Friday, October 08, 2010
JPT (A) v Hartlepool L0-1 October 5, 2010. K.O. 7:15PM
Johnson Paint Trophy - Second Round
Hartlepool (0) 1 McSweeney 69
Bradford C (0) 0
Att: 1,728
Next match: (A) Barnet, Saturday October 9, 2010. K.O. 3:00PM
===========================
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
===========================
Match stats
Stats: Hartlepool - Bradford C
Possession: 57 - 43%
Shots on target: 5 - 2
Shots off target: 8 - 5
Fouls: 10 - 12
Corners: 5 - 5
Ref: Jock Waugh (South Yorkshire).
Yellow cards: None
Hartlepool: 32. Jake Kean, 2. Neil Austin, 16. Steven Haslam, 29. Peter
Hartley, 6. Evan Horwood, 22. Armann Bjornsson, 12. Fabian Yantorno (74), 4.
Gary Liddle, 7. Leon McSweeney, 9. Denis Behan (65), 10. Adam Boyd (65).
SUBS: 33. Conor Devlin (GK), 8. Joe Gamble (74), 11. Andy Monkhouse (65),
18. Michael Mackay, 23. Colin Larkin (65).
Bradford C: 1. Jon McLaughlin, 3. Luke O'Brien, 5. Zesh Rehman, 29. Oliver
Gill, 6. Luke Oliver, 7. Omar Daley (63), 11. Lee Hendrie, 12. Steve
Williams, 19. Louis Moult (62), 20. Tom Adeyemi, 22. Lee Bullock.
SUBS: 13. Lloyd Saxton (GK), 4. Michael Flynn (63), 10. Jake Speight (62),
23. Dave Syers, 14. Leon Osborne.
===========================
Tuesday evening match report
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Hard-working City failed to trouble the scorers again as they were knocked
out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at League One Hartlepool.
The Bantams, showing three injury-enforced changes from the weekend, had
carved a few opportunities in a goalless first half.
While Jon McLaughlin saved from Hartlepool defender Evan Horwood, home
keeper Jake Kean was also tested by Omar Daley and Lee Hendrie.
Louis Moult, given a rare start, also fired over the bar on the turn.
But Luke Oliver missed City's best chance on the hour after a mistake by
Armann Bjornsson. The makeshift target man was clear on goal but did not
look confident and his shot was smothered on the edge of the box by Kean.
It proved a costly miss as Hartlepool broke the deadlock nine minutes later.
Leon McSweeney got between two defenders to drill home from Horwood's cross.
Michael Flynn was on by then - his first game of the season - but City could
not conjure a comeback.
Now all eyes will be fixed on Saturday's massive league clash with Barnet.
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8435317./
Players should be ones in firing line, says Bantams midfielder Flynn
7:10am Thursday 7th October 2010
By Simon Parker
Michael Flynn today leapt to boss Peter Taylor's defence and admitted: We owe him big time.
Taylor has been in the firing line from fans over City's slump to second from bottom in League Two.
But Flynn feels it is the players who should be getting the grief and not the manager.
The midfield general said: "I'm still right behind the manager. I can see what he is trying to do.
"I really feel for him because he is doing all a manager possibly can but he can't go out there and actually play
the game – that's down to us.
"All the preparation from the manager and coaching staff is being done to the best of their ability. I'm not sure
all of us can look in the mirror and say we're doing the same on the pitch."
City, who have not scored for four games, are preparing for a critical trip to Barnet on Saturday. Flynn sees it as
the right moment to show they are fighting for their manager.
He added: "I'm not sticking up for the gaffer just to save my own back. As a group of players, we are letting him
down, not the other way round.
"We've got to listen to him and we've got to be switched on for the full 90 minutes; not just 80, then concede a
sloppy goal.
"We are struggling in League Two and if the manager is looking over his shoulder then there should be a few players
doing the same."
Flynn's second-half appearance at Hartlepool on Tuesday was his first of an injury-ravaged season. He felt a twinge
in his troublesome groin going up for a header but is desperate to put his body on the line again at Underhill.
"I feel I've let the boys down and the gaffer because I've not been around. I know it's not my fault but I'm no
good to anyone injured.
"Deep down there have been times when I've blamed myself. It's been so frustrating because I want to be out there
helping the other lads.
"That was my first game for about five months and maybe I was a bit naïve to think I could get straight back into
the swing of things. But I felt a little bit of discomfort, which was something I didn't expect."
James Hanson could provide a timely boost with a sub role against Barnet.
Last season's leading scorer is recovering well from his torn hamstring and joined in the warm-up routine at
Hartlepool Taylor said: "He's got a good chance of being on the bench.
"It's a very big game but if there's a risk that somebody's going to play too early and then be out for another
month, then I wouldn't do that."
===========================
TAYLOR: I WILL GET IT RIGHT
Bradford City manager Peter Taylor is convinced he will "get it right" and
turn the Bantams' fortunes around.
Taylor's side have made a disastrous start to the season, winning two of
their first 10 league games to lie second from bottom in the table, but the
under-fire former Hull, Crystal Palace and Wycombe manager remains confident
he will be successful at Valley Parade.
Taylor told the club's official website: "People will see my record of five
promotions, but they should also look at my age and experience.
"In our current situation you need as much experience as you can around you,
no doubt about that.
"I will get it right. I'm quite sure of that. I can identify what we need.
If I didn't have that up my sleeve then we would be struggling. It's going
to be a big fight, but I'm up for that."
===========================
From the terraces
by Mark Douglas
Attended tonight, alongside 100 or so other hardy claret and amber souls. Slightly better than I expected after the
grim reports from Saturday but a 0-1 defeat against a second string Hartlepool (who have big problems of their own)
shouldn't exactly be a cause for celebration.
First, the positives: an improving Lee Hendrie was excellent throughout. He was committed, prepared to take
responsibility, always trying to prompt things and full of running for 90 minutes. On this form he won't be with us
long.
We worked hard, defensively we looked pretty sound until Peter Taylor's bizarre double substitution (more of which
later) and the away support got behind the team (if not the manager) from the first to the last.
Now the negatives. Taylor has made so many changes, tactically and in terms of personnel, that the players looked
confused, unsure of what they're meant to be doing and totally bereft of confidence. In short we're a complete mess
thanks to Taylor's inability to stick to a formation or a settled line-up.
The most succesful teams at our level are built on partnerships and have a solid spine. How are our players ever
meant to get that chemistry if we're constantly chopping and changing the team on a whim? Tonight the back four was
completely revamped from Saturday and we had the umpteenth new 'strike' partnership - so it's no surprise if the
players look like they're still getting to know each other.
The continuing selection of Luke Oliver up front is just depressing. Presumably he's picked for his height but what
does it say about our players and Taylor's managerial acumen that he's basically admitting that he can't come up
with a strategy that doesn't rely on a target man? Oliver is willing and all that but he makes it easy for
opposition defenders because he doesn't make the runs that a striker would, meaning all Hartlepool's centre-back
had to do was stand next to him and he was completely out of the game. Unsurprisingly he missed the one-on-one that
came his way in the second half - hesitated and then smacked it against the 'keeper's body - and as long as he's
part of our attack we won't score goals. It really is as simple as that.
I don't think I've ever seen a worse double substitution than the one Taylor made tonight. I had no problem
bringing on Jake Speight and Michael Flynn but inexplicably the manager decided to hook off Omar Daley - causing
problems with his pace and enjoying one of his better nights - and Louis Moult, who was doing alright. Even worse,
his change meant three players changing their position (Oliver moved back into defence, Luke O'Brien into left
midfield and Oliver Gill to left-back) and a complete reshuffle of a back four that looked perfectly competent to
that point. It was just breath-takingly unnecessary and the supporters reacted with loud boos and chants of "You
Don't Know What You're Doing" towards the boss, which can't be a good sign for him. Rarely do managers lose the
away support and continue for long.
Unsurprisingly we conceded pretty soon after the double substitution (our reshuffled back four wasn't quick enough
to react to a loose ball in the box) and the game was effectively over from that point due to our lack of cutting
edge. There was still time for Oliver to be pushed back into attack for the final few minutes though, yet another
of those changes of shape that Taylor seems to love.
Tonight confirmed my suspicion that our squad isn't actually that bad - certainly better than the one McCall had
last year. There are good players (Hendrie, Speight, Williams, O'Brien, Daley on his day) but they're being
organised atrociously. Too many are being played out of position and constantly chopped and changed and that is
what is killing us.
We're in trouble and the buck stops with the boss, who is making enough curious calls to give those City conspiracy
theorists who reckon he is engineering his own exit a field day.
===========================
TAYLOR: BANTAMS WILL WIN SOON
Bradford City manager Peter Taylor believes victory is just around the
corner - if his side's luck can change.
The Bantams made it four games without a win in a 1-0 Johnstone's Paint
Trophy defeat at Hartlepool on Tuesday night but Taylor saw enough to
encourage him.
He said: "It was a lot better than Saturday and there is more to come. It
was okay. In our situation, which isn't a great one, you need people to
stick together and I thought the players did that.
"We lack a bit of confidence and I think we need to nick a result or two and
then confidence will come from it.
Then they will open out a bit more and play the way I see them train.
"They defended well and in numbers and put blocks in, they worked hard.
Hartlepool are a nice football team, they tested us and I was pleased
overall with the players. I told them afterwards there was some plus points
and it was better.
"We did have a couple of chances and we need something to break for us."
===========================
NO NEW STRIKER FOR BRADFORD CITY
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Thursday 7th
Bradford City's bid to bolster their attacking ranks with a loan signing
before Saturday has drawn a blank.
Peter Taylor, who has been linked with Crewe's Calvin Zola, admitted there
would be no new faces lining up to face Barnet.
He said: "Unfortunately there's absolutely nothing for this weekend.
"I'm still hopeful we might get one in before Cheltenham but for now we'll
just have to get on with it."
===========================
Barnet ticket details
Extra info:
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2177057,00.html?
City supporters can still purchase match tickets for the Bantams npower League 2 at Barnet this Saturday (9 October
2010)
Tickets for the Underhill fixture are not available from City's Ticket Office though, but through Barnet
themselves.
They can be purchased by calling Barnet's Ticket Office on (0208) 4496325 or visiting the ticketing section of
www.barnetfc.com
Supporters can click the link HERE to be taken directly to the appropriate section of Barnet's official website.
Bantams fans will also be able to pay on the turnstiles at Underhill on the day of the match, although family
tickets must be purchased in advance.
Ticket prices for the fixture are detailed below:
North Family Stand (Seating)
Adults: £16.00
Under 14's: £8.00
Under 19's, Students and Senior Citizens: £12.00
North East Terrace (Standing)
Adults: £15.00
Under 14's: £8.00
Under 19's, Students and Senior Citizens: £12.00
North Terrace (Uncovered Standing)
Adults: £13.00
Under 14's: £8.00
Under 19's, Students and Senior Citizens: £12.00
Family Ticket
Two adults and two under 19's: £30.00 (must be purchased before match day)
===========================
City suffer new injury blow
Posted on: Wed 06 Oct 2010
City have been hit with another injury blow after it was revealed that Gareth Evans could be sidelined for up to
three months.
Evans suffered a fractured wrist during City's defeat at the hands of Morecambe last Saturday meaning the Bantams
striker could be out of action for the rest of the calendar year.
The Bantams striker picked up the injury when he clattered into the advertising boards at the Coral Windows
Stadium.
Peter Taylor had already been on the lookout for a new loan forward, but the loss of another striker will now have
the City chief pushing even harder to unearth another temporary frontman.
Defenders Shane Duff and Reece Brown, who along with Evans missed City's JPT tie at Hartlepool United on Tuesday,
will also miss City's trip to Barnet on Saturday due to injuries.
Duff has an achilles problem, while the on-loan Brown tweaked knee ligaments against the Shrimps.
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8437498./
Hendrie believes a single strike will be all it takes to kick on and lift the gloom
5:20pm Thursday 7th October 2010
By Simon Parker
Lee Hendrie has urged City to take the leading role in their basement battle at Barnet.
The experienced midfielder believes that scoring the first goal will hold the key to stopping the rot.
City have failed to net in six hours of trying as their struggles continue. They have only managed four in total
from the opening ten league games.
The goal drought is clearly having an impact on everyone but Hendrie reckons that will all change the moment the
deadlock is broken.
"I've said to the boys that if we can score one goal then it will open everything up," he said.
"We get a goal and teams have got to come at us and we'll find more space. You'll see we'll probably go on and
score two or three.
"It's just waiting for that goal to happen and we just need someone to go and do it.
"It would have been nice to get a goal or two at Hartlepool the other night because we played some decent stuff at
times.
"Big Luke (Oliver) went through one-on-one and I was willing him to score it. Let's hope we get one like that on
Saturday."
Hendrie appreciates the pressure is cranked up a notch with each bad result. In tough times like these, players can
be reluctant to take command for fear of making errors.
He said: "Last Saturday (against Morecambe) was a big thing. You want to do something but you need three or four
that want to get on the ball.
"That's what we're lacking at the minute. We've got a lot of young kids in there and maybe they are looking at the
league position and thinking they don't want to be the one that makes a mistake.
"It's understandable. This is a big club and shouldn't be where it is, simple as.
"The gaffer is going through a lot and I feel for him. He's taking the stick in this situation and it's a shame.
"Fair enough if he came in every day and wasn't bothered, but he really cares about this club and wants to push us
forward.
"But with the way we're going, things just don't seem to be happening for us."
Hendrie's own match fitness is improving after starting the last two games. He played the full 90 minutes in the
Johnstone's Paint Trophy and showed some promising signs.
Boss Peter Taylor said: "We used the ball better and Lee got involved a little bit more. That will have done him
good."
City will lean heavily on Hendrie's big-game prowess on an afternoon that will not be one for the faint-hearted –
and he is up for the challenge.
Hendrie said: "We know it's a big game for us and players will be nervous. But we're away from home so they won't
have 10,000 or 11,000 people on their backs.
"We can take the positives from the other night. We had four or five shots and there have been some games where we
haven't had any.
"Let's just go out there and play like we know we can. Everything seems to be going against us but we've got to
keep plugging away and it will change."
===========================
Monday, October 04, 2010
L2 (H) v Morecambe October 2, 2010. K.O. 3:00PM
Saturday 2 October 2010
npower League 2
Bradford City 0
Morecambe 1 (Mullin 23)
Kick Off: 3.00pm
at the Coral Windows Stadium
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2173265,00.html?
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
===========================
Match stats
STAT ATTACK
Shrimpless Shrimps
3 Shots On Target 4
7 Shots Off Target 5
12 Fouls (Conceded) 4
5 Corners 4
1 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
Bradford: McLaughlan, Duff, Williams, Gill, Brown, Hendrie (O'Brien, 70 ) , Daley (Chilaka, 62 ) , Bullock,
Adeyemi, Evans, Oliver (Speight, 46 )
Subs not used: Rehman,Doherty,Saxton,Moult,
Morecambe: Roche, Parrish, Bentley, Wilson, Rundle ( Brown, 77 ) , Stanley, Drummond, Fleming, Duffy, Mullin,
Hunter
Subs not used: Jones, Capaldi, Spencer, Hendrie, Cowperthwaite, Shuker,
Bookings: Hendrie (Bradford) Duffy , Hunter (Morecambe)
Referee: S W Mathieson (Cheshire)
===========================
A message to fans travelling to Hartlepool
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2173440,00.html?
Tuesday night's opponents, Hartlepool United, have asked the football club to pass on the following message to it's
supporters:
Bradford City fans have been allocated the Rink End of Hartlepool United's Victoria Park.
The Club, like most Clubs, is acting upon guidance from the Football League on persistent standing.
Any spectator persistently standing during the game is liable to be ejected from the stadium.Hartlepool United also
confirms that anyone entering the stadium with bags or flasks is liable to be searched and checks will also be
carried-out to ensure concession tickets for children are not being used by adults.
