Tag Archives: Kyel Reid

Team Claret and Amber finish the job

20 May

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Written by Mahesh Johal

(Images by Mike Holdsworth)

“The team ethic stands out; this is an XI greater than the sum of its parts.” Notts County 0, Bradford City 1 – the first game of the 2012/13 season.

I had the responsibility of producing the player ratings after the League Cup Final and I stand by my decision to give every player a 10 out of 10. My maximum rating was given not because of their performance on that day, but instead for their contributions along the journey.

As so poignantly summed up by Alex Scott, our previous visit to Wembley was an event. Just getting to the national stadium to face Swansea was a success, and regardless of the result we were the real winners. To return to Wembley just three months later is another unbelievable feat. Like that cup journey, ever single player has contributed to our success in the play offs.

Yes, some will get more praise and attention than others, but fundamentally, those stand out names would be nowhere without their team-mates. Saturday’s result epitomised the definition of a team performance. Furthermore, I think it was a club performance, in which every person in claret and amber contributed to the victory. Once again tasked with rating these players, again they all receive the maximum mark. Saturday’s result was truly special and the performance of each player to achieve the team goal was remarkable.

SAM_1059The two upfront were simply too good for their opponents and they deserve all the praise they get. Clarke Carlisle tweeted after the game that James Hanson ‘owned him’ and he really did. Hanson won every header and dominated the tall Northampton back four. We constantly hear that Hanson is the under-rated player in this team, but he is certainly not. Opponents fear him and Saturday proved why.

I was there to see Hanson score at the Horsfall Stadium during his trial with club, and so to see a local lad ignite the wild celebrations at Wembley is an image both he and I will never forget. Together with his partner in crime, Nahki Wells, they were simply unstoppable.

Wells’ goal and all round display was there for all to see, but if there is one defining moment of his game, for me, it was him losing the ball in the first half. Silly you may think, but seeing Wells then bust a gut to retrieve it highlighted how hard this team was willing to work for each other.

SAM_1033Both goal scorers will grab the headlines, but they were aided by the team’s wide men. The two wingers had a hand in all three goals, with Kyel Reid producing one of his best performances of this season. After missing out on an appearance in the League Cup Final, Reid appeared to really enjoy his moment. I remember specifically, at one point, hearing the roar of those fans on the half way line. I was initially unsure what generated this sudden noise, only to see Reid geeing up the crowd. It’s these little moments that really stand out in my mind.

Like Reid, Gary Thompson had the better of his marker all game. I’ve always rated his footballing ability, but on Saturday it was his awareness in the penalty area that was most impressive. Both goals he played a part in were situations that could have caused a player to panic, but Thompson was coolness personified to pick out both strikers.

Nathan Doyle also got in on the act as a provider, setting up the second goal. It was deft ball to find Rory McArdle and it highlighted the all-round class which he has. Northampton are a physical team and we needed someone to match them. I felt Doyle was that man. At times he was robust, chomping at opponents feet. On other occasions, he was spreading the ball effortlessly around midfield.

SAM_1100Doyle justified his selection and I thought his work in tandem with Gary Jones overawed the Cobblers. Jones was again simply awesome in all aspects of the game. To see him salute and bow down the crowd really emphasised the strong relationship that has formed between the skipper and the fans. Previous generations of City fans talk about the idol, Stuart McCall. For this generation, we now have Gary Jones.

Talking of leaders, the centre halves were again first class. Firstly, McArdle’s goal is potentially as iconic as his header again Villa. If anything it was nearly an exact replica. I have talked in depth before about my feelings when he scored that goal and it was a surreal experience to have the exact same emotions this time round. Going 2-0 up changed the mood from possibility to a reality.

McArdle again was on hand to battle Clive Platt and, later, Adebayo Akinfenwa with Andrew Davies. The pair were fantastic foils for each other, with Davies his usual classy self. His positioning, reading of the game and ability to win balls that he shouldn’t were all on show on Saturday. Davies’ strengths are well documented and when the team needed him the most he was at his best.

The defensive quartet had so much balance and this largely due to the full backs. Stephen Darby’s cult status among the fans is growing and his performance on Saturday showed why. I felt Northampton’s tricky winger, Ishmel Demontagnac, was a potential match winner; but Darby completely nullified him. First and foremost he is a defender, but Darby offers so much energy in attack. This is such an advantage and, at times, Northampton didn’t know how to handle our forward surges from both right and left flank.

