have capped a fine display by the youngster.
As City failed to get the all-important second, fears grew that there may be a sting in the tail but they held on
for three richly-deserved points.
Taylor said: "I think the players will get confidence from the way they played in the second half.
"I've been critical of them not showing enough belief at home and in the first half an hour that's how we played
but after that I thought we performed very bravely and very well.
"We hope to kick on from here. It's getting confidence and consistency. We showed some good stuff and we hope to
carry on like that."
===========================
NEWCASTLE APPROACH BRADFORD ABOUT PETER TAYLOR
Peter Taylor is talking to Alan Pardew about the possibility of becoming his
assistant at Newcastle United. The former England Under-21 coach is managing
Bradford City but the League Two club have been approached by Newcastle with
a view to releasing the 58-year-old.
"There is something in it," Taylor acknowledged tonight after seeing
Bradford beat Bury 1-0 at Valley Parade.
He has been in charge in West Yorkshire since succeeding Stuart McCall 10
months ago but, earlier in his career, came close to taking charge of the
youth academy at Newcastle in 2008.
On that occasion Taylor, whose Bradford team stand 10th in League Two, could
not reach an agreement with Dennis Wise, Newcastle's former director of
football. Nearly three years on, the former Gillingham, Leicester, Hull and
Crystal Palace manager may be less willing to pass up this opportunity to
work with Premier League players.
From Pardew's viewpoint Taylor's appointment would represent something of a
coup. Bradford's manager, who took charge of the England senior side for one
game before Sven-Goran Eriksson's appointment, is a fine coach who commands
the respect of leading players. He also specialises in developing young
footballers - something which would tie in with Newcastle's policy of
signing hitherto little-known, unpolished under-25s.
Newcastle's new manager has been pondering the credentials of several
potential assistants. Pardew recently said: "I need a senior coach, somebody
who can assist me in what is a big job. It needs to be someone the players
respect."
It seems Taylor may well be that man.
This article was written by Louise Taylor, for The Guardian on Monday 3rd
January 2011 20.27 Europe/London
----
Peter Taylor has this afternoon (Tuesday) spoken with the official website to explain his decision to stay at the
football club despite interest from Newcastle United.
The Premier League club approached City for permission to speak to Taylor about joining the coaching staff at St
James Park, but the Bantams boss has decided to stay at Valley Parade and continue in his role as first team
manager.
Taylor said: "I was flattered to be asked by Alan Pardew to be his assistant at such a huge club like Newcastle
United. It is something I have always said I would be interested in doing one day.
"I have a lot of respect for Alan and for Newcastle United, who are a magnificent club, but I just really didn't
want to break my commitment here at Bradford. "At present, I am contracted here until the end of the season and I
didn't want to walk away from that any earlier.
"I believe in what we are trying to achieve here. We have started the new year in a good vein of form and it's up
to us to keep that going.
"I would like to wish Alan and Newcastle all the very best for the remainder of the season, but now we must focus
on ourselves."
===========================
Emergency work on burst pipes saved Bantams game
10:29pm Monday 3rd January 2011
By Mike Crowther
Chief executive Dave Baldwin revealed that the game against Bury was in danger of not going ahead after major
damage to the mains water pipe under the Midland Road Stand.
The thaw in temperatures had led to emergency work being needed on New Year's Eve and Baldwin said: "The mains pipe
to the stand basically blew and disintegrated.
"Thankfully one of our sponsors, Mitton Mechanical Services, sent their whole team out night and day and replaced
all the piping under the stadium.
"Had that not happened, the game potentially could not have gone ahead."
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8766226./
Taylor given lift as he comes to terms with key man's departure
8:30am Monday 3rd January 2011
By Simon Parker
Peter Taylor is gutted to see Lee Hendrie quit City – but refused to point the finger at the board.
Taylor admitted that he could not afford to keep the former Premier League star for the rest of the season after
going over budget.
Hendrie left Valley Parade at the weekend and was not involved in the much-needed 2-1 win at Lincoln.
Taylor was sad to see him walk away but felt City had no other choice.
He said: "I can't blame the club on that one. It's a bit of both.
"I knew when Lee came in that I'd already overspent. To be fair, we needed to be higher in the table to go on from
there again.
"I can't complain about the two chairmen. The backing they have done has been absolutely first class.
"Lee's still an excellent player and I must admit I'm really down to let him go. We just couldn't go to the level
Lee was looking for.
"I've known him a long time, he's a lovely lad and I was desperate to give him a bit more work. But I'm sure
there's somebody out there that will do."