The Club have contingency plans in place for all emergency situations; spectators are asked to co-operate with any
requests from stewards and to comply with the efforts being made by the Hartlepool United to ensure a safe
environment.
===========================
Monday morning report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8428731./
Natives have had enough as Bradford City plumb depths and Taylor steps up search for loan striker
6:50am Monday 4th October 2010
By Simon Parker
City 0, Morecambe 1
Just where do City go from here? That is the uncomfortable question foxing everyone at Valley Parade, from the two
chairmen down to the fans.
The season has already reached a crossroads. Which direction it takes next will be critical.
It is often said that the table doesn't take shape until you've played ten games. Well, City have now reached the
double-figure mark in a relegation spot with more defeats than they have scored goals.
Ten years ago, Peter Taylor was sitting proudly on top of the Premier League as manager of Leicester. Now only
Hereford are keeping his side from the bottom of the whole lot.
It's tough for him and impossible for the supporters, who once again vented their feelings at another unacceptable
performance. The natives have had enough.
Taylor will continue scratching around for solutions but seems no nearer finding a team he can have genuine faith
in delivering more than one good game in five.
He will once again scour for a loan striker this week; somebody capable of actually scoring a goal or two to lift
some of the all-pervading gloom.
But then, any striker needs a supply of ammunition and there has been precious little of that.
On Saturday, there were two big chances. The first came after 90 seconds when Omar Daley's cross-shot clunked back
into play off the far post as Morecambe keeper Barry Roche looked on.
Even then, the rebound fell to the player you would want; someone who has spent the bulk of his career earning a
living in the top flight. But Lee Hendrie skied it horribly.
The other gilt-edged opportunity fell to Luke Oliver after Gareth Evans had bulldozed his way through to cross.
Somehow the big man nodded past the post from six yards.
It confirmed Oliver's unwanted mantle as the general scapegoat for his side's current shortcomings, especially when
Taylor hooked him off at half-time.
But the manager still made a point of defending him from the critics afterwards, saying: "A few people have been
saying that Luke shouldn't be playing up front. But he's a centre half who's helping us out and doing an honest
job.
"When your confidence is as low as ours at the minute, then sometimes you need that big targetman. Playing the big
fella up front is the easier option.
"Ideally I'd like Michael Flynn to get fit and James Hanson to be back and playing like he was last year. If not, I
have to get another striker.
"But we certainly looked more like scoring in the first half with Luke on than we did in the second. We didn't
create anywhere near the same."
The second half was nearly half an hour old before City mustered another shot directly at Roche's goal and his
routine save from Evans was greeted with an ironic cheer from the disgruntled stands.
By that point, Daley too had been sacrificed. It was a case of "after the Lord Mayor's show" for the Jamaican, who
had made such an exciting return at the Don Valley.
That early shot apart, he was a peripheral figure more noticeable for the number of times he fell over.
Taylor admitted: "I wanted a bit more of what he did in the first minute. Unfortunately he seemed to have the wrong
studs on."
As general performances go, City looked to have the wrong feet on. Taylor gave Hendrie his much-anticipated first
start but he could not find the right role to fit.
Starting out wide, he naturally drifted inside as City's play became narrower and narrower. That allowed
Morecambe's full backs free rein to gallop up and down the flanks in support of lively wingers Adam Rundle and Mark
Duffy.
Taylor had debutants at both left and right back but his decision to blood both Manchester United youngsters and
rip up a defence that had blotted out free-scoring Rotherham so effectively did not go down well with the
supporters.
The loud ovation that Luke O'Brien received when he went to warm up on the touchline made that point quite
emphatically.
Growing tension in the crowd spilled over into a couple of incidents. Two young lads traded blows as they fought
for a loose ball which had sailed behind the goal, while a steward appeared to be marched out of the away end after
a heated confrontation.
If only City had shown a bit of that fight on the pitch. Instead, Morecambe were handed only their second win of
the season with the minimum of fuss and hassle. Fair enough, the Shrimps were good and passed it about nicely but
they were hardly extended at any point.
Their midfield bossed the show, with the creative Duffy the eye-catching pick of the bunch. And up front Mullin led
the line with authority, holding the ball up well and consistently bringing the red shirts around him into play.
His dad had turned down a ticket for the game because Valley Parade was his "unlucky ground". So he missed Mullin
bury that particular ghost when he flicked home at the far post from an inviting Duffy cross.
Mullin had half a dozen games chasing shadows when Stuart McCall brought him in during the late free-fall two
seasons ago. On Saturday he looked exactly the type of targetman that Taylor's City would kill for.
Maybe it would have been different if Daley's shot had gone in or Hendrie had got his head over the rebound. But
just like at Northampton the week before, it's hard to fathom how City could turn in such a limp effort on the back
of the gutsy display in midweek.
Taylor would like to dismiss this latest setback as a one-off but it is happening too often for that. Depressingly,
it's the decent displays such as the one against the Millers which are the rarities.
Next up, forgetting the JP Trophy tomorrow night, is the weekend trip to fellow strugglers Barnet. It's a fixture
that has suddenly taken on mammoth proportions.
While it is still very early in the campaign, the signs are desperately worrying. City cannot afford to take
another wrong turn. Attendance: 10,640
===========================
Daley hits post early but it's all downhill from there for Bradford City
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8428690.print/
7:50am Monday 4th October 2010
By Simon Parker
Peter Taylor admitted that the Valley Parade boo boys were right to heckle him and his team.
Angry fans vented their fury after Saturday's home loss to Morecambe dumped City into the bottom two.
Taylor's team were booed off at half-time and at the end of their sixth loss in the opening ten League Two games.
And once again they failed to add to their tally of only four goals.
The City boss said: "I'm the first one to say booing isn't right if the players are doing everything they can.
"But I thought Morecambe worked harder than us, ran around more than us and looked the better. In that respect, it
was justified.
"I do agree with what the supporters are saying. They are very frustrated and I'm 100 per cent with them. I'm
amazed as much as they are.
"I'm the manager who picked the players, so I suppose it's my fault, but the ones who are playing at the minute are
not doing as well as I expected."
Omar Daley hit the post with City's first attack but they failed to kick on and were beaten by a solitary strike
from Paul Mullin, who had been on loan at the club under Stuart McCall.
Taylor said: "We seem to be a team that has to start well to have a good 90 minutes. That shouldn't be the case.
"We were flat and the players didn't look confident. It was the opposite to what happened on Tuesday night (against
Rotherham).
"It's not an easy one to work out but you never know what type of player's going to turn up. It's very frustrating.
"The last six matches of last season we were playing confidently, we were playing well in front of the crowd and
handling every situation. But this year has been the opposite."
Taylor gave debuts to Manchester United youngsters Reece Brown and Oliver Gill but left Tommy Doherty on the bench
to mend his injured ankle.
The City boss said: "Every time he kicks the ball it opens the joint up. The supporters haven't seen Tom 100 per
cent fit yet, he's probably 70 per cent.
"But the physio said that a week off would help him. I wanted to take that chance.
"I thought the two young boys from Man United did fine. But it's not easy to come into our team at the minute
because we are very low on confidence."
Michael Flynn will make his first appearance with a half-hour run-out in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Hartlepool
tomorrow night. He has been sidelined with a groin injury which also needed a double hernia operation.
Taylor said: "I still think he's training within himself and hasn't stretched out. That's the big worry."
===========================
===========================
YP report
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/football/Bradford-City-0-Morecambe-1.6562397.jp
Bradford City 0 Morecambe 1: Miserable start continues
Published Date:
02 October 2010
By Robert Gledhill at Valley Parade
NO city or town has lost two clubs from the Football League – Bradford is in danger of becomming the first.
City have overcome far worse crises than they are currently confronting yet it is not being alarmist to say that
after this display the pre-season promotion favourites are in danger of dropping into the Conference.
Neighbours Bradford Park Avenue were voted out of the Football League in 1970 – a place in League Two's bottom two
this season will result in automatic relegation for City.
That is where they sit now, just three points above Hereford United with eight points from their opening 10 games,
just half the tally they had gleaned last season when they finished 14th.
It is going to take all Peter Taylor's vast experience to lift the club and the manager is as frustrated as anyone,
especially after ending last season on a high with four wins and two draws from their last six games.
The one consolation is that visitors Morecambe, who began the day one place below City, have an identical record to
last season with 10 points from their opening 10 games and Sammy McIlroy's side went on to clinch a place in the
play-offs.
The way they approached this game with a certain amount of swagger and undoubted self-belief must have brought
envious glances from the City fans, who had to endure watching their side lump the ball forward.
"Sort it out Taylor," was a plaintive cry from the stand as confidence-shredded City rarely looked capable of
retrieving anything against a side shorn through hamstring injuries of their regular centre-backs.
One of the biggest gripes among the faithful – and there were still over 10,000 in the ground – is Taylor's
decision to play central defender Luke Oliver as a striker yet the side created even fewer opportunities once he
had been withdrawn at the break following a glaring miss in the 36th minute.
Partner Gareth Evans, whose 100 per cent wholehearted effort should be a beacon to team-mates, hustled Craig
Stanley off the ball and sent an inviting cross which Oliver met with a bullet header way off target into the Kop.
Taylor justified his selection, saying: "A few people have been saying Luke Oliver should not play up front and I
know he is a centre-half who is helping us out and who is doing an honest job. We did not create a load of chances
in the first half but we certainly looked like scoring more than in the second. We are a team that's low on
confidence and sometimes you need that big target man.
"In the end we tried to play a smaller player to get the service into the striker to hurt a slower centre-half but
you've got to have a confident team to do that – you have to be able to pass the ball into people.
"That's why we have been playing the big fellow up front because we are not the most confident team at the minute
so it's an easier option just to lump the ball forward.
"In the end, we were 1-0 down and it was worth the gamble to see if we could get the ball into Jake Speight or
Gareth Evans but, unfortunately, it didn't happen."
Taylor brought in Manchester United loanees Reece Brown and Oliver Gill as full-backs but that did not go down well
with fans of left-back Luke O'Brien, who came on as a second-half substitute into an unaccustomed midfield role as
Lee Hendrie, still not match fit, was rested after his first start for the club.
Taylor also went from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 with the introduction of Speight and Chib Chilaka but, for all City's obvious
muscular advantage, Morecambe hardly broke sweat in holding their 21st-minute lead.
The goal came as Mark Duffy produced instant control to a raking ball from defence, had his first cross blocked by
Gill but curled the second to the far post where striker Paul Mullin, who had a short loan spell with City last
year, tapped home as Jon McLaughlin scrambled across his line to no avail.
Mullin was outstanding in a lone front role, supported from behind by Andrew Fleming and with Duffy and Adam Rundle
hugging the touchlines to keep the game stretched.
Stewart Drummond was given the holding role but also showed initiative to get forward and Morecambe were by far the
brighter and more inventive side throughout.
It could perhaps have been different had City scored in the opening two minutes when left-footer Omar Daley cut in
from the right and struck a cross-shot against the far post and right-footer Hendrie raced in from the left to
volley over the bar.
Boos which greeted the final whistle were justified, admitted Taylor.
Bradford City: McLaughlin, Brown, Williams, Duff, Gill; Daley (Chilaka 62), Adeyemi, Bullock, Hendrie (O'Brien 70);
Oliver (Speight 46), Evans. Unused substitutes: Saxton, Rehman, Doherty, Moult.
Morecambe: Roche, Hunter, Bentley, Parrish, Wilson; Duffy, Drummond, Rundle (Brown 77); Fleming; Mullin. Unused
substitutes: Jones, Shuker, Spencer, Cowperthwaite, Capaldi.
Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire).
MATCH FOCUS
Hero: Paul Mullin
The Morecambe striker gave a tremendous display of solitary front-running and City fans must wish the club had
signed him last season following a five-match loan spell at Valley Parade by the experienced former Accrington
Stanley player.
Villain: Luke Oliver
City's makeshift striker should have scored with a free header in the 36th minute but he would be comforted by
England striker Peter Crouch's similar wayward effort on 'Match of the Day'.
Key moment
2nd minute: Daley hits the post, Hendrie blazes the rebound over – what a difference a goal could have made.
Ref watch
Scott Mathieson: Worked well with his linesmen and got all the major decisions spot on.
Verdict
Peter Taylor must be hoping that Michael Flynn, James Hanson and Tommy Doherty return to fitness as soon as
possible after this abject display.
Next game
Hartlepool United v Bradford City, JP Trophy, tomorrow, 7.0pm.
Quote of the day
Stand up if you love your Shrimps.
– Morecambe's 218-strong travelling support as they watch their side gain their first win at Valley Parade.
===========================
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8430234.print/
Bradford City midfielder heads to former club on confidence-boosting mission
7:00pm Monday 4th October 2010
By Simon Parker
The Johnstone's Paint Trophy feels like an unwanted diversion as City try to right their terrible league campaign.
Given the perilous position in the table, tonight's cup trip to Hartlepool seems small beer in comparison.
But that's not how Lee Bullock is viewing it.
The former Pools midfielder believes the trip to his old club offers a welcome diversion from their struggles in
the division.
And he hopes that a positive outcome at Victoria Park could provide the injection of confidence City desperately
need ahead of the weekend journey to fellow strugglers Barnet.
Bullock said: "Doing well in the cup can affect everything the right way. A cup run works wonders for everyone and
the pressure of our league position disappears for 90 minutes.
"There's no better feeling than beating decent teams in cup games and counting the games down to the finals. It can
get a changing room buzzing again.
"The JPT is a good competition. A lot of people have changed their views on it over the past couple of seasons.
"Maybe teams don't take the earlier rounds as seriously because it's the start of the season but once you get going
in it, you can see the excitement build.
"As I've said before, it's the best chance that teams at our level will ever have to get to Wembley."
City enjoyed their best-ever Trophy run last term. A first-round win at Rochdale was followed with thrilling
penalty shoot-out triumphs over Notts County and Port Vale at Valley Parade.
But with the mouth-watering prospect of a two-legged northern final against Leeds beckoning, they were seen off 3-0
by Greg Abbott's Carlisle.
They have already negotiated this season's opening hurdle with a bye. Now they face League One opposition in a tie
which has extra spice for Bullock.
He played 66 games for Hartlepool after signing for £100,000 from Cardiff in June 2005. Bullock still lives in his
native north-east but this will be his first senior outing at the club since.
"I played them in the reserves a couple of seasons back but have never been back there properly.
"I've still got a lot of good friends up there. They've kept the nucleus of the team together from then.
"I've been having a bit of stick with Andy Monkhouse, who lives in Leeds. It's a game I'm really looking forward to
and I imagine I'll have to find a few tickets for friends and family.
"I had two full seasons up there and had a relegation and a promotion. It was terrible being relegated the first
year and going down to this division.
"We had a sticky start again, a bit like here, but then got it going. It was a great dressing room to be in and we
went into every game very confident.
"It's the only time I've ever got promoted in my career and I always tell the lads here that there's no better
feeling than being part of a team that's going up and the celebrations that go with it.
"The next season didn't go so well but luckily I got the chance to go out on loan and ended up here."
===========================
npower League 2
Bradford City 0
Morecambe 1 (Mullin 23)
Kick Off: 3.00pm
at the Coral Windows Stadium
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2173265,00.html?
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
===========================
Match stats
STAT ATTACK
Shrimpless Shrimps
3 Shots On Target 4
7 Shots Off Target 5
12 Fouls (Conceded) 4
5 Corners 4
1 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
Bradford: McLaughlan, Duff, Williams, Gill, Brown, Hendrie (O'Brien, 70 ) , Daley (Chilaka, 62 ) , Bullock,
Adeyemi, Evans, Oliver (Speight, 46 )
Subs not used: Rehman,Doherty,Saxton,Moult,
Morecambe: Roche, Parrish, Bentley, Wilson, Rundle ( Brown, 77 ) , Stanley, Drummond, Fleming, Duffy, Mullin,
Hunter
Subs not used: Jones, Capaldi, Spencer, Hendrie, Cowperthwaite, Shuker,
Bookings: Hendrie (Bradford) Duffy , Hunter (Morecambe)
Referee: S W Mathieson (Cheshire)
===========================
A message to fans travelling to Hartlepool
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2173440,00.html?
