Read this article online
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/46810838356/
===========================
Next/Upcoming Game
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/11855560.BIG_SCREEN__Bradford_City_s_FA_Cup_replay_to_be_shown_in_City_Park/
Chesterfield has now been confirmed for Tuesday 31 March 2015.
Signings & Loans
Injuries & Suspensions
===========================
Preview
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31776247
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11855862.Decision_to_show_Bantams_FA_cup_tie_on_big_screen_is__brilliant_news_/
Game links
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11856781.FT__Notts_County_1_City_1/
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=394188&action=stats
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2012/sport_bantams_pics2014_nottscountyaway/0/
Highlight/ Goals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3cwwRpQZH8
===========================
When the dust settled - match report
Bradford City 'B team' make all the right noises
6:10am Monday 16th March 2015
By Simon Parker
Notts County 1, City 1
AS WARM-UP acts go, it did have its crowd-pleasing moments.
The understudies showed no nerves on the big stage and had learned their lines well – even if the plot turned out to be a predictable one for the 1,000 or so in the audience from West Yorkshire.
But inevitably all the talk before and after – and, at times, during – Saturday's game centred on tonight's main event. That was why the content of the team sheets was devoured so eagerly to see who was keeping their powder dry.
Reading boss Steve Clarke, it seems, did not even bother taking the powder with him to Watford. None of the 11 who had lined up at Valley Parade for the opening instalment of the FA Cup quarter-final showdown were on Championship duty.
His side's midweek win over Brighton had effectively secured their second-tier status, so all thoughts turned to the cup.
The numbers told the story where Clarke's priority lay. Four players were making their debuts in a side whose average squad number was 26.
I'm not sure Watford's rivals in the Championship promotion race would have been too happy but it was perfectly understandable from a Reading view point.
"I won't lose one second of sleep over it" was Clarke's reaction to any suggestion the Football League might take a dim view.
Phil Parkinson could not afford that luxury at Meadow Lane, even if he had wanted to. The fraught nature of the League One play-off race ensured he would not follow a similar scattergun team selection.
So while the players carrying Reading's FA Cup hopes put their feet up, City mixed and matched.
Advantage then to Reading? Only to an extent, according to the City boss, as his squad players proved once again that they have a stomach for the battle.
With more care in front of goal after half-time, the Bantams 'B' would have enjoyed a second win to go with the three points against Crawley before they tackled Reading first time around.
Parkinson still felt the performance was enough to boost corporate confidence – the same could not be said for the 4-1 loss from Reading's patchwork line-up.
The City boss said: "Reading have already got an advantage because they're not going up or down. We're fighting on two fronts.
"But I think we got our team selection right, without blowing our own trumpet. The lads who came in added something in terms of freshness.
"When we've made changes, we've got results and that gives everybody a lift. The lads who've come in are walking around with a spring in their step.
"Reading were able to make a lot of changes but they got thumped, which won't help them."
For the likes of Matty Dolan, Saturday was far more than an inconvenience getting in the way of the FA Cup build-up.
Whatever the "logic" behind squeezing in the replay so soon after the weekend fixtures, it did allow those on the fringes another chance to nudge the manager.
Dolan certainly seized the opportunity to prove that his bright display at Valley Parade a fortnight ago was no one-off.
Playing on the left of the midfield diamond, he had the licence to push forward more and showed that positive intent throughout.
While Jason Kennedy was making his loan debut for Carlisle, Dolan – his partner in the City shadows – demonstrated that he might still have a Valley Parade future. "He is certainly staking a claim," said an impressed Parkinson afterwards.
Dolan's display just edged that of Gary MacKenzie, who proved once again that he can be just as formidable a defensive rock as the absent Andrew Davies.
Chris Routis began to show a bit more understanding of the right-sided role he was thrust into against Crawley, while Francois Zoko came alive on the left.
It was the Ivorian's electric burst of pace that brought the game to life on the stroke of half-time. His sudden acceleration left Notts skipper Hayden Mullins treading treacle and the pass was finished with nonchalant aplomb by Jon Stead.