City face Bury at Valley Parade this afternoon in the top half of the table again after Saturday's victory pulled
them to within three points of the last play-off spot.
Strikers James Hanson and Gareth Evans netted before half-time but the Bantams made it hard work for themselves in
the closing stages.
Taylor said: "If Lee Hendrie had been playing, he'd have kept the ball more for us. That's where you need your
clever, experienced players that don't get flustered.
"It could have ended 2-2 and we'd have all been going in absolutely berserk again. But that's the season we're
having.
"If you're on a good run, you play better, keep the ball better and give yourself less problems. But I thought we
looked very good on setpieces."
Lee Bullock took a knock on his return, which is likely to mean an immediate recall for Tommy Doherty in midfield.
But Omar Daley is ready to start after making a surprise appearance from the bench on Saturday. He had been
expected to miss out with a stiff knee.
Taylor said: "We had some good news on Friday when the swelling had gone down. The scan showed no problem and he
felt all right."
Bury netted twice in the last seven minutes to rescue a point against Macclesfield on Saturday.
City battled their way to three points at Gigg Lane in November and Taylor knows what to expect again.
He said: "It's a big test for us. They are probably the best team we've played against and we've got to be up for
it."
===========================
SPEIGHT RETURNS TO BRADFORD
Jake Speight has left Port Vale and returned to parent club Bradford City
after his two-month loan deal ended.
The striker has made one start and three substitute appearances during his
time at Vale, scoring one goal.
Speight goes down in Vale history as the 1,000th player to represent them in
the Football League.
===========================
Manager news
Stuart McCall in charge at Motherwell
Christ Hutchins sacked by Walsall
===========================
Bradford 1 (1) - 0 (0) Bury
Daley 45
At Valley Parade on 03-01-2011
Next fixture
L2 (H) v Barnet January 8, 2011. K.O. 3:00PM
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2257445,00.html?
http://www.buryfc.co.uk/page/MatchAction/0,,10422~2257347,00.html?
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Video
"Greeat goal and great miss"
http://www.goal.com/en/news/3194/video/2011/01/05/2290673/video-a-brilliant-goal-an-incredibly-bad-miss-all-in-one?
Links
===========================
Match stats
Bradford Bury
12(6) Shots (on Goal) 17(3)
10 Fouls 7
8 Corner Kicks 9
2 Offsides 1
47% Time of Poss. 53%
2 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
4 Saves 9
Bradford: Pidgeley, Oliver, Eckersley, O'Brien, Williams (Kiernan, 23 ) , Daley (Threlfall, 89 ) , Bullock,
Adeyemi, Syers, Evans, Price (Hanson, 72 )
Subs not used: Duff,Chilaka,Osborne,McLaughlan,
Bury: Belford, Picken, Sodje, Skarz, Lees, Schumacher ( Bennett, 79 ) , Jones, Mozika, Haworth ( John-Lewis, 73 ) ,
Lowe, Ajose
Subs not used: Sweeney, Fon Williams, Carlton, Gunning, Rothwell,
Bookings: Bullock , Evans (Bradford) Mozika , Sodje (Bury)
Attendance: 11384
Referee: C Webster (Tyne & Wear)
===========================
Monday evening match report
CITY 1 BURY 0
5:09pm Monday 3rd January 2011
By Mike Crowther
City completed the double over Bury to reignite their play-off hopes.
The Shakers came to Valley Parade with the most number of away wins in the whole Football League but the Bantams
made it two wins out of two in 2011 thanks to Omar Daley's stunning goal on the stroke of half-time.
Daley also got the winner when the Bantams won 1-0 at Gigg Lane in the autumn.
Peter Taylor's men should have increased the lead after the break as Gareth Evans went close three times, while
David Syers missed an open goal.
A mistake by goalkeeper Lenny Pigeley at the other end almost let in Ryan Lowe but City were good value for their
three points.
----
Steve Williams went of injured in the 23rd minute. Peter Taylor on BBC Radio Leeds confirmed it was a hamstring
strain and Williams is now expected to be out of action for 3 or 4 weeks.
===========================
Tuesday morning match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8767285./
Daley screamer gives Bradford City fans something to shout about
7:30am Tuesday 4th January 2011
By Mike Crowther
Bradford City 1 Bury 0
Based on this performance, City fans will be hoping Peter Taylor has not been in charge of the Bantams for the last
time.
The Valley Parade chief – who was celebrating his 58th birthday – will admit that things have not gone as smoothly
as he'd hoped this campaign but more displays like this will surely catapult them towards the top of the table.