Tuesday night's opponents, Hartlepool United, have asked the football club to pass on the following message to it's
supporters:
Bradford City fans have been allocated the Rink End of Hartlepool United's Victoria Park.
The Club, like most Clubs, is acting upon guidance from the Football League on persistent standing.
Any spectator persistently standing during the game is liable to be ejected from the stadium.Hartlepool United also
confirms that anyone entering the stadium with bags or flasks is liable to be searched and checks will also be
carried-out to ensure concession tickets for children are not being used by adults.
The Club have contingency plans in place for all emergency situations; spectators are asked to co-operate with any
requests from stewards and to comply with the efforts being made by the Hartlepool United to ensure a safe
environment.
===========================
Monday morning report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8428731./
Natives have had enough as Bradford City plumb depths and Taylor steps up search for loan striker
6:50am Monday 4th October 2010
By Simon Parker
City 0, Morecambe 1
Just where do City go from here? That is the uncomfortable question foxing everyone at Valley Parade, from the two
chairmen down to the fans.
The season has already reached a crossroads. Which direction it takes next will be critical.
It is often said that the table doesn't take shape until you've played ten games. Well, City have now reached the
double-figure mark in a relegation spot with more defeats than they have scored goals.
Ten years ago, Peter Taylor was sitting proudly on top of the Premier League as manager of Leicester. Now only
Hereford are keeping his side from the bottom of the whole lot.
It's tough for him and impossible for the supporters, who once again vented their feelings at another unacceptable
performance. The natives have had enough.
Taylor will continue scratching around for solutions but seems no nearer finding a team he can have genuine faith
in delivering more than one good game in five.
He will once again scour for a loan striker this week; somebody capable of actually scoring a goal or two to lift
some of the all-pervading gloom.
But then, any striker needs a supply of ammunition and there has been precious little of that.
On Saturday, there were two big chances. The first came after 90 seconds when Omar Daley's cross-shot clunked back
into play off the far post as Morecambe keeper Barry Roche looked on.
Even then, the rebound fell to the player you would want; someone who has spent the bulk of his career earning a
living in the top flight. But Lee Hendrie skied it horribly.
The other gilt-edged opportunity fell to Luke Oliver after Gareth Evans had bulldozed his way through to cross.
Somehow the big man nodded past the post from six yards.
It confirmed Oliver's unwanted mantle as the general scapegoat for his side's current shortcomings, especially when
Taylor hooked him off at half-time.
But the manager still made a point of defending him from the critics afterwards, saying: "A few people have been
saying that Luke shouldn't be playing up front. But he's a centre half who's helping us out and doing an honest
job.
"When your confidence is as low as ours at the minute, then sometimes you need that big targetman. Playing the big
fella up front is the easier option.
"Ideally I'd like Michael Flynn to get fit and James Hanson to be back and playing like he was last year. If not, I
have to get another striker.
"But we certainly looked more like scoring in the first half with Luke on than we did in the second. We didn't
create anywhere near the same."
The second half was nearly half an hour old before City mustered another shot directly at Roche's goal and his
routine save from Evans was greeted with an ironic cheer from the disgruntled stands.
By that point, Daley too had been sacrificed. It was a case of "after the Lord Mayor's show" for the Jamaican, who
had made such an exciting return at the Don Valley.
That early shot apart, he was a peripheral figure more noticeable for the number of times he fell over.
Taylor admitted: "I wanted a bit more of what he did in the first minute. Unfortunately he seemed to have the wrong
studs on."
As general performances go, City looked to have the wrong feet on. Taylor gave Hendrie his much-anticipated first
start but he could not find the right role to fit.
Starting out wide, he naturally drifted inside as City's play became narrower and narrower. That allowed
Morecambe's full backs free rein to gallop up and down the flanks in support of lively wingers Adam Rundle and Mark
Duffy.
Taylor had debutants at both left and right back but his decision to blood both Manchester United youngsters and
rip up a defence that had blotted out free-scoring Rotherham so effectively did not go down well with the
supporters.
The loud ovation that Luke O'Brien received when he went to warm up on the touchline made that point quite
emphatically.
Growing tension in the crowd spilled over into a couple of incidents. Two young lads traded blows as they fought
for a loose ball which had sailed behind the goal, while a steward appeared to be marched out of the away end after
a heated confrontation.
If only City had shown a bit of that fight on the pitch. Instead, Morecambe were handed only their second win of
the season with the minimum of fuss and hassle. Fair enough, the Shrimps were good and passed it about nicely but
they were hardly extended at any point.
Their midfield bossed the show, with the creative Duffy the eye-catching pick of the bunch. And up front Mullin led
the line with authority, holding the ball up well and consistently bringing the red shirts around him into play.
His dad had turned down a ticket for the game because Valley Parade was his "unlucky ground". So he missed Mullin
bury that particular ghost when he flicked home at the far post from an inviting Duffy cross.
Mullin had half a dozen games chasing shadows when Stuart McCall brought him in during the late free-fall two
seasons ago. On Saturday he looked exactly the type of targetman that Taylor's City would kill for.
Maybe it would have been different if Daley's shot had gone in or Hendrie had got his head over the rebound. But
just like at Northampton the week before, it's hard to fathom how City could turn in such a limp effort on the back
of the gutsy display in midweek.
Taylor would like to dismiss this latest setback as a one-off but it is happening too often for that. Depressingly,
it's the decent displays such as the one against the Millers which are the rarities.
Next up, forgetting the JP Trophy tomorrow night, is the weekend trip to fellow strugglers Barnet. It's a fixture
that has suddenly taken on mammoth proportions.
While it is still very early in the campaign, the signs are desperately worrying. City cannot afford to take
another wrong turn. Attendance: 10,640
===========================
Daley hits post early but it's all downhill from there for Bradford City
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8428690.print/
7:50am Monday 4th October 2010
By Simon Parker
Peter Taylor admitted that the Valley Parade boo boys were right to heckle him and his team.
Angry fans vented their fury after Saturday's home loss to Morecambe dumped City into the bottom two.
Taylor's team were booed off at half-time and at the end of their sixth loss in the opening ten League Two games.
And once again they failed to add to their tally of only four goals.
The City boss said: "I'm the first one to say booing isn't right if the players are doing everything they can.
"But I thought Morecambe worked harder than us, ran around more than us and looked the better. In that respect, it
was justified.
"I do agree with what the supporters are saying. They are very frustrated and I'm 100 per cent with them. I'm
amazed as much as they are.
"I'm the manager who picked the players, so I suppose it's my fault, but the ones who are playing at the minute are
not doing as well as I expected."
Omar Daley hit the post with City's first attack but they failed to kick on and were beaten by a solitary strike
from Paul Mullin, who had been on loan at the club under Stuart McCall.
Taylor said: "We seem to be a team that has to start well to have a good 90 minutes. That shouldn't be the case.
"We were flat and the players didn't look confident. It was the opposite to what happened on Tuesday night (against
Rotherham).
"It's not an easy one to work out but you never know what type of player's going to turn up. It's very frustrating.
"The last six matches of last season we were playing confidently, we were playing well in front of the crowd and
handling every situation. But this year has been the opposite."
Taylor gave debuts to Manchester United youngsters Reece Brown and Oliver Gill but left Tommy Doherty on the bench
to mend his injured ankle.
The City boss said: "Every time he kicks the ball it opens the joint up. The supporters haven't seen Tom 100 per
cent fit yet, he's probably 70 per cent.
"But the physio said that a week off would help him. I wanted to take that chance.
"I thought the two young boys from Man United did fine. But it's not easy to come into our team at the minute
because we are very low on confidence."
Michael Flynn will make his first appearance with a half-hour run-out in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Hartlepool
tomorrow night. He has been sidelined with a groin injury which also needed a double hernia operation.
Taylor said: "I still think he's training within himself and hasn't stretched out. That's the big worry."
===========================
===========================
YP report
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/football/Bradford-City-0-Morecambe-1.6562397.jp
Bradford City 0 Morecambe 1: Miserable start continues
Published Date:
02 October 2010
By Robert Gledhill at Valley Parade
NO city or town has lost two clubs from the Football League – Bradford is in danger of becomming the first.
City have overcome far worse crises than they are currently confronting yet it is not being alarmist to say that
after this display the pre-season promotion favourites are in danger of dropping into the Conference.
Neighbours Bradford Park Avenue were voted out of the Football League in 1970 – a place in League Two's bottom two
this season will result in automatic relegation for City.
That is where they sit now, just three points above Hereford United with eight points from their opening 10 games,
just half the tally they had gleaned last season when they finished 14th.
It is going to take all Peter Taylor's vast experience to lift the club and the manager is as frustrated as anyone,
especially after ending last season on a high with four wins and two draws from their last six games.
The one consolation is that visitors Morecambe, who began the day one place below City, have an identical record to
last season with 10 points from their opening 10 games and Sammy McIlroy's side went on to clinch a place in the
play-offs.
The way they approached this game with a certain amount of swagger and undoubted self-belief must have brought
envious glances from the City fans, who had to endure watching their side lump the ball forward.
"Sort it out Taylor," was a plaintive cry from the stand as confidence-shredded City rarely looked capable of
retrieving anything against a side shorn through hamstring injuries of their regular centre-backs.
One of the biggest gripes among the faithful – and there were still over 10,000 in the ground – is Taylor's
decision to play central defender Luke Oliver as a striker yet the side created even fewer opportunities once he
had been withdrawn at the break following a glaring miss in the 36th minute.
Partner Gareth Evans, whose 100 per cent wholehearted effort should be a beacon to team-mates, hustled Craig
Stanley off the ball and sent an inviting cross which Oliver met with a bullet header way off target into the Kop.
Taylor justified his selection, saying: "A few people have been saying Luke Oliver should not play up front and I
know he is a centre-half who is helping us out and who is doing an honest job. We did not create a load of chances
in the first half but we certainly looked like scoring more than in the second. We are a team that's low on
confidence and sometimes you need that big target man.
"In the end we tried to play a smaller player to get the service into the striker to hurt a slower centre-half but
you've got to have a confident team to do that – you have to be able to pass the ball into people.
"That's why we have been playing the big fellow up front because we are not the most confident team at the minute
so it's an easier option just to lump the ball forward.
"In the end, we were 1-0 down and it was worth the gamble to see if we could get the ball into Jake Speight or
Gareth Evans but, unfortunately, it didn't happen."
Taylor brought in Manchester United loanees Reece Brown and Oliver Gill as full-backs but that did not go down well
with fans of left-back Luke O'Brien, who came on as a second-half substitute into an unaccustomed midfield role as
Lee Hendrie, still not match fit, was rested after his first start for the club.
Taylor also went from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 with the introduction of Speight and Chib Chilaka but, for all City's obvious
muscular advantage, Morecambe hardly broke sweat in holding their 21st-minute lead.
The goal came as Mark Duffy produced instant control to a raking ball from defence, had his first cross blocked by
Gill but curled the second to the far post where striker Paul Mullin, who had a short loan spell with City last
year, tapped home as Jon McLaughlin scrambled across his line to no avail.
Mullin was outstanding in a lone front role, supported from behind by Andrew Fleming and with Duffy and Adam Rundle
hugging the touchlines to keep the game stretched.
Stewart Drummond was given the holding role but also showed initiative to get forward and Morecambe were by far the
brighter and more inventive side throughout.
It could perhaps have been different had City scored in the opening two minutes when left-footer Omar Daley cut in
from the right and struck a cross-shot against the far post and right-footer Hendrie raced in from the left to
volley over the bar.
Boos which greeted the final whistle were justified, admitted Taylor.
Bradford City: McLaughlin, Brown, Williams, Duff, Gill; Daley (Chilaka 62), Adeyemi, Bullock, Hendrie (O'Brien 70);
Oliver (Speight 46), Evans. Unused substitutes: Saxton, Rehman, Doherty, Moult.
Morecambe: Roche, Hunter, Bentley, Parrish, Wilson; Duffy, Drummond, Rundle (Brown 77); Fleming; Mullin. Unused
substitutes: Jones, Shuker, Spencer, Cowperthwaite, Capaldi.
Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire).
MATCH FOCUS
Hero: Paul Mullin
The Morecambe striker gave a tremendous display of solitary front-running and City fans must wish the club had
signed him last season following a five-match loan spell at Valley Parade by the experienced former Accrington
Stanley player.
Villain: Luke Oliver
City's makeshift striker should have scored with a free header in the 36th minute but he would be comforted by
England striker Peter Crouch's similar wayward effort on 'Match of the Day'.
Key moment
2nd minute: Daley hits the post, Hendrie blazes the rebound over – what a difference a goal could have made.
Ref watch
Scott Mathieson: Worked well with his linesmen and got all the major decisions spot on.
Verdict
Peter Taylor must be hoping that Michael Flynn, James Hanson and Tommy Doherty return to fitness as soon as
possible after this abject display.
Next game
Hartlepool United v Bradford City, JP Trophy, tomorrow, 7.0pm.
Quote of the day
Stand up if you love your Shrimps.
– Morecambe's 218-strong travelling support as they watch their side gain their first win at Valley Parade.
===========================
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8430234.print/
Bradford City midfielder heads to former club on confidence-boosting mission
7:00pm Monday 4th October 2010
By Simon Parker
The Johnstone's Paint Trophy feels like an unwanted diversion as City try to right their terrible league campaign.
Given the perilous position in the table, tonight's cup trip to Hartlepool seems small beer in comparison.
But that's not how Lee Bullock is viewing it.
The former Pools midfielder believes the trip to his old club offers a welcome diversion from their struggles in
the division.
And he hopes that a positive outcome at Victoria Park could provide the injection of confidence City desperately
need ahead of the weekend journey to fellow strugglers Barnet.
Bullock said: "Doing well in the cup can affect everything the right way. A cup run works wonders for everyone and
the pressure of our league position disappears for 90 minutes.
"There's no better feeling than beating decent teams in cup games and counting the games down to the finals. It can
get a changing room buzzing again.
"The JPT is a good competition. A lot of people have changed their views on it over the past couple of seasons.
"Maybe teams don't take the earlier rounds as seriously because it's the start of the season but once you get going
in it, you can see the excitement build.
"As I've said before, it's the best chance that teams at our level will ever have to get to Wembley."
City enjoyed their best-ever Trophy run last term. A first-round win at Rochdale was followed with thrilling
penalty shoot-out triumphs over Notts County and Port Vale at Valley Parade.
But with the mouth-watering prospect of a two-legged northern final against Leeds beckoning, they were seen off 3-0
by Greg Abbott's Carlisle.
They have already negotiated this season's opening hurdle with a bye. Now they face League One opposition in a tie
which has extra spice for Bullock.
He played 66 games for Hartlepool after signing for £100,000 from Cardiff in June 2005. Bullock still lives in his
native north-east but this will be his first senior outing at the club since.
"I played them in the reserves a couple of seasons back but have never been back there properly.
"I've still got a lot of good friends up there. They've kept the nucleus of the team together from then.
"I've been having a bit of stick with Andy Monkhouse, who lives in Leeds. It's a game I'm really looking forward to
and I imagine I'll have to find a few tickets for friends and family.
"I had two full seasons up there and had a relegation and a promotion. It was terrible being relegated the first
year and going down to this division.
"We had a sticky start again, a bit like here, but then got it going. It was a great dressing room to be in and we
went into every game very confident.
