L2 D0-0 (A) Rochdale Tuesday October 2, 2012. K.O. 7:45PM. #bcafc

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Signings, Loans and Injuries

Kyel Reid, six weeks, groin injury
Jones has a back injury and a few other knocks so didn't play (v Rochdale)

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Match Media & Stats

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

"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.bradfordcityfc.co.uk//news/article/rochdale-first-half-action-406998.aspx?pageView=full
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk//news/article/rochdale-second-half-action-407000.aspx?pageView=full

Match stats
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http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=345090&action=stats&lang=EN
Rochdale                Bradford
6(1)    Shots (on Goal)    20(9)
9    Fouls    10
5    Corner Kicks    7
2    Offsides    2
52%    Time of Poss.    48%
1    Yellow Cards    1
1    Red Cards    0
9    Saves    2

Rochdale: Lillis; Rafferty, R Edwards, Bennett, McIntryre; P Edwards, Donnelly, Kennedy (Putterill 87), Tutte, Grant; Adebola. Unused

substitutes: Barry-Murphy, Grimes, Pearson, Curran, Craney, Smith.

Bradford City: McLaughlin; McArdle, Davies, Oliver, Meredith; Reid (Hines 26), Ravenhill (Thompson 75), Doyle, Atkinson; Wells (Connell 81),

Hanson. Unused substitutes: Duke, R Jones, Darby, McHugh.

Referee: J Adcock (Nottingham).

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Final whistle - match report

Draw with ten-man Dale a sore point for Bantams

7:30am Wednesday 3rd October 2012

By Simon Parker

Rochdale 0 Bradford City 0

It was Beatles mania at soggy Spotland and it proved to be a Hard Day's Night for City.

All the tunes were dedicated to the Fab Four to celebrate their 50th anniversary. And a point at Rochdale would usually be reason to Twist and

Shout.

But City spurned the Ticket to Ride higher up the table after failing to cash in on a man advantage for over an hour.

When Rochdale had striker Bobby Grant sent off ten minutes before the break, the stage was surely set for the visitors to make it back-to-back

away wins.

But for all the pressure, the shots and the corners, City could not find that finish needed. The only fox in the box was the wild one that ran

across the pitch in stoppage time.

To add to City's frustration, Kyel Reid could face a spell on the sidelines after an early injury. He will be missed.

A Yellow Submarine would have come in handy during the solid downpour before the game but thankfully the rain had eased by kick-off and there was

no fear of a late postponement like Bury and Accrington nearby.

The big news was the absence of Gary Jones, out with the back injury he suffered in the Burton game.

In hindsight, Phil Parkinson would have taken him off there and then but the influential midfielder continued through and played again on

Saturday.

He had not been able to train since and was forced to miss the return to the club where he holds the record for most appearances.

Losing the ever-present Jones from City's plans meant a promotion from the bench for Ricky Ravenhill, who also took back the captaincy.

Both sides shot over the bar in the opening seconds before Bobby Grant tested Jon McLaughlin's concentration with a skidding free-kick.

Nathan Doyle fired in a 25-yarder but it was straight at home keeper Josh Lillis. Then Reid hung a tantalising cross to the back post, where

James Hanson headed down into the ground.

It was fast, open stuff on the slick surface and Jason Kennedy rattled the advertising hoardings with a dipping half-volley.

Hanson was his usual self in the air, winning all the early headers. But he could not keep his effort down when Will Atkinson nodded Reid's cross

back in to the striker.

Kennedy threatened again to burst through but Ravenhill timed his tackle perfectly to nick the ball away as Rochdale appealed in vain for a foul.

There was no room to breathe as the home side made sure City did not have time to settle. Reid stayed down after one forceful collision and was

unable to continue following treatment, holding the top of his groin as he went off.

While City were briefly a man down, Nahki Wells wiggled into room and Hanson was wide with a stretching header from his cross.

Zavon Hines took over from Reid and was immediately dumped on his stomach ten yards outside the Rochdale box. The winger took the free-kick and

Rory McArdle's back header was safely held by Lillis.