Omar Daley's stunning winner on the stroke of half-time earned City an impressive scalp.
Not only have they done the double against a side Taylor rates as the "best in the league", this victory came
against a team who had won seven away games – more than anyone else in the whole Football League before the match.
And what a winner it was. The year may only be three days old but Daley's volley will undoubtedly be a contender
for City's goal of 2011.
It may have only been from about ten yards but it came from a towering ball into the box from Tom Adeyemi. Daley
hit it first time with such venom it nearly broke the back of the net and left Taylor singing his praises.
He said: "He is a player other sides talk about more than anybody else because of what he is capable of doing. That
was an amazing goal, amazing technique to keep it down and worthy of winning the match."
After a stuttering start, the strike came after City had got themselves back in the match and they continued where
they left off in the second half.
Chances aplenty were created and only some wayward finishing meant the Bantams were not more convincing winners.
Bury's confidence on the road was evident early on and they nearly took the lead twice in the first six minutes.
A free-kick from Michael Jones was met by the head of Ryan Lowe but Lenny Pidgeley saved from point-blank range. A
minute later, City old boy Steve Schumacher put Lowe in on goal but he shot just wide of the left post.
Schumacher blasted over soon afterwards as Bury looked the more likely side to take the lead.
There was more misery for defender Steve Williams when he was subbed after pulling his hamstring, the defender
walking off disconsolately to be replaced by Rob Kiernan. He had only returned to the side against Lincoln two days
earlier following a lengthy spell out injured.
City had yet to have a serious shot on goal but the home crowd were sparked into life when Damien Mozika was booked
for a high arm on David Syers after 25 minutes. From the free-kick, the same player looked to have been dragged
down by Mozika in the box but the referee waved play on, much to the anger of City's fans, who were convinced a
spot-kick should have been awarded.
Bury were suddenly under the cosh and Andy Haworth tugged on Daley's shirt to concede a free-kick in a dangerous
area but the set-piece came to nothing.
The momentum was now with the Bantams and Richard Eckersley produced a lively run, exchanging passes with Jason
Price to force a corner.
Price had City's first serious effort on goal, forcing a good save from goalkeeper Cameron Belford, and then
Adeyemi's side-foot went just the wrong side of the post after good work from Lee Bullock.
Then came Daley's wonder goal before the break and Taylor's troops never looked back.
Thirteen minutes into the second half, David Syers put Gareth Evans through and his lob from the edge of the box
was just tipped over by Belford.
It signalled a frantic spell of play as Evans and Eckersley linked up well down the right before the striker put it
on a plate for Syers.
City's top scorer had to score but somehow he contrived to miss from a yard out and an open goal gaping, miscuing
his shot into the arms of a grateful Belford.
Play quickly moved down to the other end, when Pidgeley made a mess of a routine save from Lowe, who couldn't
capitalise on the loose ball.
The danger wasn't cleared though and Jones shot wide, leaving Bury's players claiming a penalty should have been
given in the build-up.
Back came City as Price set up Evans following a great ball from Luke O'Brien. The striker – playing with
confidence after scoring the winner at Lincoln on Saturday – produced a good first touch but then screwed his shot
just wide of the left-hand post with just the goalkeeper to beat.
Evans went agonisingly close again with a good first-time effort after being set up by Daley before Adeyemi tested
Belford with a superb long-range effort which would have capped a fine display by the youngster.
As City failed to get the all-important second, fears grew that there may be a sting in the tail but they held on
for three richly-deserved points.
Taylor said: "I think the players will get confidence from the way they played in the second half.
"I've been critical of them not showing enough belief at home and in the first half an hour that's how we played
but after that I thought we performed very bravely and very well.
"We hope to kick on from here. It's getting confidence and consistency. We showed some good stuff and we hope to
carry on like that."
===========================
NEWCASTLE APPROACH BRADFORD ABOUT PETER TAYLOR
Peter Taylor is talking to Alan Pardew about the possibility of becoming his
assistant at Newcastle United. The former England Under-21 coach is managing
Bradford City but the League Two club have been approached by Newcastle with
a view to releasing the 58-year-old.
"There is something in it," Taylor acknowledged tonight after seeing
Bradford beat Bury 1-0 at Valley Parade.
He has been in charge in West Yorkshire since succeeding Stuart McCall 10
months ago but, earlier in his career, came close to taking charge of the
youth academy at Newcastle in 2008.