It was the striker's ninth goal in City colours this term but his first in the league for two months. His previous three had all been in the FA Cup.
By his high standards, Stead had looked a bit off the pace since the last off those against Sunderland. But the midweek rest on the Ricoh bench seemed to have restored his mojo.
Parkinson said: "It was a very good goal and a clinical finish. Jon's clinical with both feet and makes a good connection with the ball in those situations.
"I thought he just needed a break. He has run himself into the ground every week and he looked fresher. He's had that break in the week and then we played him 60 minutes, which I thought was about enough. It bodes well for tonight."
Stead's goal should have provided the foundations to push on for an eighth success on the road. County's home form has been woeful – they have won only once at Meadow Lane since Stead rejoined the Bantams in October – and their shortcomings were exposed in a one-sided second half.
But like a boxer with no knock-out punch, the visitors could not provide the decisive blow to send their hosts tumbling.
The City fans thought Routis had provided it with a volley into the side-netting and mistakenly cheered. But the real gilt-edge chances fell to James Hanson, Stead's replacement. He delayed too long with one, looped another header wide and also saw a close-range effort blocked on the line.
When that came back out, Zoko thought he had finished off the rebound but again Notts kept the ball alive and put enough doubt in the assistant official's mind to convince him not to give a goal.
The coaching staff jumped up and down in frustration, prompting Parkinson's post-match call for goalline technology to be installed at all levels. But City's profligacy was the real problem.
We all knew what was coming next. As Gary Jones went to take a Notts corner, the away section on that side of the ground burst into song in tribute. They were still singing his praises when he provided the cross for Mike Edwards to power in a header at the far post.
To his credit, Jones did not make a song and dance about the goal celebration in front of the supporters who used to adore him – and by the sounds of it, still do. But the damage had been done and two more points had carelessly slipped through the net.
The play-off picture remains ridiculously tight. But not that close that another winning position can afford to be wasted.
Attendance: 5,166
===========================
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/46810838356/
===========================
Next/Upcoming Game
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/11855560.BIG_SCREEN__Bradford_City_s_FA_Cup_replay_to_be_shown_in_City_Park/
Chesterfield has now been confirmed for Tuesday 31 March 2015.
Signings & Loans
Injuries & Suspensions
===========================
Preview
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31776247
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11855862.Decision_to_show_Bantams_FA_cup_tie_on_big_screen_is__brilliant_news_/
Game links
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/11856781.FT__Notts_County_1_City_1/
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=394188&action=stats
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2012/sport_bantams_pics2014_nottscountyaway/0/
Highlight/ Goals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3cwwRpQZH8
===========================
When the dust settled - match report
Bradford City 'B team' make all the right noises
6:10am Monday 16th March 2015
By Simon Parker
Notts County 1, City 1
AS WARM-UP acts go, it did have its crowd-pleasing moments.
The understudies showed no nerves on the big stage and had learned their lines well – even if the plot turned out to be a predictable one for the 1,000 or so in the audience from West Yorkshire.
But inevitably all the talk before and after – and, at times, during – Saturday's game centred on tonight's main event. That was why the content of the team sheets was devoured so eagerly to see who was keeping their powder dry.
Reading boss Steve Clarke, it seems, did not even bother taking the powder with him to Watford. None of the 11 who had lined up at Valley Parade for the opening instalment of the FA Cup quarter-final showdown were on Championship duty.
His side's midweek win over Brighton had effectively secured their second-tier status, so all thoughts turned to the cup.
The numbers told the story where Clarke's priority lay. Four players were making their debuts in a side whose average squad number was 26.
I'm not sure Watford's rivals in the Championship promotion race would have been too happy but it was perfectly understandable from a Reading view point.
"I won't lose one second of sleep over it" was Clarke's reaction to any suggestion the Football League might take a dim view.
Phil Parkinson could not afford that luxury at Meadow Lane, even if he had wanted to. The fraught nature of the League One play-off race ensured he would not follow a similar scattergun team selection.
