Read this article online
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Next game
Turnstile and other match details for this Saturday's home fixture with Peterborough United
http://t.co/07iI4PAA9N
IMPORTANT UPDATE - The club release their latest statement regarding the sale of Leeds United tickets
http://t.co/Nxk75YZWct
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Preview
Preview followed by live coverage of Tuesday's League One game between Crawley Town and Bradford City.
BBC http://bbc.in/1qjIfWg
Game links
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11419711.FT__Crawley_1_City_3/
Highlight/ Goals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqVeOI_Wlig
Post Game Interview
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Final whistle - match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11419711.FT__Crawley_1_City_3/
Bradford City system blows Crawley away
7:54am Wednesday 20th August 2014
By Simon Parker
CITY soared into second spot in the fledgling League One table after a win at Crawley that left Phil Parkinson raving:
That's the best so far.
James Hanson, Billy Knott and Mason Bennett all hit the target in the second half as the Bantams turned on the style with a 3-1 victory to blow away the home side's 100 per cent start.
City maintained their own unbeaten run and Parkinson beamed: "It was a terrific performance. The way we passed the ball in the midfield was magnificent.
"We've got the extra man in there and the system we're playing suits the players. Crawley found it really difficult to cope with us.
"That's the best we've played by far in terms of all-round performance and the quality of the goals was really pleasing."
Hanson's third of the season set the ball rolling as he crashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Crawley captain Joe Walsh quickly levelled but City re-established control with two more stunning goals from Knott and substitute Bennett.
Parkinson said: "The first one came from the outstanding energy of Jason Kennedy and Darbs (Stephen Darby).
"Hans has made a great finish. He doesn't get the credit for his feet but he does get many goals for us like that.
"I thought Billy Knott was outstanding. We put him in the centre of the midfield to get him on the ball more and he took
the game by the scruff of the neck.
"He has got great awareness and is a good decision-maker on the ball. I think he gave the ball away twice all game and he must have had 70 touches.
"The goal was out of the top drawer. Mason chested back to him and it was just a great finish.
"And I'm so pleased for Mason to get the third one. Maybe to start him again would have been a risk but it was always the plan to bring him on after 45 minutes."
Aaron Mclean had started his first game of the season before making way at half-time.
Parkinson said: "Aaron was looking fresh and I contemplated leaving him on but I thought 'what's the point in risking him?'
"He's looking fit, he's getting there, but Mason came on and I thought he was electric.
"We had other chances to really kill the game off but I felt as comfortable as you can be on the touchline. In terms of
controlling the game, it was quite a convincing win for us.
"My last couple of games at Crawley have been tough but this was a complete professional performance."
Billy Clarke resumes running today after his slight hamstring injury but last night's result means Parkinson does not need to rush him back.
He said: "It's only something minor and Billy will be close. Obviously he is important to the system we play because of his
football intelligence and his ability. But it's nice to be in a position where we don't have to force it."
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When the dust settled - match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11420356.Seconds_out_as_Bradford_City_impress_at_Broadfield/
Seconds out as Bradford City impress at Broadfield
6:44am Wednesday 20th August 2014
By Simon Parker
Crawley 1, City 3
CRAWLEY'S Broadfield Stadium is probably the least glamorous stop-off on the League One circuit and for Phil Parkinson it had proved one of the most depressing.
His previous two visits to this corner of West Sussex with City had ended in misery – bad performances and nothing to show for the long hike south.
But that's not the case any more. Those past disappointments were banished last night by an exhilarating second-half display as his impressive team stepped up their fast start to the season.
A home team who had won everything and not conceded anything up to now finished well beaten – picked off by three quality strikes from James Hanson, Billy Knott and Mason Bennett.
City rounded off a long week on the road in the sweetest fashion possible. What a satisfying first ten days this has been.
After three appearances off the bench, Aaron Mclean was upgraded to start his opening game of the season.
It meant the Mclean and Hanson attacking partnership was reunited for their first full outing since Shrewsbury on March 22.
The striker's return was one of three changes from the goalless draw at Walsall. Alan Sheehan was back from compassionate
leave and regained the left-back slot from James Meredith.
And Filipe Morais made his league debut – after facing Morecambe last week – in place of Mark Yeates. That meant Knott taking up the link role at the top of the midfield diamond.