On that occasion Taylor, whose Bradford team stand 10th in League Two, could
not reach an agreement with Dennis Wise, Newcastle's former director of
football. Nearly three years on, the former Gillingham, Leicester, Hull and
Crystal Palace manager may be less willing to pass up this opportunity to
work with Premier League players.
From Pardew's viewpoint Taylor's appointment would represent something of a
coup. Bradford's manager, who took charge of the England senior side for one
game before Sven-Goran Eriksson's appointment, is a fine coach who commands
the respect of leading players. He also specialises in developing young
footballers - something which would tie in with Newcastle's policy of
signing hitherto little-known, unpolished under-25s.
Newcastle's new manager has been pondering the credentials of several
potential assistants. Pardew recently said: "I need a senior coach, somebody
who can assist me in what is a big job. It needs to be someone the players
respect."
It seems Taylor may well be that man.
This article was written by Louise Taylor, for The Guardian on Monday 3rd
January 2011 20.27 Europe/London
----
Peter Taylor has this afternoon (Tuesday) spoken with the official website to explain his decision to stay at the
football club despite interest from Newcastle United.
The Premier League club approached City for permission to speak to Taylor about joining the coaching staff at St
James Park, but the Bantams boss has decided to stay at Valley Parade and continue in his role as first team
manager.
Taylor said: "I was flattered to be asked by Alan Pardew to be his assistant at such a huge club like Newcastle
United. It is something I have always said I would be interested in doing one day.
"I have a lot of respect for Alan and for Newcastle United, who are a magnificent club, but I just really didn't
want to break my commitment here at Bradford. "At present, I am contracted here until the end of the season and I
didn't want to walk away from that any earlier.
"I believe in what we are trying to achieve here. We have started the new year in a good vein of form and it's up
to us to keep that going.
"I would like to wish Alan and Newcastle all the very best for the remainder of the season, but now we must focus
on ourselves."
===========================
Emergency work on burst pipes saved Bantams game
10:29pm Monday 3rd January 2011
By Mike Crowther
Chief executive Dave Baldwin revealed that the game against Bury was in danger of not going ahead after major
damage to the mains water pipe under the Midland Road Stand.
The thaw in temperatures had led to emergency work being needed on New Year's Eve and Baldwin said: "The mains pipe
to the stand basically blew and disintegrated.
"Thankfully one of our sponsors, Mitton Mechanical Services, sent their whole team out night and day and replaced
all the piping under the stadium.
"Had that not happened, the game potentially could not have gone ahead."
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8766226./
Taylor given lift as he comes to terms with key man's departure
8:30am Monday 3rd January 2011
By Simon Parker
Peter Taylor is gutted to see Lee Hendrie quit City – but refused to point the finger at the board.
Taylor admitted that he could not afford to keep the former Premier League star for the rest of the season after
going over budget.
Hendrie left Valley Parade at the weekend and was not involved in the much-needed 2-1 win at Lincoln.
Taylor was sad to see him walk away but felt City had no other choice.
He said: "I can't blame the club on that one. It's a bit of both.
"I knew when Lee came in that I'd already overspent. To be fair, we needed to be higher in the table to go on from
there again.
"I can't complain about the two chairmen. The backing they have done has been absolutely first class.
"Lee's still an excellent player and I must admit I'm really down to let him go. We just couldn't go to the level
Lee was looking for.
"I've known him a long time, he's a lovely lad and I was desperate to give him a bit more work. But I'm sure
there's somebody out there that will do."
City face Bury at Valley Parade this afternoon in the top half of the table again after Saturday's victory pulled
them to within three points of the last play-off spot.
Strikers James Hanson and Gareth Evans netted before half-time but the Bantams made it hard work for themselves in
the closing stages.
Taylor said: "If Lee Hendrie had been playing, he'd have kept the ball more for us. That's where you need your
clever, experienced players that don't get flustered.
"It could have ended 2-2 and we'd have all been going in absolutely berserk again. But that's the season we're
having.
"If you're on a good run, you play better, keep the ball better and give yourself less problems. But I thought we
looked very good on setpieces."
Lee Bullock took a knock on his return, which is likely to mean an immediate recall for Tommy Doherty in midfield.
But Omar Daley is ready to start after making a surprise appearance from the bench on Saturday. He had been
expected to miss out with a stiff knee.
Taylor said: "We had some good news on Friday when the swelling had gone down. The scan showed no problem and he
felt all right."
Bury netted twice in the last seven minutes to rescue a point against Macclesfield on Saturday.
City battled their way to three points at Gigg Lane in November and Taylor knows what to expect again.