"It's the only time I've ever got promoted in my career and I always tell the lads here that there's no better
feeling than being part of a team that's going up and the celebrations that go with it.
"The next season didn't go so well but luckily I got the chance to go out on loan and ended up here."
===========================
Thursday, September 30, 2010
L2 (A) v Rotherham September 28, 2010 K.O. 7.45pm
Football League Two - KO 19:45
Rotherham 0 (0) - 0 (0) Bradford
At Don Valley Stadium on 28-09-2010
Next fixture
L2 (H) v Morecambe October 2, 2010. K.O. 3:00PM
===========================
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
===========================
Match stats
Rotherham: Warrington, Newey, Mullins, Cresswell, Geohaghon, Harrison (Bradley, 72 ) , Taylor, Law (Warne, 80 ) ,
Ellison, Le Fondre, Pope (Taylor, 80 )
Subs not used: Fenton,Holden,Annerson,Marshall,
Bradford: McLaughlan, Duff, Oliver, Rehman, O'Brien, Williams, Daley ( Hendrie, 76 ) , Bullock, Doherty ( Speight,
68 ) , Adeyemi, Evans
Subs not used: Chilaka, Saxton, Horne, Syers, Moult,
Bookings: Newey (Rotherham) O'Brien , Oliver (Bradford)
Attendance: 3872
Referee: C Webster (Tyne & Wear)
Rotherham Bradford
10(7) Shots (on Goal) 8(4)
7 Fouls 15
5 Corner Kicks 7
1 Offsides 3
31% Time of Poss. 69%
1 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
3 Saves 6
===========================
Match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcmatch/8419700./
That's more like it as Bradford City respond to Taylor frustration with much better display
6:30am Wednesday 29th September 2010
By Simon Parker
Rotherham 0, City 0
The Don Valley Stadium will never get voted the best place to watch football – but Rotherham's temporary gaff has
become a popular stop for the Bantams.
Winners there on the last two visits, City were close to making it a hat-trick last night but the well-earned point
was still the perfect response to the pre-match challenge thrown down by Peter Taylor.
The frustrated boss wanted to know if his players were up to performing in the City shirt. On this evidence,
especially in the second half, the answer was a positive one.
In possession terms, maybe Rotherham could have put the game out of sight before the break but didn't as City
delivered a performance rich in spirit and self-belief.
Omar Daley came back in from the cold – his first appearance for a month since the home loss to Southend. The
Jamaican's return was one of four changes as Taylor gave the pack another shuffle.
Ronnie Moore described City as major challengers in his programme notes and predicted they would still finish in
the promotion mix. But the poor start had clearly had an impact among the fans, with a lower than normal turn-out
in the away seats of the vast athletics stadium.
City lined up 4-4-2, with the recalled Tom Adeyemi operating wide on the right and Daley on the left.
Kevin Ellison headed over in the first minute before Daley's trickery held off Johnny Mullins for Tommy Doherty to
have a pop that flew high and very wide.
The lush playing surface was a far cry from the churned-up pitch of last season and both sides tried to get the
ball down and play. Ellison, traditionally a thorn in City's side, was again prominent in the early exchanges and
Shane Duff diverted one cross straight at his own keeper.
Luke O'Brien was the first name in the book for a trip on Mullins as the Rotherham right back looked to overlap.
Ellison took the free-kick to the right of the City box and bent it just past the far post.
Rotherham's pressure was beginning to build and Adeyemi threw himself in the way of a first-time drive from City
old boy Nicky Law.
The Millers were playing with the confidence of a side third in the table and City were back in numbers to deal
with the growing threat. Even Daley tracked back to help out in his own penalty area.
Duff's head was like a magnet to the Rotherham crosses as City's skipper marshalled the heavy workload at the back.
Jason Taylor fired close from 25 yards out and Adam Le Fondre, the division's top scorer, saw another low drive
deflected wide. But Law's shot straight at Jon McLaughlin from a similar long range was Rotherham's first on
target.
City almost stole the lead right on half-time when Exodus Geohaghon's misjudged header clear flew straight into the
path of Daley. The winger cut into the Rotherham box and unleashed a ferocious effort which Andy Warrington
superbly tipped over the bar with one hand.
City's first corner flew deep to the far post, where Luke Oliver was unable to make any contact as he charged in.
But it was a positive way to end a half in which City had spent the bulk camped in their own territory.
Taylor would have been the happier of the two managers, though no doubt well aware that his team had looked in
similar comfort after 45 minutes at Northampton before imploding.
Tom Newey was quickly yellow-carded after the restart for a foul on Adeyemi. Referee Colin Webster waved play on
but Gareth Evans wasted the chance of a break with an overhit crossfield pass.
Rotherham picked up from where they left off but City coped with Geohaghon's long throw into the danger area.
The visitors briefly pushed forward, with Zesh Rehman and Steve Williams joining the attack, but the centre half's
attempt from level with the D was smothered by a red shirt.
Daley remained City's chief attacking threat and he was not too far away with a drive as Taylor's side enjoyed
their best spell of possession.
But there was a heart-stopping moment at the other end when Ellison's free-kick was headed back across goal by Tom
Pope before City managed to scramble clear.
Adeyemi blocked another shot from Law as City continued to defend resolutely. There was no sign of the lapses which
cost them at the weekend.
At least City were asking a few questions of Rotherham's back line and O'Brien began to venture forward once or
twice.
Suddenly City created a flurry of chances which would have brought a breakthrough goal but for the reflexes of
Warrington.
The keeper denied Adeyemi, Williams and somehow Evans from a point-blank whack as the visitors created a greater
scoring threat in the space of two manic minutes than they had managed in a game and a half.
With Rotherham wobbling, Daley whipped in a cross-shot through a sea of legs which just took enough of a touch to
steer it away from the bottom corner.
Daley had proved his worth on his recall and deserved the ovation from the City fans when he made way for Lee
Hendrie 14 minutes from time.
Rotherham substitute Mark Bradley headed wide but their frustration was apparent as City continued to enjoy more
and more of the ball.
Bantams sub Jake Speight was pulled down to give Hendrie a crack at goal from the free-kick but it deflected off
the wall. But it was a panicky Rotherham defence that mopped up the resulting corner.
The fact that Warrington was announced as the sponsors' man of the match showed how the tide had turned so much in
City's favour.
Rotherham won one last corner in stoppage time but McLaughlin's near-post punch did the trick and an excellent
point was in the bag.
Attendance: 3,872
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8419671./
Taylor happy with Bradford City response as players show battling qualities
7:50am Wednesday 29th September 2010
By Simon Parker
Peter Taylor saluted City's point at Rotherham and then called for a proper push up League Two.
The battling Bantams restored their manager's faith with last night's goalless draw at Ronnie Moore's high-flying
Millers.
Now Taylor wants to make sure the result is not wasted when they face Morecambe at Valley Parade on Saturday.
He said: "The players are realistic and honest about the situation. They are desperate to win for the club and the
supporters but they also wanted a good performance for themselves and they produced that.
"That's what I was expecting from the first kick-off (of the season). Unfortunately we're fourth from bottom but it
showed that we're not far away.
"We're still looking to improve all the time and get the best out of the players. If we do that, we can get up that
table.
"But I've already told the players there's no point in being too pleased with yourselves now and then not
performing against Morecambe. We've got to put in a good home performance to give our supporters confidence that we
ain't bad."
Taylor had hauled the squad in on Sunday for extra training after the dreadful performance at Northampton. He made
four changes, including a recall for Omar Daley.
The Jamaican winger saw his first action for a month and delivered an outstanding display. Daley twice went close
to breaking the deadlock before going off to a standing ovation from the away fans.
Taylor said: "I'm very pleased for Omar because he did some very good things.
"He's told me he's done absolutely nothing for us since I joined the club and you don't pick somebody just because
their name's Omar Daley.
"There's got to be an end product for the team and he showed that. He did very well. But there were a lot of good
performances and we looked quite solid all round.
"Rotherham are a good team this season and we restricted them to only a few chances. The nice thing was that we
also created some ourselves.
"Some were from set-pieces where we looked very strong. But it wasn't a 0-0 where we didn't create – at Northampton
we wouldn't have scored if we'd still been there now."
===========================
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={F9E570E6-407E-44BC-800F-4A3110258114}&newsid=6652598
29/09/2010 08:44, Report by Steve Bartram
Young trio head out on loan
Reece Brown, Oliver Gill and Conor Devlin will all spend the next four weeks furthering their football educations
on loan.
Defenders Brown and Gill join League Two side Bradford City, while goalkeeper Devlin joins League One's Hartlepool
United. All three have agreed deals until 25 October.
The trio follow Oliver Norwood, Ritchie De Laet and Nicky Ajose, who have all embarked on four-week moves in recent
days, as the club seeks to keep players ticking over during a five-week gap in fixtures for the Reserves.
United now have a total of 14 players out on loan across England's top four divisions.
---
Reece Brown is Wes Brown's kid brother and Oliver Gill is their chief executives son. It'll be interesting to see
if they are actually any good or it's just nepotism! Man U reserves have no match for the next five weeks.
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8421788./
Taylor confident Man United duo 'will fit in well' at Valley Parade
8:10am Thursday 30th September 2010
By Simon Parker
Peter Taylor admits City's poor start left him with no choice but to bring in fresh blood.
Manchester United defenders Oliver Gill and Reece Brown trained with the squad for the first time this morning
after both signing on a 28-day loan.
The two rookies can play centre half but are equally at home as full backs, where City will use them as Taylor
looks to build on Tuesday's solid point against Rotherham.
Despite that encouraging result, Taylor felt he had to do something to spur the campaign along.
He said: "This is what I told my players. The season's not been going as we were looking for, results have been
poor and with the injuries on top of that, as a manager you've got to act.
"I'm really pleased to get two young players of their ability and I know they are very well thought of at Man
United.
"It's a bit of a gamble but I've watched them quite a few times and I'm very confident of them fitting in well.
"Anybody that is at Man United will have grown up the correct way, no doubt about that. I'm sure they will be
first-class people and first-class professionals."
Eighteen-year-old Brown is the younger brother of Wes Brown and plays in the same way. He represented England
under-19s in last summer's European Championships in France.
Zesh Rehman has plugged the gap at right back well this week but Taylor feels City need someone who is more
comfortable in the role.
He said: "With the injury to Lewis Hunt last Saturday, that has left us short. Zesh has done absolutely
magnificently and he's a great pro but if you ask him he'll tell you he is more a centre half who can play right
back."
Gill, the son of United's chief executive David, offers an extra option on the left. With Robbie Threlfall
struggling with his back, the 20-year-old will offer competition to Luke O'Brien.
Taylor said: "I nearly signed Oliver last season when I first came to the club. He can play a couple of positions
and, with Robbie's back not being too clever, we have to make sure we've got cover.
"It's a very important stage of the season and I don't want to be left short in any positions.
"These two young players aren't guaranteed a first-team start so it's down to them but hopefully this can be a
great benefit to everyone."
The loan deals run until October 25, allowing the pair to return to Old Trafford in time for the Carling Cup
fourth-round tie against Wolves.
===========================
Rotherham 0 (0) - 0 (0) Bradford
At Don Valley Stadium on 28-09-2010
Next fixture
L2 (H) v Morecambe October 2, 2010. K.O. 3:00PM
===========================
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
===========================
Match stats
Rotherham: Warrington, Newey, Mullins, Cresswell, Geohaghon, Harrison (Bradley, 72 ) , Taylor, Law (Warne, 80 ) ,
Ellison, Le Fondre, Pope (Taylor, 80 )
Subs not used: Fenton,Holden,Annerson,Marshall,
Bradford: McLaughlan, Duff, Oliver, Rehman, O'Brien, Williams, Daley ( Hendrie, 76 ) , Bullock, Doherty ( Speight,
68 ) , Adeyemi, Evans
Subs not used: Chilaka, Saxton, Horne, Syers, Moult,
Bookings: Newey (Rotherham) O'Brien , Oliver (Bradford)
Attendance: 3872
Referee: C Webster (Tyne & Wear)
Rotherham Bradford
10(7) Shots (on Goal) 8(4)
7 Fouls 15
5 Corner Kicks 7
1 Offsides 3
31% Time of Poss. 69%
1 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
3 Saves 6
===========================
Match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcmatch/8419700./
That's more like it as Bradford City respond to Taylor frustration with much better display
6:30am Wednesday 29th September 2010
By Simon Parker
Rotherham 0, City 0
The Don Valley Stadium will never get voted the best place to watch football – but Rotherham's temporary gaff has
become a popular stop for the Bantams.
Winners there on the last two visits, City were close to making it a hat-trick last night but the well-earned point
was still the perfect response to the pre-match challenge thrown down by Peter Taylor.
The frustrated boss wanted to know if his players were up to performing in the City shirt. On this evidence,
especially in the second half, the answer was a positive one.
In possession terms, maybe Rotherham could have put the game out of sight before the break but didn't as City
delivered a performance rich in spirit and self-belief.
Omar Daley came back in from the cold – his first appearance for a month since the home loss to Southend. The
Jamaican's return was one of four changes as Taylor gave the pack another shuffle.
Ronnie Moore described City as major challengers in his programme notes and predicted they would still finish in
the promotion mix. But the poor start had clearly had an impact among the fans, with a lower than normal turn-out
in the away seats of the vast athletics stadium.
City lined up 4-4-2, with the recalled Tom Adeyemi operating wide on the right and Daley on the left.
Kevin Ellison headed over in the first minute before Daley's trickery held off Johnny Mullins for Tommy Doherty to
have a pop that flew high and very wide.
The lush playing surface was a far cry from the churned-up pitch of last season and both sides tried to get the
ball down and play. Ellison, traditionally a thorn in City's side, was again prominent in the early exchanges and
Shane Duff diverted one cross straight at his own keeper.
Luke O'Brien was the first name in the book for a trip on Mullins as the Rotherham right back looked to overlap.
Ellison took the free-kick to the right of the City box and bent it just past the far post.
Rotherham's pressure was beginning to build and Adeyemi threw himself in the way of a first-time drive from City
old boy Nicky Law.
The Millers were playing with the confidence of a side third in the table and City were back in numbers to deal
with the growing threat. Even Daley tracked back to help out in his own penalty area.
Duff's head was like a magnet to the Rotherham crosses as City's skipper marshalled the heavy workload at the back.
Jason Taylor fired close from 25 yards out and Adam Le Fondre, the division's top scorer, saw another low drive
deflected wide. But Law's shot straight at Jon McLaughlin from a similar long range was Rotherham's first on
target.
City almost stole the lead right on half-time when Exodus Geohaghon's misjudged header clear flew straight into the
path of Daley. The winger cut into the Rotherham box and unleashed a ferocious effort which Andy Warrington
superbly tipped over the bar with one hand.
City's first corner flew deep to the far post, where Luke Oliver was unable to make any contact as he charged in.
But it was a positive way to end a half in which City had spent the bulk camped in their own territory.
Taylor would have been the happier of the two managers, though no doubt well aware that his team had looked in
similar comfort after 45 minutes at Northampton before imploding.
Tom Newey was quickly yellow-carded after the restart for a foul on Adeyemi. Referee Colin Webster waved play on
but Gareth Evans wasted the chance of a break with an overhit crossfield pass.
Rotherham picked up from where they left off but City coped with Geohaghon's long throw into the danger area.
The visitors briefly pushed forward, with Zesh Rehman and Steve Williams joining the attack, but the centre half's
attempt from level with the D was smothered by a red shirt.
Daley remained City's chief attacking threat and he was not too far away with a drive as Taylor's side enjoyed
their best spell of possession.
But there was a heart-stopping moment at the other end when Ellison's free-kick was headed back across goal by Tom
Pope before City managed to scramble clear.
Adeyemi blocked another shot from Law as City continued to defend resolutely. There was no sign of the lapses which
cost them at the weekend.