It was a feisty affair, with McArdle sliding into a double tackle to clear the danger and Dele Adebola catching Andrew Davies after the ball had

gone.

Things boiled over in the 35th minute when Rochdale were reduced to ten men. Grant flew into McArdle with a late lunge and referee James Adcock

went straight for his red card beneath the baying Bantams army.

Rochdale were briefly lifted by a sense of injustice. Adebola's shot was charged down in the box before George Donnelly looped the rebound over

the bar.

Hanson jabbed a shot at the keeper from Atkinson's cross before Rochdale were demanding red-card retribution of their own after Hines shoved Phil

Edwards.

The Dale midfielder collapsed to the ground theatrically but the referee's card was yellow as Wells and Ryan Edwards squared up behind the

official's back.

Hines almost got in behind the defence before the ball broke to Doyle to have a crack. Once again the shot was accurate but the keeper did not

have to move.

City went hunting a breakthrough again in stoppage time at the end of the first half and Hines and Atkinson efforts were both blocked in the box.

But Rochdale forced a couple of late corners and there was a moment of concern as McLaughlin slid out to save with his legs when a loose ball

threatened to drop to Adebola.

As the whistle sounded, Rochdale boss John Coleman was waiting in the tunnel for the referee, who copped plenty of abuse from the main stand. But

Grant had given him no option with the red card.

City started the second half with a good chance. Ravenhill nodded over from Atkinson's cross when Hanson was probably better placed just behind

him.

The away stand was in fine voice as another opportunity fell to Ravenhill. The midfielder's snap-shot was hit with power but again it was right

down the throat of Lillis.

Doyle found Hines in space but the winger wanted a touch too many and Kevin McIntyre was able to divert his shot off course.

City were trying to turn the screw but Wells drove a free-kick straight into the wall.

Atkinson was seeing plenty of the ball and linked neatly with McArdle but Rochdale snuffed out the cross.

Rafferty was booked for a trip on Hines but again the City set-piece from the winger was poor. They were missing the invention and guile of Jones

and Reid.

Another promising build-up fell to Atkinson but he could not get the ball out of his feet quick enough. Lillis saved at his post from Wells but

the Bermudian's shot was hit more with hope than expectation.

Atkinson, City's brightest performer, and Hines switched flanks and the Rochdale old boy combined with Hanson to win another corner. But both

Hanson and Davies went for the same ball, the centre half taking a whack on the head for his troubles.

Nothing had been seen of Rochdale as an attacking force until Andrew Tutte's pass broke to Donnelly, who briefly had a sight of goal before the

door was slammed shut.

Parkinson swapped Ravenhill for Garry Thompson with 15 minutes left. Atkinson moved to the middle with the sub taking over on the right.

Alan Connell made his customary change for the subdued Wells before City went the closest yet from their eighth corner.

Atkinson's kick dropped to Davies, who was denied another goal by right back Rafferty's clearance off the line.

With time ticking away, James Meredith swarmed forward before Hines took it on. The winger cut inside and fired past Lillis – but past the far

post.

It was close enough for Wells to jump off the bench ready to celebrate – only to throw his arms down in frustration.

Hines then went down in the corner of the box from Rafferty's tackle but the referee ignored the City penalty shouts.

As the game went into added time, a fox suddenly ran across the pitch to provide a comic interlude.

There was still time for one more shot from Connell but it curled harmlessly behind. Despite another commanding performance, this will feel like

two points dropped.


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WIGAN v BRADFORD CITY CUP DATE CONFIRMED
(see below for more news)

Wigan Athletic have announced that their 4th round Capital One Cup tie
against League 2 side Bradford City will take place on Tuesday, 30th October
at the DW Stadium with a 7:45pm kick-off

Adults: £10.00
Senior Citizens (over 65): £5.00
Juniors (under 16): £5.00

Tickets for this tie will be on sale shortly from the Bantams Ticket Office. City supporters have been allocated the North Stand at the DW

Stadium.

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Bradford City star out for six weeks

1:06pm Thursday 4th October 2012

By Simon Parker

Kyel Reid will be out for SIX weeks, it has been confirmed today.