He said: "It's a big test for us. They are probably the best team we've played against and we've got to be up for
it."
===========================
SPEIGHT RETURNS TO BRADFORD
Jake Speight has left Port Vale and returned to parent club Bradford City
after his two-month loan deal ended.
The striker has made one start and three substitute appearances during his
time at Vale, scoring one goal.
Speight goes down in Vale history as the 1,000th player to represent them in
the Football League.
===========================
Manager news
Stuart McCall in charge at Motherwell
Christ Hutchins sacked by Walsall
===========================
Monday, January 03, 2011
L2 (A) v Lincoln City W2-1 January 1, 2011. K.O. 3:00PM
Football League Two - KO 15:00
Lincoln 1 (1) - 2 (2) Bradford
Grimes 25 (p)
Hanson 2
Evans 42
At Sincil Bank on 01-01-2011
Next fixture
L2 (H) v Barnet January 8, 2011. K.O. 3:00PM
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10266~53222,00.html
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
===========================
Match stats
Lincoln: Anyon, Clapham, Hoyte, Watts, Swaibu, Grimes, Jarrett (Howell, 71 ) , Carayol (Hutchinson, 76 ) , Kerr
(McCallum, 71 ) , O'Keefe, Facey
Subs not used: Musselwhite,Broughton,Anderson,Hughton,
Bradford: Pidgeley, Duff, Eckersley, O'Brien, Threlfall ( Daley, 76 ) , Williams, Bullock, Adeyemi, Syers, Evans,
Hanson
Subs not used: Oliver, Chilaka, Price, Doherty, McLaughlan, Kiernan,
Bookings: Carayol , Clapham , Kerr (Lincoln) Syers (Bradford)
Attendance: 3225
Referee: Mark Brown (East Yorkshire)
LC Bradford
Goals : 1 2
Possession : 48% 52%
Shots On Target 1 2
Shots Off Target 5 3
Corners : 9 11
Fouls : 13 9
Most Fouls : Kerr (4) Hanson (3)
Yellow Cards : 3 1
Red Cards : 0 0
===========================
Saturday evening match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8765964./
LINCOLN 1 CITY 2
4:52pm Saturday 1st January 2011
By Simon Parker
James Hanson and Gareth Evans ensured City made a winning start to 2011 at lowly Lincoln this afternoon.
First-half goals from both strikers clinched the third away victory of the campaign as Peter Taylor's side bounced
back from their Cheltenham misery.
Ring-rusty Lincoln were playing their first game for 35 days and City caught them cold with a goal inside two
minutes.
Steve Williams punted a free-kick towards the penalty area which should have been dealt with by Moses Swaibu.
Instead the centre half left it for keeper Joe Anyon, allowing Hanson to nip in and finish from close range.
And Hanson soon nearly had a second with a header from Luke O'Brien's cross which was blocked on the line by Jamie
Clapham.
Lincoln levelled midway through the half with a harsh-looking penalty after referee Mark Brown spotted a handball
in the City wall from Clapham's free-kick. Ashley Grimes slotted home the spot-kick.
But City were back in front just before the break thanks to a superb solo effort from Gareth Evans - his first from
open play this season.
City thought they should have had a penalty of their own when Evans went down in a tangle with Clapham. But the
referee further enraged the away team by giving the free-kick Lincoln's way.
Shane Duff was back for his first game in three months and the captain got a vital touch on Delroy Facey's shot to
prevent the one-time City loanee from equalising.
City needed the comfort of a third goal and Williams should have provided it with a header from Duff's cross that
flew inches wide.
Evans nearly had his second with a mirror-image of his cracking early strike but City rode their luck from an
almighty scramble at a Lincoln corner which saw Grimes's close-range dig bobble up on to the bar.
Lincoln cranked up the pressure late on. Facey and Watts both went close and Ben Hutchinson dragged wide in added
time.
David Syers picked up his fifth booking but the new year amnesty means he will not be out of the Bury game on
Monday.
===========================
From Thursday
DEFEAT MAY PROVE COSTLY AS CHAIRMEN WAY UP TRANSFER BUDGET
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Peter Taylor admits that his bargaining power for a potential January
shopping spree has been weakened.
Tuesday's 4-0 thumping at Cheltenham left City six points off the top seven
going into the new year.
Taylor is talking with the club's joint chairmen this week to discuss what
he'd like to do next month when the window opens.
But the Whaddon Road loss may have left the powers-that-be in two minds as
to whether to make more cash available.
And Taylor wouldn't argue if they decided to keep the purse strings pulled
tight.