At least City were asking a few questions of Rotherham's back line and O'Brien began to venture forward once or
twice.
Suddenly City created a flurry of chances which would have brought a breakthrough goal but for the reflexes of
Warrington.
The keeper denied Adeyemi, Williams and somehow Evans from a point-blank whack as the visitors created a greater
scoring threat in the space of two manic minutes than they had managed in a game and a half.
With Rotherham wobbling, Daley whipped in a cross-shot through a sea of legs which just took enough of a touch to
steer it away from the bottom corner.
Daley had proved his worth on his recall and deserved the ovation from the City fans when he made way for Lee
Hendrie 14 minutes from time.
Rotherham substitute Mark Bradley headed wide but their frustration was apparent as City continued to enjoy more
and more of the ball.
Bantams sub Jake Speight was pulled down to give Hendrie a crack at goal from the free-kick but it deflected off
the wall. But it was a panicky Rotherham defence that mopped up the resulting corner.
The fact that Warrington was announced as the sponsors' man of the match showed how the tide had turned so much in
City's favour.
Rotherham won one last corner in stoppage time but McLaughlin's near-post punch did the trick and an excellent
point was in the bag.
Attendance: 3,872
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8419671./
Taylor happy with Bradford City response as players show battling qualities
7:50am Wednesday 29th September 2010
By Simon Parker
Peter Taylor saluted City's point at Rotherham and then called for a proper push up League Two.
The battling Bantams restored their manager's faith with last night's goalless draw at Ronnie Moore's high-flying
Millers.
Now Taylor wants to make sure the result is not wasted when they face Morecambe at Valley Parade on Saturday.
He said: "The players are realistic and honest about the situation. They are desperate to win for the club and the
supporters but they also wanted a good performance for themselves and they produced that.
"That's what I was expecting from the first kick-off (of the season). Unfortunately we're fourth from bottom but it
showed that we're not far away.
"We're still looking to improve all the time and get the best out of the players. If we do that, we can get up that
table.
"But I've already told the players there's no point in being too pleased with yourselves now and then not
performing against Morecambe. We've got to put in a good home performance to give our supporters confidence that we
ain't bad."
Taylor had hauled the squad in on Sunday for extra training after the dreadful performance at Northampton. He made
four changes, including a recall for Omar Daley.
The Jamaican winger saw his first action for a month and delivered an outstanding display. Daley twice went close
to breaking the deadlock before going off to a standing ovation from the away fans.
Taylor said: "I'm very pleased for Omar because he did some very good things.
"He's told me he's done absolutely nothing for us since I joined the club and you don't pick somebody just because
their name's Omar Daley.
"There's got to be an end product for the team and he showed that. He did very well. But there were a lot of good
performances and we looked quite solid all round.
"Rotherham are a good team this season and we restricted them to only a few chances. The nice thing was that we
also created some ourselves.
"Some were from set-pieces where we looked very strong. But it wasn't a 0-0 where we didn't create – at Northampton
we wouldn't have scored if we'd still been there now."
===========================
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={F9E570E6-407E-44BC-800F-4A3110258114}&newsid=6652598
29/09/2010 08:44, Report by Steve Bartram
Young trio head out on loan
Reece Brown, Oliver Gill and Conor Devlin will all spend the next four weeks furthering their football educations
on loan.
Defenders Brown and Gill join League Two side Bradford City, while goalkeeper Devlin joins League One's Hartlepool
United. All three have agreed deals until 25 October.
The trio follow Oliver Norwood, Ritchie De Laet and Nicky Ajose, who have all embarked on four-week moves in recent
days, as the club seeks to keep players ticking over during a five-week gap in fixtures for the Reserves.
United now have a total of 14 players out on loan across England's top four divisions.
---
Reece Brown is Wes Brown's kid brother and Oliver Gill is their chief executives son. It'll be interesting to see
if they are actually any good or it's just nepotism! Man U reserves have no match for the next five weeks.
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8421788./
Taylor confident Man United duo 'will fit in well' at Valley Parade
8:10am Thursday 30th September 2010
By Simon Parker
Peter Taylor admits City's poor start left him with no choice but to bring in fresh blood.
Manchester United defenders Oliver Gill and Reece Brown trained with the squad for the first time this morning
after both signing on a 28-day loan.
The two rookies can play centre half but are equally at home as full backs, where City will use them as Taylor
looks to build on Tuesday's solid point against Rotherham.
Despite that encouraging result, Taylor felt he had to do something to spur the campaign along.
He said: "This is what I told my players. The season's not been going as we were looking for, results have been
poor and with the injuries on top of that, as a manager you've got to act.
"I'm really pleased to get two young players of their ability and I know they are very well thought of at Man
United.
"It's a bit of a gamble but I've watched them quite a few times and I'm very confident of them fitting in well.
"Anybody that is at Man United will have grown up the correct way, no doubt about that. I'm sure they will be
first-class people and first-class professionals."
Eighteen-year-old Brown is the younger brother of Wes Brown and plays in the same way. He represented England
under-19s in last summer's European Championships in France.
Zesh Rehman has plugged the gap at right back well this week but Taylor feels City need someone who is more
comfortable in the role.
He said: "With the injury to Lewis Hunt last Saturday, that has left us short. Zesh has done absolutely
magnificently and he's a great pro but if you ask him he'll tell you he is more a centre half who can play right
back."
Gill, the son of United's chief executive David, offers an extra option on the left. With Robbie Threlfall
struggling with his back, the 20-year-old will offer competition to Luke O'Brien.
Taylor said: "I nearly signed Oliver last season when I first came to the club. He can play a couple of positions
and, with Robbie's back not being too clever, we have to make sure we've got cover.
"It's a very important stage of the season and I don't want to be left short in any positions.
"These two young players aren't guaranteed a first-team start so it's down to them but hopefully this can be a
great benefit to everyone."
The loan deals run until October 25, allowing the pair to return to Old Trafford in time for the Carling Cup
fourth-round tie against Wolves.
===========================
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
L2 (A) v Northampton September 25, 2010. K.O. 3:00PM
Football League Two - KO 15:00
Northampton 2 (0) - 0 (0) Bradford
McKay 61
Tozer 81
At Sixfields Stadium on 25-09-2010
Next fixture
L2 (A) v Rotherham September 28, 2010 K.O. 7.45pm
===========================
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
===========================
Match stats
Northampton: Dunn, Tozer, Johnson, Rodgers (Herbert, 72 ) , Gilligan, Thornton (McKenzie, 66 ) , Davis, Holt,
Osman, Jacobs, McKay (Guinan, 86 )
Subs not used: Hall,Wedderburn,Walker,Harris,
Bradford: McLaughlan, Duff, Oliver, O'Brien, Williams, Hunt ( Rehman, 12 ) , Bullock, Doherty ( Osborne, 78 ) ,
Syers, Speight, Moult ( Hendrie, 53 )
Subs not used: Evans, Chilaka, Saxton, Adeyemi,
Bookings: Rodgers (Northampton) Bullock , Rehman (Bradford)
Attendance: 4646
Referee: P Gibbs (West Midlands)
Cobblers Wobblers
4 Shots On Target 1
1 Shots Off Target 0
7 Fouls (Conceded) 13
4 Corners 3
1 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
===========================
Monday morning report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8414996./
Cobblers 2 Wobblers 0 as Bantams fans left feeling short-changed
7:40am Monday 27th September 2010
By Simon Parker
Northampton 2 Bradford City 0
So City went the same way as Liverpool.
And being dumped in such illustrious company will be no consolation whatsoever for the beaten Bantams and their
beleaguered fans.
The large exodus of away supporters well before the final whistle said it all on another dismal afternoon.
Hopes raised by the late, late show against Gillingham a week before had been quickly shot down.
And this against a team who were supposed to be out on their feet after their midweek night of Carling Cup
giant-slaying.
Northampton were meant to be the team going through the motions.
Northampton were meant to be the team with their heads in the clouds still reliving their fairy tale at Anfield.
Northampton were meant to be the team that would fade away in the final half hour as the effects of Wednesday
kicked in.
Fat chance.
City, supposedly fresh from a free week, looked disjointed, disillusioned and finished very much second best. The
moment the first goal went in, we might as well all have packed up and headed for the M1.
The visitors could not even muster a single shot after the break.
The only two efforts on goal – one of which, thankfully, at least tested keeper Chris Dunn – both came in the first
half.
It was woeful stuff; another no-show in a season that is clocking those up at a worrying rate.
But why should it be like that? How could a side buzzing from victory at the final whistle the week before suddenly
become a collection of lost souls again?
Peter Taylor was left scratching his head like the rest of us.
He had talked all week about the tide turning and how City could kick on from the spark of Steve Williams' dramatic
winner.
Instead, City's expected elevation up the table remained as dormant as the disused Express Lift Tower which
dominates the Northampton skyline between the football and rugby grounds.
Once again, he referred to "nervous" players lacking confidence. But only a string of decent results can improve
that – and to get those, you need that belief which this side are clearly lacking.
City are trapped in a vicious circle and it's depressing to watch. It's a conundrum Taylor must solve and it
doesn't get any easier with Rotherham looming tomorrow night.
Life could not be more different for Northampton.
Their warm-up was accompanied by radio commentary of the best bits from Anfield. The screeching description of
Wednesday's winning penalty was followed by the velvety sound of Louis Armstrong's Wonderful World.
It must be great living on Cloud Nine.
Far from resting tired legs and minds, Cobblers boss Ian Sampson named the same line-up. Taylor, for his part, made
only one change, with out-of-form Robbie Threlfall's back injury denying him a return to the ground where he played
for a month last season.
And for the first 45 minutes, it was a case of as you were. Both teams had two chances apiece and there was nothing
to split them.
For City, there was the early blow of Lewis Hunt hobbling away after falling awkwardly in a tackle with Northampton
winger Michael Jacobs Hunt may not be everyone's favourite defender but he has filled in manfully during Simon
Ramsden's protracted absence. The prospect of losing him with a knee injury for three months now just adds to the
club's woes.
Zesh Rehman was once again thrown in to plug the gap and stuck to the task pretty well. Unless Taylor can squeeze
the budget to bring in another body, Rehman will be expected to take on the accustomed role on a regular basis.
Rehman immediately fed Louis Moult, whose quick feet undid marker Andy Holt before firing off a shot which Dunn
blocked with his shins. That was as good as it got for the visitors.
There was another sniff of a chance when Williams headed wide after Luke Oliver headed a free-kick across goal but
no more. That 38th-minute effort proved to be their last.
Taylor had left Anfield singing the praises of Kevin Thornton's sweet left foot and two first-half free-kicks
served warning. But the goalless score at half-time suggested the City gameplan was on track.
That all changed just after the hour, although the warning signs had been there in the early exchanges after the
re-start when City suddenly struggled to string two passes together.
Lee Hendrie appeared with one or two bright touches, nearly playing in Jake Speight, but he soon faded like the
rest.
And the critical final third of the game – when City had hoped to take over – began instead with a decisive blow
form the home side.
Oliver clipped John Johnson just over the halfway line in retaliation for a foul a few minutes before. Ben Tozer
drove it long, neither centre half got anything on it, and the ball dropped for Billy McKay to whip in on the turn.
City's response was non-existent and Northampton could enjoy applying the finishing touches to a memorable week.
Rehman rescued his goalkeeper on the line after Jon McLaughlin had completely misjudged a Jacobs corner but the
tricky left winger played his part in Northampton's second, with the smaller McKay outjumping the defence to meet
his cross and set up loan centre half Tozer for a goal on his league debut.
With 15 minutes to go, a fair few City fans had seen enough and streamed for the exit. They didn't miss anything.
Even joint-chairman Julian Rhodes decided to call it quits five minutes from time with a face like thunder. It
summed up the mood.
Rotherham's unloved Don Valley Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for City the past two years. How they could
do with that same shot in the arm tomorrow.
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8416583./
Taylor's ultimatum to Bradford City players: Shape up or ship out
7:30am Tuesday 28th September 2010
By Simon Parker
Peter Taylor today threatened to dump all his City under-achievers on the transfer list.
Taylor delivered the ultimatum ahead of the derby clash with Rotherham because he is fed up with the poor start to
the campaign.
The Bantams boss believes it is time for his squad to shape up – or ship out.
Taylor blasted: "We're third from bottom after eight matches and have got more chance of being relegated than
getting promoted at the minute.
"I think the boys totally understand the situation. It's not good enough, we're not playing well enough; their
performances are not good enough and they've got to change.
"If they don't, I'm going to draw up a transfer list and they are all going to be on it. It's as simple as that.
"I think Bradford City is a magnificent club to play for at this level. If they don't appreciate that or can't
handle it, then I'm going to make some changes.
"I'm expecting a positive response tonight. If they haven't the confidence or character to perform against
Rotherham, then they are not needed here."
Taylor is ready to make more changes and may opt to switch formation again. But he insists that criticism of the
4-3-3 system he likes to play is way off the mark.
"I know there are experts out there saying why aren't we doing this or that.
"The reason I keep changing things is that I haven't got a clue right now how consistent a player is going to
perform.
"We play 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 and I can name a good performance with both those systems, so which one do you go for?
"I know we're not a goal threat at the minute but we played 4-3-3 against Gillingham and created more chances than
the opposition and then we kept the same system on Saturday and never got near Northampton.
"It's a very easy way out for players to hide behind the system but it's down to how the players perform and how
hard they work.
"The staff are doing everything we can to get the best performance out of them but it's about time that it was down
to them."
Third-placed Rotherham are unbeaten at the Don Valley Stadium and top scorer Adam Le Fondre has already netted
eight times in the league – double City's total. But Taylor won there last season and does not see it as a lost
cause.
He added: "At the moment Rotherham are better than us and have got more confident players. It's obviously a big
test.
"But to me, Bradford in League Two shouldn't fear anybody and I'm looking for the players to impress me.
"Le Fondre wouldn't have scored so many if he was in our team right now but he might have got us a goal to nick us
a win and make us more confident.
"Because we're playing poorly, a striker's not going to get a load of chances. Jake Speight's not; Gareth Evans is
not.
"But confidence is such a brilliant thing and with a couple of results, i.e. if we'd beaten Stockport 1-0, then
that would have really helped our season.
"I'm very surprised and disappointed we're in the position that we are. After the way we finished last season I
really expected us to start very well.
"But there's still plenty of time providing we can start putting in the performances, and that's down to the
players."
===========================
Hunt injury adds to Bradford City's misery
7:00am Monday 27th September 2010
By Simon Parker
Peter Taylor branded City's dismal display at Northampton as the worst yet this season.
The Bantams slipped back to third from bottom with Saturday's defeat at Liverpool's cup conquerors.
And right back Lewis Hunt faces three months on the sidelines with a knee injury.
After last week's dramatic win over Gillingham, Taylor was shocked by the latest no-show.
"I've got no excuses," he said. "That performance was as bad and as flat as I've seen us.
"I was expecting the opposite. I really thought we had a good week and should have been flying after the last
result.
"Unfortunately we weren't and that's very disappointing."
Taylor had hoped to cash in on Northampton's fatigue from their midweek Anfield marathon. Instead City were hit by
two goals in the last half hour.
He admitted that confidence within the squad remains fragile as they try to lift chins for tomorrow's Yorkshire
derby with Rotherham.
"You need results (to change that) and maybe that's more than just a late goal against Gillingham.
"The players are looking nervous. We're giving the ball away too easily and having to do too much defending because
of that.
"We've got to be bigger, stronger, braver but it's all right just talking about it.
"We've got to do a lot better because we're playing against another team doing well."
Zesh Rehman is set for a run at right back after Hunt damaged ligaments when his foot stuck in the turf during a
tackle.
Taylor said: "He's going to be out for about 12 weeks. We've lost Simon Ramsden and now Hunty so it's a big blow."
