L2 W2-1 (A) Torquay, Saturday February 18, 2012. K.O. 3:00PM.

CFML Daily News
http://paper.li/f-1315926867

Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html

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Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/clubhouse?teamId=387&lang=EN

Pictures
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2011/

http://ow.ly/i/sZlM  Our view of the pitch (Courtesy: City Gent)
 
http://ow.ly/i/sZIG  Players warming up before the game (Courtesy: City Gent)
 
http://ow.ly/i/sZPl  Players take to the field in the worst of the weather (Courtesy: City Gent)

"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html

BBC highlights (uk only)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17092136?#asset

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Signings, Loans and Injuries

Hanson, Injured, end of March

Loans - Out
 Matt Duke (goalkeeper ) to Northampton Town until the end of the season.

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Match stats
http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=234#teamTabs=results

Torquay United: Olejnik; Oastler, Saah, Ellis, Nicholson; Morris; McPhee (Yeoman 77), Mansell, O'Kane, Stevens; Atieno (Howe 59).

Unused substitutes: Duke, Kozluk.

Bradford City: McLaughlin, Ramsden, Oliver, Davies, Seip; Flynn, Jones, Ravenhill; Smalley (Syers 76), Reid (Atkinson 90), Fagan (Wells 85). Unused substitutes: Rowe-Turner, MacDonald.

Referee: P Miller (Beds).

Torquay                    Bradford
10(5)    Shots (on Goal)    10(2)
8    Fouls    10
4    Corner Kicks    6
1    Offsides    4
51%    Time of Poss.    49%
0    Yellow Cards    0
0    Red Cards    0
3    Saves    8
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Monday morning match report

Craig Fagan and Kyel Reid pull Bradford City trigger as Phil Parkinson's plan is executed to perfection
6:50am Monday 20th February 2012
By Simon Parker

Torquay United 1, City 2

The signs all over Torquay seafront warn against feeding the gulls. "They may look harmless but can be very dangerous," goes the message to unsuspecting holiday makers. But it could equally apply to visiting football teams.

The unheralded Gulls of Torquay United have feasted on all and sundry over the last three months. And since the turn of the year, their form had been ravenous with seven wins on the bounce.

A team with the second-worst travelling record in the division should have been easy prey.

Phil Parkinson knew Torquay's threat, having watched a DVD of their latest triumph during the monster coach trek to the south west. But he was equally confident that his team, without a win since December, could upset the odds.

That conviction was built on the strong personalities that had made the trip. Glancing round at the likes of skipper Michael Flynn, Simon Ramsden and Craig Fagan – not to mention Andrew Davies, Marcel Seip and Ricky Ravenhill – filled him with belief.

Flynn had not kicked a ball since being rushed into hospital just before Christmas with a stomach virus. Ramsden, the man who never loses, had not started since breaking a toe in City's last win on New Year's Eve.

And Fagan had not featured at all in the midweek draw with Port Vale after being dropped completely.

But Parkinson realised they were exactly the characters needed to swat away those pesky Gulls.

With no James Hanson, he devised a game plan to use Fagan as the attacking fulcrum supported by Kyel Reid on one flank and using Deane Smalley's height against the smaller left back on the other. Flynn would act as the go-between linking Fagan with the midfield.

It worked an absolute treat. Reid was in the mood to take on all-comers, while Smalley won all the headers from long clearances that are normally aimed at Hanson.

And in between them, Fagan took full advantage of some improved service and made sure the ball stuck.

With a goal and an assist, he made his point to Parkinson – just as the boss had hoped.

Parkinson revealed there is a "possibility" of summoning more loan cover for the crocked Hanson and has made a few exploratory calls. But on Saturday's showing, Fagan made it plain that he is the man for the job.

Parkinson said: "Craig was outstanding but that's the type of player he is.

"It's a blow losing Hans and we will miss him. He was almost unplayable in that period around the time we didn't get Paul Benson.

"He was outstanding in those games at Southend and Gillingham and in the FA Cup against Wimbledon. He's important to us.

"But we spoke about it in training and said we've got to get more quality into the front man's feet. We did that with Craig and it stuck.