The City winger suffered a groin injury in the first half of Tuesday's goalless draw at Rochdale.

Reid went for a scan yesterday which confirmed that he has torn the tendon - and now faces a spell on the sidelines until the end of next month.

Boss Phil Parkinson said: "He fell awkwardly in the tackle and a bit of tendon came away from the bone in the top of the groin area.

"It's a big blow for us but once again we've got other players waiting for their chance to come in. That's what the squad is for.

"You expect to get injuries throughout the season and you've got to deal with them. We will do.

"We've got good players to come in and they've got to grab hold of the opportunity, like Ricky Ravenhill did on Tuesday."

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Bradford City playing it safe with Jones

7:50am Thursday 4th October 2012

By Simon Parker

City will not fast-track midfield general Gary Jones back into the fray before he is ready.

Jones lost his ever-present tag on Tuesday when a sore back forced him out of the goalless draw at Rochdale. It prevented him going back to the

club where he made a record 533 appearances.

Incredibly, it was just the second league game Jones has missed since February 2010 – and first because of injury. The only other time he did not

feature in that 119-match streak was in April when John Coleman dropped him for Rochdale's home win over Exeter.

Jones was gutted not to face the club where he has spent the bulk of his career but he was not fit enough to take a chance – and City will not

take a risk at Dagenham if they feel he needs more time.

Assistant boss Steve Parkin said: "If there's one player who wanted to be out there at Rochdale, it was Gary.

"But he's 35 and played 120 minutes in the last week (against Burton). He absolutely ran his socks off at the weekend as well and we've just got

to be careful. He's had a bit of a back injury and he got a couple of knocks on top of that. Gary would love to have played but he simply felt

too sore on Monday.

"We couldn't afford to get wrapped up in the emotions of him playing one game instead of playing all season.

"Hopefully it will settle down by the weekend but we've got a lot of games coming up over the next couple of weeks. So we've got to play it

right."

Ricky Ravenhill took his place at Spotland and nearly scored a second-half winner. It was only his second outing since recovering from a pre-

season knee injury.

Parkin added: "I thought Ricky slotted in there superbly. I just wish he could have got that goal when he hit it straight at the keeper.

"He's a great lad and hasn't moaned and groaned about being out of the team. He's just got on with his business and kept himself fit.

"He's a terrific captain and a good servant for the club. We need that pressure on places to make the ones who've got the shirts keep

performing."

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WIGAN TICKET UPDATE (friday Oct 5th)

The football club can confirm that they have been given an initial
allocation of 3,000 tickets for the forthcoming Capital One Cup Fourth Round
tie at Wigan Athletic.

The tie against the Premier League side, which will be held at Wigan's DW
Stadium, is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 30th October 2012 - kickoff:
7.45pm.

These tickets will be available from 9:00am Monday 8th October 2012 from the
Bantams Ticket Office at the Coral Windows Stadium.

Priority will be given to Season Ticket holders and holders of the voucher
given upon entering the stadium for the previous round against Burton
Albion.

All supporters will be required to produce their Season Ticket or Burton
voucher at the point of purchase.

Postal applications must include proof of purchase - either a copy of the
season ticket or the actual voucher from the Burton game(photocopies of the
voucher will not be accepted)
 
Season ticket holders and voucher holders only will have priority booking
until Saturday 20th October at 12noon (the day of City's home match with
Cheltenham Town).

Any remaining tickets will go on general sale at 9:00am on Monday 22nd
October 2012.
 
Tickets are priced as follows:-
Adults £10,
Concessions £5 - these are over 65 and under 16.

Disabled fans will pay the cost appropriate to their age group and will
include a free carer.

All disabled fans must be in receipt of Disability Living Allowance at
either the higher of middle levels, Proof will be required at the time of
booking. Please note that payment must by cash or card only, The club can no
longer accept payment for tickets by cheque.
 
The club are also looking to provide coach travel to and from the DW Stadium
on the night of the match, Cost of coach travel for supporters will be £10,
with the coach scheduled to depart the Coral Windows Stadium promptly at
5.30pm.

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