===========================
Northampton 2 (0) - 0 (0) Bradford
McKay 61
Tozer 81
At Sixfields Stadium on 25-09-2010
Next fixture
L2 (A) v Rotherham September 28, 2010 K.O. 7.45pm
===========================
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
===========================
Match stats
Northampton: Dunn, Tozer, Johnson, Rodgers (Herbert, 72 ) , Gilligan, Thornton (McKenzie, 66 ) , Davis, Holt,
Osman, Jacobs, McKay (Guinan, 86 )
Subs not used: Hall,Wedderburn,Walker,Harris,
Bradford: McLaughlan, Duff, Oliver, O'Brien, Williams, Hunt ( Rehman, 12 ) , Bullock, Doherty ( Osborne, 78 ) ,
Syers, Speight, Moult ( Hendrie, 53 )
Subs not used: Evans, Chilaka, Saxton, Adeyemi,
Bookings: Rodgers (Northampton) Bullock , Rehman (Bradford)
Attendance: 4646
Referee: P Gibbs (West Midlands)
Cobblers Wobblers
4 Shots On Target 1
1 Shots Off Target 0
7 Fouls (Conceded) 13
4 Corners 3
1 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
===========================
Monday morning report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8414996./
Cobblers 2 Wobblers 0 as Bantams fans left feeling short-changed
7:40am Monday 27th September 2010
By Simon Parker
Northampton 2 Bradford City 0
So City went the same way as Liverpool.
And being dumped in such illustrious company will be no consolation whatsoever for the beaten Bantams and their
beleaguered fans.
The large exodus of away supporters well before the final whistle said it all on another dismal afternoon.
Hopes raised by the late, late show against Gillingham a week before had been quickly shot down.
And this against a team who were supposed to be out on their feet after their midweek night of Carling Cup
giant-slaying.
Northampton were meant to be the team going through the motions.
Northampton were meant to be the team with their heads in the clouds still reliving their fairy tale at Anfield.
Northampton were meant to be the team that would fade away in the final half hour as the effects of Wednesday
kicked in.
Fat chance.
City, supposedly fresh from a free week, looked disjointed, disillusioned and finished very much second best. The
moment the first goal went in, we might as well all have packed up and headed for the M1.
The visitors could not even muster a single shot after the break.
The only two efforts on goal – one of which, thankfully, at least tested keeper Chris Dunn – both came in the first
half.
It was woeful stuff; another no-show in a season that is clocking those up at a worrying rate.
But why should it be like that? How could a side buzzing from victory at the final whistle the week before suddenly
become a collection of lost souls again?
Peter Taylor was left scratching his head like the rest of us.
He had talked all week about the tide turning and how City could kick on from the spark of Steve Williams' dramatic
winner.
Instead, City's expected elevation up the table remained as dormant as the disused Express Lift Tower which
dominates the Northampton skyline between the football and rugby grounds.
Once again, he referred to "nervous" players lacking confidence. But only a string of decent results can improve
that – and to get those, you need that belief which this side are clearly lacking.
City are trapped in a vicious circle and it's depressing to watch. It's a conundrum Taylor must solve and it
doesn't get any easier with Rotherham looming tomorrow night.
Life could not be more different for Northampton.
Their warm-up was accompanied by radio commentary of the best bits from Anfield. The screeching description of
Wednesday's winning penalty was followed by the velvety sound of Louis Armstrong's Wonderful World.
It must be great living on Cloud Nine.
Far from resting tired legs and minds, Cobblers boss Ian Sampson named the same line-up. Taylor, for his part, made
only one change, with out-of-form Robbie Threlfall's back injury denying him a return to the ground where he played
for a month last season.
And for the first 45 minutes, it was a case of as you were. Both teams had two chances apiece and there was nothing
to split them.
For City, there was the early blow of Lewis Hunt hobbling away after falling awkwardly in a tackle with Northampton
winger Michael Jacobs Hunt may not be everyone's favourite defender but he has filled in manfully during Simon
Ramsden's protracted absence. The prospect of losing him with a knee injury for three months now just adds to the
club's woes.
Zesh Rehman was once again thrown in to plug the gap and stuck to the task pretty well. Unless Taylor can squeeze
the budget to bring in another body, Rehman will be expected to take on the accustomed role on a regular basis.
Rehman immediately fed Louis Moult, whose quick feet undid marker Andy Holt before firing off a shot which Dunn
blocked with his shins. That was as good as it got for the visitors.
There was another sniff of a chance when Williams headed wide after Luke Oliver headed a free-kick across goal but
no more. That 38th-minute effort proved to be their last.
Taylor had left Anfield singing the praises of Kevin Thornton's sweet left foot and two first-half free-kicks
served warning. But the goalless score at half-time suggested the City gameplan was on track.
That all changed just after the hour, although the warning signs had been there in the early exchanges after the
re-start when City suddenly struggled to string two passes together.
Lee Hendrie appeared with one or two bright touches, nearly playing in Jake Speight, but he soon faded like the
rest.
And the critical final third of the game – when City had hoped to take over – began instead with a decisive blow
form the home side.
Oliver clipped John Johnson just over the halfway line in retaliation for a foul a few minutes before. Ben Tozer
drove it long, neither centre half got anything on it, and the ball dropped for Billy McKay to whip in on the turn.
City's response was non-existent and Northampton could enjoy applying the finishing touches to a memorable week.
Rehman rescued his goalkeeper on the line after Jon McLaughlin had completely misjudged a Jacobs corner but the
tricky left winger played his part in Northampton's second, with the smaller McKay outjumping the defence to meet
his cross and set up loan centre half Tozer for a goal on his league debut.
With 15 minutes to go, a fair few City fans had seen enough and streamed for the exit. They didn't miss anything.
Even joint-chairman Julian Rhodes decided to call it quits five minutes from time with a face like thunder. It
summed up the mood.
Rotherham's unloved Don Valley Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for City the past two years. How they could
do with that same shot in the arm tomorrow.
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8416583./
Taylor's ultimatum to Bradford City players: Shape up or ship out
7:30am Tuesday 28th September 2010
By Simon Parker
Peter Taylor today threatened to dump all his City under-achievers on the transfer list.
Taylor delivered the ultimatum ahead of the derby clash with Rotherham because he is fed up with the poor start to
the campaign.
The Bantams boss believes it is time for his squad to shape up – or ship out.
Taylor blasted: "We're third from bottom after eight matches and have got more chance of being relegated than
getting promoted at the minute.
"I think the boys totally understand the situation. It's not good enough, we're not playing well enough; their
performances are not good enough and they've got to change.
"If they don't, I'm going to draw up a transfer list and they are all going to be on it. It's as simple as that.
"I think Bradford City is a magnificent club to play for at this level. If they don't appreciate that or can't
handle it, then I'm going to make some changes.
"I'm expecting a positive response tonight. If they haven't the confidence or character to perform against
Rotherham, then they are not needed here."
Taylor is ready to make more changes and may opt to switch formation again. But he insists that criticism of the
4-3-3 system he likes to play is way off the mark.
"I know there are experts out there saying why aren't we doing this or that.
"The reason I keep changing things is that I haven't got a clue right now how consistent a player is going to
perform.
"We play 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 and I can name a good performance with both those systems, so which one do you go for?
"I know we're not a goal threat at the minute but we played 4-3-3 against Gillingham and created more chances than
the opposition and then we kept the same system on Saturday and never got near Northampton.
"It's a very easy way out for players to hide behind the system but it's down to how the players perform and how
hard they work.
"The staff are doing everything we can to get the best performance out of them but it's about time that it was down
to them."
Third-placed Rotherham are unbeaten at the Don Valley Stadium and top scorer Adam Le Fondre has already netted
eight times in the league – double City's total. But Taylor won there last season and does not see it as a lost
cause.
He added: "At the moment Rotherham are better than us and have got more confident players. It's obviously a big
test.
"But to me, Bradford in League Two shouldn't fear anybody and I'm looking for the players to impress me.
"Le Fondre wouldn't have scored so many if he was in our team right now but he might have got us a goal to nick us
a win and make us more confident.
"Because we're playing poorly, a striker's not going to get a load of chances. Jake Speight's not; Gareth Evans is
not.
"But confidence is such a brilliant thing and with a couple of results, i.e. if we'd beaten Stockport 1-0, then
that would have really helped our season.
"I'm very surprised and disappointed we're in the position that we are. After the way we finished last season I
really expected us to start very well.
"But there's still plenty of time providing we can start putting in the performances, and that's down to the
players."
===========================
Hunt injury adds to Bradford City's misery
7:00am Monday 27th September 2010
By Simon Parker
Peter Taylor branded City's dismal display at Northampton as the worst yet this season.
The Bantams slipped back to third from bottom with Saturday's defeat at Liverpool's cup conquerors.
And right back Lewis Hunt faces three months on the sidelines with a knee injury.
After last week's dramatic win over Gillingham, Taylor was shocked by the latest no-show.
"I've got no excuses," he said. "That performance was as bad and as flat as I've seen us.
"I was expecting the opposite. I really thought we had a good week and should have been flying after the last
result.
"Unfortunately we weren't and that's very disappointing."
Taylor had hoped to cash in on Northampton's fatigue from their midweek Anfield marathon. Instead City were hit by
two goals in the last half hour.
He admitted that confidence within the squad remains fragile as they try to lift chins for tomorrow's Yorkshire
derby with Rotherham.
"You need results (to change that) and maybe that's more than just a late goal against Gillingham.
"The players are looking nervous. We're giving the ball away too easily and having to do too much defending because
of that.
"We've got to be bigger, stronger, braver but it's all right just talking about it.
"We've got to do a lot better because we're playing against another team doing well."
Zesh Rehman is set for a run at right back after Hunt damaged ligaments when his foot stuck in the turf during a
tackle.
Taylor said: "He's going to be out for about 12 weeks. We've lost Simon Ramsden and now Hunty so it's a big blow."
===========================
Monday, September 20, 2010
L2 (H) W1-0 v Gillingham September 18, 2010. K.O. 3:00PM
NPower League Two
Bradford C (0) 1 Williams 90+2
Gillingham (0) 0
Att: 10,722
Next fixture
Next match: (A) Northampton, Saturday Sept 25, 2010. K.O. 3:00PM.
===========================
Lee Hendrie info
http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=3422
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2158553,00.html?
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
===========================
Match stats
Bradford Gillingham
9(3) Shots (on Goal) 7(4)
6 Fouls 12
1 Corner Kicks 5
4 Offsides 4
51% Time of Poss. 49%
1 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
6 Saves 4
Ref: Oliver Langford (West Midlands).
Yellow cards:
Bradford C: Osborne (54 min).
Gillingham: Fuller (90).
Bradford C: 1. Jon McLaughlin, 15. Lewis Hunt, 16. Shane Duff, 12. Steve
Williams, 28. Robbie Threlfall (46), 22. Lee Bullock, 8. Tommy Doherty, 3.
Luke O'Brien, 10. Jake Speight (46), 6. Luke Oliver, 19. Louis Moult (66).
SUBS:13. Lloyd Saxton (GK), 5. Zesh Rehman, 7. Omar Daley, 9. Gareth Evans
(66), 11. Lee Hendrie (46), 14. Leon Osborne (46), 23. Dave Syers.
Gillingham: 26. Lance Cronin, 2. Barry Fuller, 16. Josh Gowling, 15. Matthew
Lawrence, 3. John Nutter, 8. Mark Bentley, 17. Danny Spiller, 28. Jack
Payne, 12. Chris Palmer (63), 10. Cody McDonald (77), 27. Adebayo Akinfenwa
(63).
SUBS: 1. Alan Julian (GK), 4. Curtis Weston (63), 7. Kevin Maher, 9. Mark
McCammon, 21. Dennis Oli (63), 23. Stefan Payne, 30. Stanley Aborah (77).
Position: 19th.
===========================
Saturday evening match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8400744.
CITY 1 GILLINGHAM 0
4:57pm Saturday 18th September 2010
By Simon Parker
Steve Williams scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner to give City three vital points against Gillingham at Valley
Parade.
With the game in the second of three added minutes, centre half Williams rose at the far post to nod home Tommy
Doherty's first-time cross.
It was a huge win for the Bantams - their first since August 14.
Lee Hendrie enjoyed a winning start after coming on as a second-half substitute.
He nearly made it a goal-scoring debut with a diving header which flew just over.
Peter Taylor used Luke Oliver as a targetman and the big fella battled gamely in the role. He twice went close
early on with headers as well as setting up sub Leon Osborne for a good effort after the break.
Gillingham substitute Stanley Aborah wasted their best chance when he headed straight at Jon McLaughlin.
And City cashed in when Williams capped an assured return to the side with his priceless winner./
===========================
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/9006949.stm
Hessenthaler praises mentor Peter Taylor ahead of clash
Gillingham's Andy Hessenthaler has paid tribute to his mentor, Bradford boss Peter Taylor, but says there will be
no love lost when the two sides meet.
Ahead of their game at Valley Parade on Saturday, the Gills boss said Taylor had been one of the most influential
figures in his life.
"Other than my father, Peter would be second in line without a doubt. I owe him a lot," he told BBC Radio Kent.
"We've known each other for a long time and know each other inside out."
It was Taylor who helped get Hessenthaler his first professional contract at Watford in 1991.
Their close friendship later brought Taylor to Priestfield as Gillingham manager when Hessenthaler was captain.
"At that time myself and Steve Butler weren't ready to take over," he said.
"Peter was out of work at the time after being relieved of his duties with the England under-21s.
"I made a call and asked him if he would come here and be manager of Gills. The rest is history - and he's gone on
from there.
"I think I've done him a favour, I'm taking credit for that and I'm sure he'll say that," joked Hessenthaler.
"It'll be an interesting day but afterwards we'll sit down with a glass of wine or a beer."
===========================
Monday Match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcmatch/8401115.print/
New Bradford City No 11 Hendrie will enjoy it while it lasts
7:20am Monday 20th September 2010
By Simon Parker
Bradford City 1 Gillingham 0
It has been the ghost shirt rarely seen at Valley Parade.
The number 11 has started only 53 league games in over five years.
Chris Brandon, Alex Rhodes and Owen Morrison all struggled to make more than fleeting appearances. Only Lee Holmes
had a decent stab at it and he was on loan and gone within five months.
And Scott Neilson, who started this season with the jersey, was sold to Crawley within a couple of weeks.
So let's hope Lee Hendrie does not believe in omens.
His open-ended deal is of the "suck it and see" variety. Wayne Jacobs reckons he's here for six months, Hendrie
himself believes it's up to January.
It could stretch to the end of the season or the end of next month. There is leeway on both sides to change as
circumstances pan out.
But there is no doubt about Hendrie's commitment to the cause while he is here.
The player still nurses the hurt of recent rejection at Sheffield United and Derby. That burning sense of injustice
should stoke up his efforts in claret and amber.
First impressions on Saturday were very favourable. A few quality passes, a near-miss with his head and, more
importantly, a desperately-needed home win.
Hendrie played the whole second half – his first real action of any sort since early May.
"It might take me two or three games," he said afterwards. "I have missed a pre-season and you do find yourself
playing catch-up.
"I'd get the ball and think I'd have more time but I'd be doing one thing one minute and then get smashed by
somebody the next. The timing will come as I play more at this level.
"I had to get my second wind but it felt brilliant just to be out on the pitch again and the fans gave me a great
reception. That was a big thing for me.
"I felt a bit nervous but that's natural and it's good to be like that. I can't wait to get to the stage when I'm
fully confident again and the fans made me feel like that towards the end.
"The contract just depends on what happens and if (the club) want me here. I'm not even looking at that.
"I'm here until January at the moment and until then I'll try and enjoy it and bring something positive in."
Hendrie had no part in Steve Williams' late, late winner but showed his quality with the way he'd make space for
himself to get the ball and then look to spread the play.