Both Yeates and Meredith had decent games against Walsall but Parkinson has made it clear that he will ring the changes to give everyone match-time during the hectic opening weeks of the new campaign.
There was a familiar face in Crawley's goal – 39-year-old Brian Jensen. The Burnley legend, known as the Beast, did make a pre-season appearance last year for City at Guiseley.
The veteran Dane had hit the ground running with the Red Devils with three clean sheets and the home side were full of confidence from their flying start. In fact, City had been the last team to beat them at Valley Parade in April.
Morais had an early sighter at the Crawley goal from 20 yards after a booming clearing header from Andrew Davies.
Crawley were unrecognisable from the last meeting with City after a frantic summer of wheeling and dealing from John
Gregory that saw 17 players come in and 16 leave.
There were only two survivors from four months ago – one of them, Gwion Edwards, needed careful watching on the right wing.
And Jordan Pickford – half the age of his rival keeper – had to be alert to save from Jimmy Smith's free-kick which deflected off Gary Liddle in the wall.
But Crawley nearly gifted City a goal when Jensen got in a mess with right back Lanre Oyebanjo, whose back-pass threatened to slip past the keeper.
Mclean closed in and wrestled the ball loose but was pulled up for a foul – and Jensen was not happy with the challenge as the pair briefly squared up.
City pressed again and felt they should have had a penalty when Knott's volley smacked against Oyebanjo. It looked a strong shout for handball but referee Carl Berry waved away their appeals.
Morais was booked for pulling back Edwards before City's back four could have been punished for switching off. Nobody
picked up Bobson Bawling as he received Dickson's pass in the corner of the box but his drive flew over the angle.
It was a rare blemish from the defence, who had carried on the solid work from the week's previous two road trips. Izale
McLeod had scored all three of Crawley's goals this season but saw little change from Rory McArdle and Andrew Davies.
At the other end, Liddle fizzed one over from 20 yards as City tried to ask questions of the division's most watertight
defence. But the personal feud between Jensen and Mclean was hotting up after their early clash and the pair barged into each other again.
As half-time approached, Edwards cleverly carved his way through the light blue shirts. Eluding the challenge of Davies, he
wriggled into the box at an angle but Pickford was alive to the danger and came sliding out to make the tackle.
The teenager's timing had to be spot on as the Crawley man went sprawling and the referee, who was perfectly placed, certainly thought so.
Pickford made another crucial intervention seconds later as a Crawley corner led to a brief scramble in front of goal.
Skipper Joe Walsh's shot on the turn came through a sea of legs but the youngster was there to save.
City immediately responded at the other end, where Morais warmed Jensen's hands from long distance before the half-time whistle sounded.
The visitors began the second half with a change as Bennett came on for Mclean – and within five minutes they had the lead.
The goal stemmed from some neat passing on their right. Darby drove a low cross into the box, Bennett scuffed at it and the ball came through to Hanson.
He had time to get it out from under his feet and then slammed a left-foot drive into the roof of the net.
It was the first goal Crawley had conceded in 320 minutes of football – but they needed only four more to get back on level terms.
Davies gave away a corner under pressure and Ryan Dickson's set-piece was met with a decisive header through the crowd from Walsh.
But the game had burst into life and City dusted themselves down before striking for a second time. Again it was a cracking finish.
Knott exchanged passes with Morais before beating Jensen with a crisp half-volley into the bottom corner. It was a classy way for the midfielder to open his account in a City shirt.
It could have got even better for the visitors when the home defence opened invitingly for the advancing Sheehan.
The Irishman's shot was hit well but off target – but Jason Kennedy diverted it past Jensen and against the Crawley bar.
Home heads were spinning, so much so that Bawling started to make his way off when the number 20 board was raised before realising that it was City replacing the impressive Morais with Yeates.
But City were still not finished and earned themselves some breathing space with a third goal.
Hanson outmuscled Walsh and flicked on for Bennett, who calmly clipped the ball over the sliding Jensen to get off the mark for his loan club and put the seal on a good night.
Attendance: 2,225
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Mason Bennett keen to follow Nahki Wells blueprint at Bradford City
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11423958.Mason_Bennett_keen_to_follow_Nahki_Wells_blueprint_at_Bradford_City/
Alan Sheehan: I owe Bradford City for helping me deal with my loss
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11426970.Sheehan__I_owe_Bradford_City_for_helping_me_deal_with_my_loss
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