So while the players carrying Reading's FA Cup hopes put their feet up, City mixed and matched.
Advantage then to Reading? Only to an extent, according to the City boss, as his squad players proved once again that they have a stomach for the battle.
With more care in front of goal after half-time, the Bantams 'B' would have enjoyed a second win to go with the three points against Crawley before they tackled Reading first time around.
Parkinson still felt the performance was enough to boost corporate confidence – the same could not be said for the 4-1 loss from Reading's patchwork line-up.
The City boss said: "Reading have already got an advantage because they're not going up or down. We're fighting on two fronts.
"But I think we got our team selection right, without blowing our own trumpet. The lads who came in added something in terms of freshness.
"When we've made changes, we've got results and that gives everybody a lift. The lads who've come in are walking around with a spring in their step.
"Reading were able to make a lot of changes but they got thumped, which won't help them."
For the likes of Matty Dolan, Saturday was far more than an inconvenience getting in the way of the FA Cup build-up.
Whatever the "logic" behind squeezing in the replay so soon after the weekend fixtures, it did allow those on the fringes another chance to nudge the manager.
Dolan certainly seized the opportunity to prove that his bright display at Valley Parade a fortnight ago was no one-off.
Playing on the left of the midfield diamond, he had the licence to push forward more and showed that positive intent throughout.
While Jason Kennedy was making his loan debut for Carlisle, Dolan – his partner in the City shadows – demonstrated that he might still have a Valley Parade future. "He is certainly staking a claim," said an impressed Parkinson afterwards.
Dolan's display just edged that of Gary MacKenzie, who proved once again that he can be just as formidable a defensive rock as the absent Andrew Davies.
Chris Routis began to show a bit more understanding of the right-sided role he was thrust into against Crawley, while Francois Zoko came alive on the left.
It was the Ivorian's electric burst of pace that brought the game to life on the stroke of half-time. His sudden acceleration left Notts skipper Hayden Mullins treading treacle and the pass was finished with nonchalant aplomb by Jon Stead.
It was the striker's ninth goal in City colours this term but his first in the league for two months. His previous three had all been in the FA Cup.
By his high standards, Stead had looked a bit off the pace since the last off those against Sunderland. But the midweek rest on the Ricoh bench seemed to have restored his mojo.
Parkinson said: "It was a very good goal and a clinical finish. Jon's clinical with both feet and makes a good connection with the ball in those situations.
"I thought he just needed a break. He has run himself into the ground every week and he looked fresher. He's had that break in the week and then we played him 60 minutes, which I thought was about enough. It bodes well for tonight."
Stead's goal should have provided the foundations to push on for an eighth success on the road. County's home form has been woeful – they have won only once at Meadow Lane since Stead rejoined the Bantams in October – and their shortcomings were exposed in a one-sided second half.
But like a boxer with no knock-out punch, the visitors could not provide the decisive blow to send their hosts tumbling.
The City fans thought Routis had provided it with a volley into the side-netting and mistakenly cheered. But the real gilt-edge chances fell to James Hanson, Stead's replacement. He delayed too long with one, looped another header wide and also saw a close-range effort blocked on the line.
When that came back out, Zoko thought he had finished off the rebound but again Notts kept the ball alive and put enough doubt in the assistant official's mind to convince him not to give a goal.
The coaching staff jumped up and down in frustration, prompting Parkinson's post-match call for goalline technology to be installed at all levels. But City's profligacy was the real problem.
We all knew what was coming next. As Gary Jones went to take a Notts corner, the away section on that side of the ground burst into song in tribute. They were still singing his praises when he provided the cross for Mike Edwards to power in a header at the far post.
To his credit, Jones did not make a song and dance about the goal celebration in front of the supporters who used to adore him – and by the sounds of it, still do. But the damage had been done and two more points had carelessly slipped through the net.
The play-off picture remains ridiculously tight. But not that close that another winning position can afford to be wasted.
Attendance: 5,166
===========================
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