The pass he slipped through for Gareth Evans right at the death should have earned an assist but the sub slid his
shot the wrong side of the post.
And Hendrie could have had a goal himself with a header that flashed over the bar from Lewis Hunt's cross.
He added: "I'm disappointed with that. It was just a little glance but I'm not one for heading the ball!
"Maybe I should have scored myself but I tried to get in some good positions. Sometimes I will shoot but usually
I'm looking to give that pass.
"The lads will get used to the way I play. I've already told the front boys that every time I get on the ball and
start running at the defence to just go and I'll try to slide you in."
Hendrie's presence may have raised a few eyebrows but the biggest surprise Peter Taylor sprung on Saturday was
throwing Luke Oliver up top on targetman duties.
It did allow Taylor to revert to 4-3-3, with Oliver flanked by Jake Speight and Louis Moult given a start ahead of
Evans.
Williams also found himself back in from the cold alongside Shane Duff at the heart of the defence.
That pairing completely snuffed out the battering ram threat of Adebayo Akinfenwa. At the other end, Oliver enjoyed
himself in the air against two centre halves who were each giving away at least half a foot in height.
Oliver could have scored twice in a bright City opening.
Robbie Threlfall's free-kick swung in from the right was nodded into the side-netting and behind with keeper Lance
Cronin floundering. Then Luke O'Brien's cross from the left was headed just wide of the other post.
Having failed to find that early breakthrough, City seemed to lose heart, despite the best efforts of the crowd to
encourage them to keep passing.
Gillingham, without an away win for 26 games, had their moments but a lack of conviction betrayed their low
confidence from so many unsuccessful forays outside Kent.
Taylor shuffled the pack at half-time. Speight, troubled by a heavy cold, and Threlfall were sacrificed for Leon
Osborne and Hendrie.
The atmosphere picked up with the sight of the new boy and even more so when Osborne found himself on the wrong end
of a couple of borderline challenges.
Gills skipper Barry Fuller meted it out but Osborne was the first name in the book for retaliation. Fuller's own
yellow card towards the end was long overdue.
As the crowd came into it, so did City, and Hendrie had two goes at breaking his duck.
But neither keeper had been unduly called upon. Cronin got fingertips to Osborne's cross-shot that was going wide
anyway and Jon McLaughlin didn't have to move to pouch a wasteful free header from Stanley Aborah.
Then City got their break in the second of the three added minutes.
Given a soft foul, Luke O'Brien's free-kick was headed clear of danger by Josh Gowling. Tommy Doherty chased
towards the right touchline and swung it back in first time on the half volley.
It should have been Cronin's catch at the far post but the keeper was spooked by Williams, who bundled the ball
into the roof of the net.
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8401108./
Bradford City goal hero Williams turns negative into a positive
8:10am Monday 20th September 2010
By Simon Parker
City's last-gasp hero Steve Williams today thanked Peter Taylor for giving him a "kick up the backside".
The big centre half nodded the only goal against Gillingham deep into stoppage time, earning Taylor's troops their
first win in a month.
It was payback for Williams after he had been branded unprofessional by his boss and dropped earlier in the season.
He said: "I started most games under Stuart McCall but now it's maybe more in and out. But we've got a big squad
and everyone wants the shirt.
"Nobody wants to be injured or miss training. Nobody wants to be slack because everyone's up for it.
"I definitely need that kick up the backside from the gaffer like some of the other lads do.
"Even if we go in 1-0 up, he'll still point out the negatives and how we need to improve. But if you've got him and
some of the experienced lads getting on to us, we'll take that on and hopefully have a good season."
New signing Lee Hendrie played the second half and assistant manager Wayne Jacobs believes he has provided a "shot
in the arm" for the club and the fans.
Jacobs said: "Lee's come in here with a smile on his face and it's infectious.
"He's caused a buzz down around the city and down at the training ground and I think that he's the little boost we
needed. We all know he's been a good player over the years.
"He was so close to getting a contract at Reading in the Championship so it speaks volumes that he has come here.
He's certainly not here on high wages, that's for sure.
"Lee has shown a desire to play for this club and he'll get better as he gets to know our lads and how they play as
individuals."
Williams can already see the benefit of the midfielder's arrival.
"You can see him getting in little holes and making things happen," said the defender. "The attacking players will
learn a lot.
"We've been working hard and trying different things in training but things just haven't fallen for us on a
Saturday. But at some point you're going to win and hopefully the club can start buzzing now. We can take that
confidence forward."
===========================
Opposition View
http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/Cronin-mistake-cost-us-__-Hessenthaler-newsinkent40069.aspx?news=sport
Cronin mistake cost us - Hessenthaler
By David Pritchard
Andy Hessenthaler said he would not rush to judge Lance Cronin too harshly after the goalkeeper's error allowed
Bradford City to grab a last-gasp winner on Saturday.
The Gills stopper was out-jumped by Steve Williams in stoppage time and the defender nodded into the net. The
visiting players looked forlornly to the officials in the hope they would give a foul, but their muted protests
suggested they knew it was a legitimate goal.
It was harsh on Gillingham's players, who sank to their knees when the full-time whistle blew a minute later. A
disappointed Hessenthaler found little wrong in their efforts but could not hide his frustration at Cronin's
slip-up.
"To work so hard for that amount of time and then it's taken away from you right at the end it's a bitter one to
take. That's how it is, you've got to defend and concentrate for 90-plus minutes and unfortunately we didn't do
that," he said.
"[Cronin]'s saying [Williams] held him down, but it didn't look like it for me. I'm not going to be too critical of
the lad, he's made a mistake and we all make mistakes. Unfortunately it's come right at the death and it's cost us
the game."
Alan Julian, whose hand injury gave Cronin his chance in the team, is due back in training this week but
Hessenthaler stopped short of saying Julian would be rushed back into the side.
Saturday's game was book-ended by mistakes from Cronin. If anything his decision to come and miss Robbie
Threlfall's ninth-minute free kick was more glaring, but Shane Duff was so surprised the ball reached him that he
headed wide at the back post.
Gillingham's best spell was in the half hour leading up to the interval. They gained control of the game without
creating clear chances, but it was enough to get the home fans agitated.
The break rejuvenated City, who were galvanised by the introduction of Lee Hendrie for his debut. The former Aston
Villa midfielder came close to opening the scoring with a header which flew just over on the hour as the hosts
increasingly dictated the play.
Gillingham's only chance of the half also fell to a debutant, but substitute Stanley Aborah headed tamely at Jon
McLaughlin.
While they had been on the back foot for much of the second half, Gillingham's back four gave little away. It
looked like they had ground out the point their display had merited, until Williams' late winner.
The result did much to undo the momentum generated by beating Shrewsbury a week earlier. With Burton Albion and
Southend United visiting Priestfield in the next week Hessenthaler demanded a swift response.
He said: "We're gutted but we've now got to win our next two home games. Simple as that."
===========================
Bradford C (0) 1 Williams 90+2
Gillingham (0) 0
Att: 10,722
Next fixture
Next match: (A) Northampton, Saturday Sept 25, 2010. K.O. 3:00PM.
===========================
Lee Hendrie info
http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=3422
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2158553,00.html?
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
===========================
Match stats
Bradford Gillingham
9(3) Shots (on Goal) 7(4)
6 Fouls 12
1 Corner Kicks 5
4 Offsides 4
51% Time of Poss. 49%
1 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
6 Saves 4
Ref: Oliver Langford (West Midlands).
Yellow cards:
Bradford C: Osborne (54 min).
Gillingham: Fuller (90).
Bradford C: 1. Jon McLaughlin, 15. Lewis Hunt, 16. Shane Duff, 12. Steve
Williams, 28. Robbie Threlfall (46), 22. Lee Bullock, 8. Tommy Doherty, 3.
Luke O'Brien, 10. Jake Speight (46), 6. Luke Oliver, 19. Louis Moult (66).
SUBS:13. Lloyd Saxton (GK), 5. Zesh Rehman, 7. Omar Daley, 9. Gareth Evans
(66), 11. Lee Hendrie (46), 14. Leon Osborne (46), 23. Dave Syers.
Gillingham: 26. Lance Cronin, 2. Barry Fuller, 16. Josh Gowling, 15. Matthew
Lawrence, 3. John Nutter, 8. Mark Bentley, 17. Danny Spiller, 28. Jack
Payne, 12. Chris Palmer (63), 10. Cody McDonald (77), 27. Adebayo Akinfenwa
(63).
SUBS: 1. Alan Julian (GK), 4. Curtis Weston (63), 7. Kevin Maher, 9. Mark
McCammon, 21. Dennis Oli (63), 23. Stefan Payne, 30. Stanley Aborah (77).
Position: 19th.
===========================
Saturday evening match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8400744.
CITY 1 GILLINGHAM 0
4:57pm Saturday 18th September 2010
By Simon Parker
Steve Williams scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner to give City three vital points against Gillingham at Valley
Parade.
With the game in the second of three added minutes, centre half Williams rose at the far post to nod home Tommy
Doherty's first-time cross.
It was a huge win for the Bantams - their first since August 14.
Lee Hendrie enjoyed a winning start after coming on as a second-half substitute.
He nearly made it a goal-scoring debut with a diving header which flew just over.
Peter Taylor used Luke Oliver as a targetman and the big fella battled gamely in the role. He twice went close
early on with headers as well as setting up sub Leon Osborne for a good effort after the break.
Gillingham substitute Stanley Aborah wasted their best chance when he headed straight at Jon McLaughlin.
And City cashed in when Williams capped an assured return to the side with his priceless winner./
===========================
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/9006949.stm
Hessenthaler praises mentor Peter Taylor ahead of clash
Gillingham's Andy Hessenthaler has paid tribute to his mentor, Bradford boss Peter Taylor, but says there will be
no love lost when the two sides meet.
Ahead of their game at Valley Parade on Saturday, the Gills boss said Taylor had been one of the most influential
figures in his life.
"Other than my father, Peter would be second in line without a doubt. I owe him a lot," he told BBC Radio Kent.
"We've known each other for a long time and know each other inside out."
It was Taylor who helped get Hessenthaler his first professional contract at Watford in 1991.
Their close friendship later brought Taylor to Priestfield as Gillingham manager when Hessenthaler was captain.
"At that time myself and Steve Butler weren't ready to take over," he said.
"Peter was out of work at the time after being relieved of his duties with the England under-21s.
"I made a call and asked him if he would come here and be manager of Gills. The rest is history - and he's gone on
from there.
"I think I've done him a favour, I'm taking credit for that and I'm sure he'll say that," joked Hessenthaler.
"It'll be an interesting day but afterwards we'll sit down with a glass of wine or a beer."
===========================
Monday Match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcmatch/8401115.print/
New Bradford City No 11 Hendrie will enjoy it while it lasts
7:20am Monday 20th September 2010
By Simon Parker
Bradford City 1 Gillingham 0
It has been the ghost shirt rarely seen at Valley Parade.
The number 11 has started only 53 league games in over five years.
Chris Brandon, Alex Rhodes and Owen Morrison all struggled to make more than fleeting appearances. Only Lee Holmes
had a decent stab at it and he was on loan and gone within five months.
And Scott Neilson, who started this season with the jersey, was sold to Crawley within a couple of weeks.
So let's hope Lee Hendrie does not believe in omens.
His open-ended deal is of the "suck it and see" variety. Wayne Jacobs reckons he's here for six months, Hendrie
himself believes it's up to January.
It could stretch to the end of the season or the end of next month. There is leeway on both sides to change as
circumstances pan out.
But there is no doubt about Hendrie's commitment to the cause while he is here.
The player still nurses the hurt of recent rejection at Sheffield United and Derby. That burning sense of injustice
should stoke up his efforts in claret and amber.
First impressions on Saturday were very favourable. A few quality passes, a near-miss with his head and, more
importantly, a desperately-needed home win.
Hendrie played the whole second half – his first real action of any sort since early May.
"It might take me two or three games," he said afterwards. "I have missed a pre-season and you do find yourself
playing catch-up.
"I'd get the ball and think I'd have more time but I'd be doing one thing one minute and then get smashed by
somebody the next. The timing will come as I play more at this level.
"I had to get my second wind but it felt brilliant just to be out on the pitch again and the fans gave me a great
reception. That was a big thing for me.
"I felt a bit nervous but that's natural and it's good to be like that. I can't wait to get to the stage when I'm
fully confident again and the fans made me feel like that towards the end.
"The contract just depends on what happens and if (the club) want me here. I'm not even looking at that.
"I'm here until January at the moment and until then I'll try and enjoy it and bring something positive in."
Hendrie had no part in Steve Williams' late, late winner but showed his quality with the way he'd make space for
himself to get the ball and then look to spread the play.
The pass he slipped through for Gareth Evans right at the death should have earned an assist but the sub slid his
shot the wrong side of the post.
And Hendrie could have had a goal himself with a header that flashed over the bar from Lewis Hunt's cross.
He added: "I'm disappointed with that. It was just a little glance but I'm not one for heading the ball!
"Maybe I should have scored myself but I tried to get in some good positions. Sometimes I will shoot but usually
I'm looking to give that pass.
"The lads will get used to the way I play. I've already told the front boys that every time I get on the ball and
start running at the defence to just go and I'll try to slide you in."
Hendrie's presence may have raised a few eyebrows but the biggest surprise Peter Taylor sprung on Saturday was
throwing Luke Oliver up top on targetman duties.
It did allow Taylor to revert to 4-3-3, with Oliver flanked by Jake Speight and Louis Moult given a start ahead of
Evans.
Williams also found himself back in from the cold alongside Shane Duff at the heart of the defence.
That pairing completely snuffed out the battering ram threat of Adebayo Akinfenwa. At the other end, Oliver enjoyed
himself in the air against two centre halves who were each giving away at least half a foot in height.
Oliver could have scored twice in a bright City opening.
Robbie Threlfall's free-kick swung in from the right was nodded into the side-netting and behind with keeper Lance
Cronin floundering. Then Luke O'Brien's cross from the left was headed just wide of the other post.
Having failed to find that early breakthrough, City seemed to lose heart, despite the best efforts of the crowd to
encourage them to keep passing.
Gillingham, without an away win for 26 games, had their moments but a lack of conviction betrayed their low
confidence from so many unsuccessful forays outside Kent.
Taylor shuffled the pack at half-time. Speight, troubled by a heavy cold, and Threlfall were sacrificed for Leon
Osborne and Hendrie.
The atmosphere picked up with the sight of the new boy and even more so when Osborne found himself on the wrong end
of a couple of borderline challenges.
Gills skipper Barry Fuller meted it out but Osborne was the first name in the book for retaliation. Fuller's own
yellow card towards the end was long overdue.
As the crowd came into it, so did City, and Hendrie had two goes at breaking his duck.
But neither keeper had been unduly called upon. Cronin got fingertips to Osborne's cross-shot that was going wide
anyway and Jon McLaughlin didn't have to move to pouch a wasteful free header from Stanley Aborah.
Then City got their break in the second of the three added minutes.
Given a soft foul, Luke O'Brien's free-kick was headed clear of danger by Josh Gowling. Tommy Doherty chased
towards the right touchline and swung it back in first time on the half volley.
It should have been Cronin's catch at the far post but the keeper was spooked by Williams, who bundled the ball
into the roof of the net.
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8401108./
Bradford City goal hero Williams turns negative into a positive
8:10am Monday 20th September 2010
By Simon Parker
City's last-gasp hero Steve Williams today thanked Peter Taylor for giving him a "kick up the backside".
The big centre half nodded the only goal against Gillingham deep into stoppage time, earning Taylor's troops their
first win in a month.
It was payback for Williams after he had been branded unprofessional by his boss and dropped earlier in the season.
He said: "I started most games under Stuart McCall but now it's maybe more in and out. But we've got a big squad
and everyone wants the shirt.
"Nobody wants to be injured or miss training. Nobody wants to be slack because everyone's up for it.