He said: "I wouldn't blame them for that at all (after Tuesday's result).
"I told the players how important the game was. They probably didn't know
why.
"But my thinking was that I wanted a good result to get us closer to those
play-offs. All of a sudden that puts me into a much better position to try
and keep players as well as with the budget. So that was a bad day all
round."
Taylor will not reveal what he wants to do with the seven players whose
contracts and loans are up next week. But he has pretty much made up his
mind on all of them.
"I think I know my thoughts on it and I'm going to have the meeting with
Julian (Rhodes) and Mark (Lawn). But the players will know when their
contracts are up and I'll commit myself then.
"Of course, it does depend as well if the loan players want to stay. But
we'll get it sorted out just after the Bury game."
Five of the players concerned started the Cheltenham defeat and Lee Hendrie
came off the bench at half-time. Only Louis Moult was not involved.
Meanwhile, fit-again centre halves Steve Williams and Shane Duff are both
pushing to be involved at Lincoln on New Year's Day.
Taylor was unhappy with the sloppy errors that plagued City against
Cheltenham and is likely to make changes at the back.
Williams was an unused substitute at Whaddon Road while Duff travelled but
was not named in the squad.
Taylor said: "They were both very close and I could have easily taken that
chance. But we've also got Saturday and Monday (to think about).
"I'm sure they will feature over the next couple of games against Lincoln
and Bury."
===========================
As the Bantams Ticket Office closed this afternoon to signal the end of City's 2011/2012 festive Season Ticket
campaign, the club have expressed their delight at the level of sales achieved in the last five weeks.
City fans have been able to book their place for next season for as little as £110.00 since the festive Season
Ticket deal was launched back on 20 November.
While personal applications are now not possible, Bantams followers can still buy their Season Tickets online until
midnight today (Friday).
Speaking to the official website, Club Director Roger Owen said, "When the office closed for counter sales at
2:00pm we had reached very close to 6000 sales, a figure which I feel has a chance of increasing with the online
facility remaining live until midnight.
"On behalf of the Board and Management, I would like to thank most sincerely all those who have shown faith in what
we are trying to do, now and into next season."
On the eve of a new year, Owen now hopes that the Bantams can enjoy a strong second half to the season to give even
more fans encouragement to buy a Season Ticket for next season.
"Things have not gone as well as we had hoped and that applies to everyone from the Joint Chairmen, the Board and
the Management on the playing side, although we are having some success with the Youth Team": Owen added.
"Whilst we are all frustrated and no-one more than Peter (Taylor) I do feel that there is a recognition in these
sales of just what a tough time we`ve had on the playing front.
"At times over recent weeks we`ve had a full team on the treatment table, at least half of whom would either be in
the starting line up or on the bench.
"Hopefully that is getting behind us now and anyone reading the manager`s words in the local press today will have
seen how determined he is to get it right in the second half of the season.
"If that proves the case I am looking at a big boost in ticket sales in the next round.
"I spoke with Peter about an hour after the ticket office closed and he has asked me to pass on his thanks for the
show of faith and his good wishes for the New Year.
"This is a sentiment which is certainly echoed from the Boardroom also.
"Peter will be using the sales figures in his talks with the players to underline the potential we have"
City's Commercial Director added that the official website would carry an update this Monday on conditions at the
ground by Facilities Manager, David Dowse, ahead of the Bury game.
===========================
Warnock on McCall
"Stuart learned a lot of the realities of management at that level because they don't have anything at all at
Bradford. "In fact, all they had was a good crowd - and that's because they sold cheap season tickets!
Pretty much says it all!
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2010/12/30/motherwell-have-landed-the-right-boss-in-stuart-mccall-says-his-mentor-neil
-warnock-86908-22815268/
===========================
T&A, Simon Parker
Peter Taylor has confirmed that Lee Hendrie and Louis Moult have left City.
Neither player was named in the squad that won 2-1 at Lincoln this afternoon.
Hendrie's short-term deal was due to run out this week. He made 14 appearances -
the last from the bench at Cheltenham on Tuesday - and scored twice.
Taylor said: "We weren't in a position to take it further and I feel very sorry
for him."
Teenage striker Moult joined on a five-month loan from Stoke but found
opportunities hard to come by. He only netted once against Oxford.
===========================
Bradford City manager Peter Taylor told BBC Radio Leeds:
"Victorious sounds nice, it feels better and there were some good things but
some hairy things at the end.
"We cause ourselves problems, it's a little bit of a confidence thing.