"He was disappointed to be left out last week. He could have sulked and let his head go down.

"But it's one thing footballers being disappointed, they've still got to work hard in training. Do that so when you get your chance again, you're ready to take it. Craig took that opportunity and his performance was first class."

The sea air clearly agrees with the Bantams, given their only previous away win had been just as unexpected but equally deserved at Southend on the Essex coast.

If nothing else it bodes well for the trip to Plymouth which will bring down the curtain on the manic March schedule.

They gave Torquay an early morsel when Danny Stevens netted through a scrum of players from the home side's first shot.

It could have been game over at that point. Torquay had not conceded at home for three months – and won 16 of the 17 games when they had previously scored first.

But City, who had begun well, refused to be knock out of their stride. Fagan swished at Smalley's accurate cross, Reid's shot was blocked, Ravenhill got it straight back to him and the winger teed up Fagan for a simple tap-in.

It was incredibly the first goal scored against Torquay at Plainmoor for 569 minutes – and City needed only three more to get another one.

The second was also a bit special. Reid was confronted with two defenders on the edge of the box so he chipped a pass at Fagan, who cushioned perfectly as his team-mate span around the back to take the return pass and lash past a stunned Bobby Olejnik in goal.

Reid doesn't score many – this was only his third for City – but they are always tasty.

Torquay were stunned, not just by the quality of the go-ahead goal but the stern resistance from a team whose lowly league position had suggested anything but.

They couldn't cope with Reid and were losing the physical battle against Smalley and Fagan.

City should have increased their lead by the break but Ricky Ravenhill missed the target from a promising position after more destructive work from Reid.

Torquay got a half-time rollicking from Martin Ling and found an edge after the break. But still City went close as Flynn curled narrowly wide.

The visitors got a big break when Mark Ellis was left unmarked from a free-kick – the only defensive lapse of the day – but he headed against the post.

Fagan should have settled matters after Ravenhill sent him clear on goal but his clip over Olejnik carried too much power and cleared the bar.

No matter. City defended like demons under frenzied late pressure; wherever Torquay put the ball there was a head in the way or a long leg to clear.

These Gulls would have to go hungry. The visitors were making their long journey home with all the spoils in the bag.
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http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/9541681.Former_Bradford_City_striker_Devitt_dies__aged_74/

Former Bradford City player Malcolm Devitt has died aged 74 after a fall in Cyprus.

he fell from a ladder while doing some maintenance work to one of their holiday lets and never recovered from the resultant brain injury.

Besides his widow and daughter, he also leaves a son Andrew and several grand- children.

Full article http://bit.ly/wBp343



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Northampton Town have signed Bradford goalkeeper Matt Duke on loan until
the end of the season.

The 34-year-old played in the Premier League with Hull and has made 13
appearances for the Bantams in the current campaign.

Manager Aidy Boothroyd told BBC Radio
Northampton:
"He's worked with [coach] Tim Flowers before, who speaks highly of him.
He's exactly what we need.

"I'm extremely happy to have a player of his calibre and character join us."

Duke made 59 appearances in seven years for Hull prior to his move to
Bradford last summer.

He also counts Derby County, Wycombe Wanderers, Stockport and Burton
amongst his former clubs.

"In terms of character, it's one of the most important positions on the
pitch," added Boothroyd.

"Particularly when a team is under pressure, you need to have a strong man,
somebody who will lead by example and can boss one or two others about.

"He brings all those things to the team."

The Cobblers saw previous loan keeper Chris Weale leave the field with a
knee injury in the 1-0 win over AFC
Wimbledon ,
and he subsequentlyreturned to parent club Leicester City.

Their first choice custodian, Shane Higgs, sustained an Achilles injury in
January.

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Newcastle striker given trial by Bradford City


City are taking a look at Newcastle striker Dan Taylor.

The 18-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer, is having a trial to impress Phil Parkinson.

He will play in the closed-doors reserve game at Chesterfield tomorrow (tuesday 21st).

http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/Teams/AcademyPlayerProfile/0,,10278~1892053,00.html

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