"I definitely need that kick up the backside from the gaffer like some of the other lads do.
"Even if we go in 1-0 up, he'll still point out the negatives and how we need to improve. But if you've got him and
some of the experienced lads getting on to us, we'll take that on and hopefully have a good season."
New signing Lee Hendrie played the second half and assistant manager Wayne Jacobs believes he has provided a "shot
in the arm" for the club and the fans.
Jacobs said: "Lee's come in here with a smile on his face and it's infectious.
"He's caused a buzz down around the city and down at the training ground and I think that he's the little boost we
needed. We all know he's been a good player over the years.
"He was so close to getting a contract at Reading in the Championship so it speaks volumes that he has come here.
He's certainly not here on high wages, that's for sure.
"Lee has shown a desire to play for this club and he'll get better as he gets to know our lads and how they play as
individuals."
Williams can already see the benefit of the midfielder's arrival.
"You can see him getting in little holes and making things happen," said the defender. "The attacking players will
learn a lot.
"We've been working hard and trying different things in training but things just haven't fallen for us on a
Saturday. But at some point you're going to win and hopefully the club can start buzzing now. We can take that
confidence forward."
===========================
Opposition View
http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/Cronin-mistake-cost-us-__-Hessenthaler-newsinkent40069.aspx?news=sport
Cronin mistake cost us - Hessenthaler
By David Pritchard
Andy Hessenthaler said he would not rush to judge Lance Cronin too harshly after the goalkeeper's error allowed
Bradford City to grab a last-gasp winner on Saturday.
The Gills stopper was out-jumped by Steve Williams in stoppage time and the defender nodded into the net. The
visiting players looked forlornly to the officials in the hope they would give a foul, but their muted protests
suggested they knew it was a legitimate goal.
It was harsh on Gillingham's players, who sank to their knees when the full-time whistle blew a minute later. A
disappointed Hessenthaler found little wrong in their efforts but could not hide his frustration at Cronin's
slip-up.
"To work so hard for that amount of time and then it's taken away from you right at the end it's a bitter one to
take. That's how it is, you've got to defend and concentrate for 90-plus minutes and unfortunately we didn't do
that," he said.
"[Cronin]'s saying [Williams] held him down, but it didn't look like it for me. I'm not going to be too critical of
the lad, he's made a mistake and we all make mistakes. Unfortunately it's come right at the death and it's cost us
the game."
Alan Julian, whose hand injury gave Cronin his chance in the team, is due back in training this week but
Hessenthaler stopped short of saying Julian would be rushed back into the side.
Saturday's game was book-ended by mistakes from Cronin. If anything his decision to come and miss Robbie
Threlfall's ninth-minute free kick was more glaring, but Shane Duff was so surprised the ball reached him that he
headed wide at the back post.
Gillingham's best spell was in the half hour leading up to the interval. They gained control of the game without
creating clear chances, but it was enough to get the home fans agitated.
The break rejuvenated City, who were galvanised by the introduction of Lee Hendrie for his debut. The former Aston
Villa midfielder came close to opening the scoring with a header which flew just over on the hour as the hosts
increasingly dictated the play.
Gillingham's only chance of the half also fell to a debutant, but substitute Stanley Aborah headed tamely at Jon
McLaughlin.
While they had been on the back foot for much of the second half, Gillingham's back four gave little away. It
looked like they had ground out the point their display had merited, until Williams' late winner.
The result did much to undo the momentum generated by beating Shrewsbury a week earlier. With Burton Albion and
Southend United visiting Priestfield in the next week Hessenthaler demanded a swift response.
He said: "We're gutted but we've now got to win our next two home games. Simple as that."
===========================
Friday, September 17, 2010
Breaking news - Lee Hendrie
http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=3422
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Hendrie
CITY SIGN FORMER ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL HENDRIE
Former England international Lee Hendrie has joined City on a short-term
deal.
The 33-year-old trained with his new team-mates this morning and goes
straight into contention for tomorrow's home clash with Gillingham.
Hendrie, who will wear the No 11 shirt, played more than 250 games for Aston
Villa before spending two years with Sheffield United.
He was released by Derby in the summer and has recently been training with
Reading.
The cousin of John Hendrie, he played regularly under City boss Peter Taylor
for the England under-21 side.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Hendrie
CITY SIGN FORMER ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL HENDRIE
Former England international Lee Hendrie has joined City on a short-term
deal.
The 33-year-old trained with his new team-mates this morning and goes
straight into contention for tomorrow's home clash with Gillingham.
Hendrie, who will wear the No 11 shirt, played more than 250 games for Aston
Villa before spending two years with Sheffield United.
He was released by Derby in the summer and has recently been training with
Reading.
The cousin of John Hendrie, he played regularly under City boss Peter Taylor
for the England under-21 side.
Monday, September 13, 2010
L2 (A) v Stockport D1-1 September 11, 2010. K.O. 3:00PM
Npower League Two
Stockport C (0) 1 Donnelly 78
Bradford C (0) 1 Syers 56
Att: 4,277
Next fixture
Next match: (H) Gillingham, Saturday Sept 18, 2010. K.O. 3:00PM.
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
===========================
Match stats
Stats: Stockport - Bradford C
Possession: 51 - 49%
Shots on target: 5 - 2
Shots off target: 13 - 5
Fouls: 9 - 6
Corners: 5 - 5
Ref: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)
Yellow cards: None
Stockport C: 27. Matthew Glennon, 2. Mark Lynch (83), 5. Danny Swailes, 6.
Mansour Assoumani, 12. Adam Griffin, 7. James Vincent (63), 4. Paul
Turnbull, 8. Greg Tansey, 15. Matty Mainwaring, 10. George Donnelly, 9.
Barry Conlon (63).
SUBS: 1. Owain Fon Williams (GK), 14. David Poole, 16. Danny Pilkington, 17.
Andy Halls, 19. Tom Fisher (63), 21. Jake Simpson (83), 26. Jamie Proctor
(63).
Bradford C: 1. Jon McLaughlin, 15. Lewis Hunt, 6. Luke Oliver, 16. Shane
Duff, 28. Robbie Threlfall (90), 23. Dave Syers, 22. Lee Bullock, 8. Tommy
Doherty, 3. Luke O'Brien, 9. Gareth Evans (63), 10. Jake Speight.
SUBS: 13. Lloyd Saxton (GK), 7. Omar Daley, 12. Steve Williams, 14. Leon
Osborne (90), 19. Louis Moult (63), 25. Chibuzor Chilaka, 27. Louis Horne.
Position: 22nd
===========================
Saturday evening match report
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Bradford City stopped the losing rot but would have expected more from soggy
Stockport.
David Syers fired Peter Taylor's side in front early in the second half. But
hopes of picking up only a second league win were dashed by George
Donnelly's equaliser after they switched off from a quickly-taken corner.
In a featureless first half, Stockport striker Donnelly came as close as
anyone with a low drive that took a slight deflection wide.
There were few moments of excitement at either end. City tried something
different from a free-kick as Gareth Evans raced from the wall, turned and
hammered off a shot but it flew wide.
Luke Oliver forced a routine save with a header from a corner but it was
poor entertainment in the pouring rain.
Donnelly and Adam Griffin both fired wide at the start of the second half.
But it was City who grabbed the lead after 56 minutes. Jake Speight held off
centre half Mansour Assoumani as he powered into the left side of the
penalty area before drilling in a low cross which Syers smashed home at the
far post.
Stockport upped their pressure in search of an equaliser and got it with 12
minutes left. A short corner caught the visitors napping and Donnelly headed
home Adam Griffin's cross.
Tommy Doherty tested former City keeper Matt Glennon and Luke O'Brien's
charge into the box was denied by a sliding Danny Swailes as City looked in
vain for a second.
===========================
From Tuesday 7th
TAYLOR DENIES QUIT THREAT
Bradford City have vehemently denied that Peter Taylor has threatened to
quit as boss following a row with the board.
The Bantams have lost four of their opening five league games, but Taylor,
appointed as Stuart McCall's permanent successor in February, insists he is
committed to turning the club's fortunes around.
He told Bradford's official website: "Apparently it was suggested I've had a
fall-out with Mark Lawn and basically told him to pay me up and I'll go.
That's a load of old rubbish.
"It isn't right at the minute and we all know that. But I'm very determined
to turn this round and produce a team that will go on a good run."
Joint chairman Mark Lawn said: "If this so-called story came from a source,
then it's a particularly bad source.
"Peter had a discussion with (joint chairman) Julian (Rhodes) and myself
last week, but at no time was there anything like that mentioned."
===========================
From Wednesday 7th
From: Mike Harrison, City Gent Editor
I had an appointment to meet up with Zesh Rehman down at VP this afternoon to do an interview with him for the next
issue of The City Gent.
I was kept waiting for an hour after our appointed time because the team were kept behind after returning from
training today for a team meeting. I estimate this meeting went on for almost 2 hours. Zesh didn't go into detail
about the meeting and I wouldn't have expected him to, but he did say it was about Saturday's game at Stockport.
I suppose there are all sorts of ways you can take this information, but it sounds to me they're taking the game on
Saturday very seriously indeed, and so they should.
===========================
Just for interest purposes, here is a web site with loads of players on free
transfers.
http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa-transfer-list?name=FullName&page=1
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8387228./
Torrential rain adds to sense of Armageddon for Bradford City
6:40am Monday 13th September 2010
By Simon Parker
Stockport 1, City 1
At around 3.30pm on Saturday, Edgeley Park felt like the set of one of those 'end of the world' movies.
Macclesfield and Morecambe were both winning. City were, at that moment, bottom of the entire Football League.
The rain took on monsoon proportions in keeping with the sense of Armageddon. The open away end, housing the Bantams fans, was getting drowned.
You half-expected Bruce Willis to be lowered down by helicopter with an army of angry aliens on his tail.
By half-time the outlook was slightly less nightmarish. Hereford were losing at home by then and had taken over the dubious honour of the basement shift – and things did improve a bit more.
For the soggy supporters, there was finally the opportunity to sit in the empty covered stand nearby. Though you wonder why it took so long for Stockport to open the gate and let them in to some belated shelter.
And for the team themselves, at least the four-game losing slump was put to bed. But let's not kid ourselves that suddenly everything is bright and shiny. The performance deserved nothing more than a point.
Even allowing for the defensive sloppiness which again undid City and cost them an equaliser, victory would have been incredibly harsh on their hard-working hosts.
But maybe, just maybe, those few melodramatic minutes towards the end of a wretched first half were the low point from which City will now claw their way back.
Maybe we might be able to look back in May, through a haze of celebration champagne, and recall that rain and that league table with a wry smile. Maybe.
There is an awful long way to go for that to happen. Firstly, City have to stop the errors and lapses in concentration that are hitting them hard.
Last week there was the Port Vale corner that shouldn't have been and the free header that followed. Then there was the comical second goal.
This time it was a quickly-taken corner which undid them. So quickly taken, in fact, that even Peter Taylor missed it.
He assumed George Donnelly's drive had flown straight out and turned away from the action to have a word with Wayne Jacobs.
When he looked back, the ball was already sailing over the penalty area for Donnelly to thump home at the far post.
Taylor was not the only one caught out. City's defence never reacted when left back Adam Griffin received the short pass and had time to measure his cross.
Luke Oliver said: "Half the people weren't in their positions because they were trying to argue with the ref.
"It didn't seem like the ball took a deflection, so quite a few of us thought it was our goal kick.
"Stockport found it hard to break us down but one lack of concentration cost us."
Taylor had talked in the build-up to the game about the silly errors and here was another with a much-needed victory tantalisingly close.
For all their shots, Stockport had hardly troubled Jon McLaughlin into a proper save.
His goal was peppered from distance but never under real threat. One or two whistled narrowly wide but, as boss Paul Simpson admitted, Stockport will need another week of intense shooting practice in training.
Not that City exactly over-extended Matt Glennon either. The keeper released by Taylor at the end of last season had little opportunity to show his former employers they might have made a mistake.
Jake Speight was his usual tigerish self, which was illustrated with his set-up play to City's goal, but alongside him Gareth Evans looks lacking in confidence.
Evans has lost that sparkle and edge that was so evident in his approach at the tail-end of last season and the warm-up to this one.
If Taylor cannot find the loan striker he is after to cover James Hanson's absence, maybe it is time to give Louis Moult an extended run.
Tom Adeyemi's toe injury had meant a recall for Lee Bullock. Otherwise it was the same team that had looked better against Port Vale.
There was no chopping and changing and the back four certainly appeared stronger for that continuity. Centre halves Oliver and Shane Duff won pretty much everything against an attack hardly inspired by the anonymous Barry Conlon.
Once again Big Baz was hauled off early against his old club to the jeers of the travelling fans. He had not troubled the scorers.
Neither team threatened to do that in a forgettable first 45 minutes. City tried to lift the gloom with a natty free-kick move straight from the training ground as Evans broke away from the Stockport wall to take Robbie Threlfall's touch, turn and have a pop from 25 yards. But the shot, though decently struck, sailed well wide.
Stockport, with Paul Turnbull pulling the strings at the base of their midfield diamond, had most of the play but the football on offer was not worth the drenching.
Then City grabbed a surprise lead 11 minutes into the second half. Speight powered past the otherwise rock-solid Mansour Assoumani and crossed low and hard; David Syers slid in to connect from close range.
It was his first league goal – and he also became City's top scorer so far with two in total.
Stockport levelled late as defensive minds went wandering and that set up a helter-skelter last ten minutes which saw more action than the previous 80 combined.
Luke O'Brien delivered the run of the match, exchanging one-twos with Threlfall and Speight before Danny Swailes smothered his effort as he drove into the box.
But City also lived on their nerves when another long-ranger from Turnbull flashed past McLaughlin's right post a bit too close for comfort.
Taylor said: "Every now and again you saw some good things like what Luke O'Brien did at the end. That's what I see on the training ground but it's not happening enough. We'll just have to keep working at it." Attendance: 4,277
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8387166./
Another set-piece error costs Bradford City points after joy of Syers strike
7:40am Monday 13th September 2010
By Simon Parker
David Syers today admitted that City must start learning from their mistakes if they want to pull the season
around.
The rookie midfielder's joy at bagging his first league goal on Saturday was marred by the soft Stockport equaliser
as it finished 1-1.
For the second game running, City paid the price for not dealing with a corner – and Syers insisted that has to
change.
He said: "We go through these things every day in training. We know where we're supposed to be and who's doing
what.
"You switch off for a minute and you get punished. We've got to know that by now.
"You saw the five minutes after we scored and there was definitely a lift but then we let it slip.
"A few of the lads didn't think it was a corner but if the ref gives it, you've still got to pick up your men."
At least City halted a four-game losing rut after Syers had fired them in front from Jake Speight's cross.
He said: "The gaffer is always telling me to get myself into the box when I'm playing on the right. It was great
work from Jake and I just managed to connect right.
"I always fancy myself to score goals from midfield. That's how I've staked my claim. I back myself to get forward
and hopefully make a difference.
"If you're a midfielder who can help out the strikers, then it all adds up to more points at the end of the season.
"I've no doubt we will hit a purple patch with the quality we've got up front and start scoring for fun. But the
midfield have got to chip in.
"It was a great feeling to get a goal but I'd rather have come away with three points.
"But you aren't telling me that any team goes through a season without having a blip. Unfortunately ours has been
at the start."
Peter Taylor conceded it was another average display but was pleased for Syers.
"It wasn't one of his better games but he keeps working exceptionally hard," said the City chief.
"There were a few like that out there who didn't perform brilliantly but kept working.
"The players will feel okay on the strength of stopping the rot but we know we've got to be better."
Robbie Threlfall had to go off suffering from cramp in both calves, while City will be keeping their fingers
crossed over Tom Adeyemi's x-ray after he was ruled out following a nasty kick on the toe in training.
===========================
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