"I think if we were to be on a good run and the players would be in good
form then I think we would have kept the ball a bit more but when your in
the situation that we've been in sometimes the boys haven't got enough
confidence."
===========================
From Twitter!
lenny pidgeley (@pidge40)
02/01/2011 19:46
over the moon with my new deal..long live my bradford career :D cant wait to get to valley parade tomorrow!
===========================
Lincoln 1 (1) - 2 (2) Bradford
Grimes 25 (p)
Hanson 2
Evans 42
At Sincil Bank on 01-01-2011
Next fixture
L2 (H) v Barnet January 8, 2011. K.O. 3:00PM
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10266~53222,00.html
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
===========================
Match stats
Lincoln: Anyon, Clapham, Hoyte, Watts, Swaibu, Grimes, Jarrett (Howell, 71 ) , Carayol (Hutchinson, 76 ) , Kerr
(McCallum, 71 ) , O'Keefe, Facey
Subs not used: Musselwhite,Broughton,Anderson,Hughton,
Bradford: Pidgeley, Duff, Eckersley, O'Brien, Threlfall ( Daley, 76 ) , Williams, Bullock, Adeyemi, Syers, Evans,
Hanson
Subs not used: Oliver, Chilaka, Price, Doherty, McLaughlan, Kiernan,
Bookings: Carayol , Clapham , Kerr (Lincoln) Syers (Bradford)
Attendance: 3225
Referee: Mark Brown (East Yorkshire)
LC Bradford
Goals : 1 2
Possession : 48% 52%
Shots On Target 1 2
Shots Off Target 5 3
Corners : 9 11
Fouls : 13 9
Most Fouls : Kerr (4) Hanson (3)
Yellow Cards : 3 1
Red Cards : 0 0
===========================
Saturday evening match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8765964./
LINCOLN 1 CITY 2
4:52pm Saturday 1st January 2011
By Simon Parker
James Hanson and Gareth Evans ensured City made a winning start to 2011 at lowly Lincoln this afternoon.
First-half goals from both strikers clinched the third away victory of the campaign as Peter Taylor's side bounced
back from their Cheltenham misery.
Ring-rusty Lincoln were playing their first game for 35 days and City caught them cold with a goal inside two
minutes.
Steve Williams punted a free-kick towards the penalty area which should have been dealt with by Moses Swaibu.
Instead the centre half left it for keeper Joe Anyon, allowing Hanson to nip in and finish from close range.
And Hanson soon nearly had a second with a header from Luke O'Brien's cross which was blocked on the line by Jamie
Clapham.
Lincoln levelled midway through the half with a harsh-looking penalty after referee Mark Brown spotted a handball
in the City wall from Clapham's free-kick. Ashley Grimes slotted home the spot-kick.
But City were back in front just before the break thanks to a superb solo effort from Gareth Evans - his first from
open play this season.
City thought they should have had a penalty of their own when Evans went down in a tangle with Clapham. But the
referee further enraged the away team by giving the free-kick Lincoln's way.
Shane Duff was back for his first game in three months and the captain got a vital touch on Delroy Facey's shot to
prevent the one-time City loanee from equalising.
City needed the comfort of a third goal and Williams should have provided it with a header from Duff's cross that
flew inches wide.
Evans nearly had his second with a mirror-image of his cracking early strike but City rode their luck from an
almighty scramble at a Lincoln corner which saw Grimes's close-range dig bobble up on to the bar.
Lincoln cranked up the pressure late on. Facey and Watts both went close and Ben Hutchinson dragged wide in added
time.
David Syers picked up his fifth booking but the new year amnesty means he will not be out of the Bury game on
Monday.
===========================
From Thursday
DEFEAT MAY PROVE COSTLY AS CHAIRMEN WAY UP TRANSFER BUDGET
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Peter Taylor admits that his bargaining power for a potential January
shopping spree has been weakened.
Tuesday's 4-0 thumping at Cheltenham left City six points off the top seven
going into the new year.
Taylor is talking with the club's joint chairmen this week to discuss what
he'd like to do next month when the window opens.
But the Whaddon Road loss may have left the powers-that-be in two minds as
to whether to make more cash available.
And Taylor wouldn't argue if they decided to keep the purse strings pulled
tight.
He said: "I wouldn't blame them for that at all (after Tuesday's result).
"I told the players how important the game was. They probably didn't know
why.
"But my thinking was that I wanted a good result to get us closer to those
play-offs. All of a sudden that puts me into a much better position to try
and keep players as well as with the budget. So that was a bad day all
round."
Taylor will not reveal what he wants to do with the seven players whose
contracts and loans are up next week. But he has pretty much made up his
mind on all of them.
"I think I know my thoughts on it and I'm going to have the meeting with
Julian (Rhodes) and Mark (Lawn). But the players will know when their
contracts are up and I'll commit myself then.
"Of course, it does depend as well if the loan players want to stay. But
we'll get it sorted out just after the Bury game."
Five of the players concerned started the Cheltenham defeat and Lee Hendrie
came off the bench at half-time. Only Louis Moult was not involved.
Meanwhile, fit-again centre halves Steve Williams and Shane Duff are both
pushing to be involved at Lincoln on New Year's Day.
Taylor was unhappy with the sloppy errors that plagued City against
Cheltenham and is likely to make changes at the back.
Williams was an unused substitute at Whaddon Road while Duff travelled but
was not named in the squad.
Taylor said: "They were both very close and I could have easily taken that
chance. But we've also got Saturday and Monday (to think about).
"I'm sure they will feature over the next couple of games against Lincoln
and Bury."
===========================
As the Bantams Ticket Office closed this afternoon to signal the end of City's 2011/2012 festive Season Ticket
campaign, the club have expressed their delight at the level of sales achieved in the last five weeks.
City fans have been able to book their place for next season for as little as £110.00 since the festive Season
Ticket deal was launched back on 20 November.
While personal applications are now not possible, Bantams followers can still buy their Season Tickets online until
midnight today (Friday).
Speaking to the official website, Club Director Roger Owen said, "When the office closed for counter sales at
2:00pm we had reached very close to 6000 sales, a figure which I feel has a chance of increasing with the online
facility remaining live until midnight.
"On behalf of the Board and Management, I would like to thank most sincerely all those who have shown faith in what
we are trying to do, now and into next season."
On the eve of a new year, Owen now hopes that the Bantams can enjoy a strong second half to the season to give even
more fans encouragement to buy a Season Ticket for next season.
"Things have not gone as well as we had hoped and that applies to everyone from the Joint Chairmen, the Board and
the Management on the playing side, although we are having some success with the Youth Team": Owen added.
"Whilst we are all frustrated and no-one more than Peter (Taylor) I do feel that there is a recognition in these
sales of just what a tough time we`ve had on the playing front.
"At times over recent weeks we`ve had a full team on the treatment table, at least half of whom would either be in
the starting line up or on the bench.
"Hopefully that is getting behind us now and anyone reading the manager`s words in the local press today will have
seen how determined he is to get it right in the second half of the season.
"If that proves the case I am looking at a big boost in ticket sales in the next round.
"I spoke with Peter about an hour after the ticket office closed and he has asked me to pass on his thanks for the
show of faith and his good wishes for the New Year.
"This is a sentiment which is certainly echoed from the Boardroom also.
"Peter will be using the sales figures in his talks with the players to underline the potential we have"
City's Commercial Director added that the official website would carry an update this Monday on conditions at the
ground by Facilities Manager, David Dowse, ahead of the Bury game.
===========================
Warnock on McCall
"Stuart learned a lot of the realities of management at that level because they don't have anything at all at
Bradford. "In fact, all they had was a good crowd - and that's because they sold cheap season tickets!
Pretty much says it all!
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2010/12/30/motherwell-have-landed-the-right-boss-in-stuart-mccall-says-his-mentor-neil
-warnock-86908-22815268/
===========================
T&A, Simon Parker
Peter Taylor has confirmed that Lee Hendrie and Louis Moult have left City.
Neither player was named in the squad that won 2-1 at Lincoln this afternoon.
Hendrie's short-term deal was due to run out this week. He made 14 appearances -
the last from the bench at Cheltenham on Tuesday - and scored twice.
Taylor said: "We weren't in a position to take it further and I feel very sorry
for him."
Teenage striker Moult joined on a five-month loan from Stoke but found
opportunities hard to come by. He only netted once against Oxford.
===========================
Bradford City manager Peter Taylor told BBC Radio Leeds:
"Victorious sounds nice, it feels better and there were some good things but
some hairy things at the end.
"We cause ourselves problems, it's a little bit of a confidence thing.
"I think if we were to be on a good run and the players would be in good
form then I think we would have kept the ball a bit more but when your in
the situation that we've been in sometimes the boys haven't got enough
confidence."
===========================
From Twitter!
lenny pidgeley (@pidge40)
02/01/2011 19:46
over the moon with my new deal..long live my bradford career :D cant wait to get to valley parade tomorrow!
===========================
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