Like Darby, James Meredith, was brilliant. I should probably describe his role in the build up for the first goal, but it’s not the first thing I think of from Meredith’s appearance on Saturday. Midway through the second half, he won the ball in a crunching tackle. Able to quickly get back to his feet, he bombed forward in his menacing style and, in tandem with Reid, was able to win us a corner.

It’s amazing how important Darby and Meredith are in both attack and defence. Full backs don’t grab the attention that, say, a striker does; but these two offer so much to the team and both set the tone.

SAM_1086Wembley is a wonderful venue and the fans have fabulous views from which ever seat they sit in. However, there was one person with the best view of all – goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin. That’s not meant to be disrespectful to Jon, but his team-mates in front of him made it so difficult for Northampton to get near City’s keeper. McLaughlin played a whole game relatively untested. When they did, most notably with the long throw in, he was up to the task, confidently taking through the barrages.

If there is an image of Jon on Saturday that I will remember, it is the one of him and Matt Duke side by side, trophy in hands, celebrating promotion together. Being a goalkeeper must be a lonely and sometimes selfish position. Our two keepers have battled against each other all season, but there is obviously a kinship between the pair.

It is here where my main point of this article lies. All these players have driven each other on to bigger and better things. Yes we have our stars, but our achievement on Saturday was down to the squad. Ricky Ravenhill deserved his run out. Whilst he may not have started the showpiece event, he has contributed massively in getting there. The same can be said of Alan Connell, Zavon Hines, Will Atkinson, Carl McHugh and Michael Nelson.

SAM_1125This team ethos runs through to the management as well. Phil Parkinson is our leader and rightly deserves all the praise he received. But can you find an assistant as liked by us fans than Steve Parkin, or a fitness coach like Nick Allamby? The fact that Parkinson wants the contracts of his backroom staff sorted out at the same time as his own sums up the unity both on and off the pitch.

Saturday was unreal and I am so proud of this team. Alex summed it perfectly when he wrote, “The thing about this team which makes all of this so perfect is that the entire squad, each one of them, are so likeable. They give everything they have in every moment, they never know when they are beaten, and the morale, the atmosphere is fantastic.”

Well done, Team Claret and Amber.

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Burton 1 City 3 (4-5 agg): How the players rated

6 May

2013-05-05 14.13.54

By Mark Scully

Jon McLaughlin – 8

Another excellent performance from the in-form keeper, who in recent weeks has made a string of fine saves. Sunday at the Pirelli was no different for Jonny Mac – City’s No.1 denied Burton’s Robbie Weir in the first half with a great full stretch save, and in the second 45, straight after Wells had put City 3-1 up, he produced a key save to deny Burton a route back into the tie.

Stephen Darby – 9

After Thursday’s difficult performance on both a team and individual level, Stephen Darby was back to his best on Sunday. As many have stated previously he is a Mr Reliable team member, but at Valley Parade last week he couldn’t deal with Burton’s danger man, Jacques Maghoma. At the Pirelli, the only real time Maghoma beat Darby was for the home side’s penalty, when City’s right back got sold with a brilliant piece of skill by the tricky winger.

Andrew Davies – 10

Thursday night highlighted how much we need and miss Andrew Davies. At Valley Parade, Calvin Zola had the beating of Nelson and McArdle; but put Davies into the equation and Zola just sits in his pocket. In the whole game I can only remember the big striker turning Davies once and he sliced it high and wide. Personally my man of the match. Davo was immense.

Rory McArdle – 8

Bring back Davies and Rory McArdle looks a different player. I’m not knocking Nelson, but as a player surely you’d want to play alongside Davies – who game in game out performs excellently and ensures his fellow defenders stay calm. The return of Davies allowed McArdle to look after either Maghoma or, later in the game, Billy Kee. And his performance was far better than Thursday – the marathon man was back to his best.

James Meredith – 8

I thought Thursday night’s first leg defeat was one of the worst performances I had seen James Meredith have in a City shirt. But again, like Darby and McArdle, the Aussie was back to his best at the Pirelli. A calm confident performance; getting himself forward whenever possible and linking up well with Reid. A play off final appearance is the least Mezza deserves after illness cruelly denied the left back a League Cup Final appearance.

Garry Thompson – 7

My man of the match from the first leg had another good game at Burton; although Garry Thompson’s needless rash tackle on Maghoma, which resulted in the penalty (not fully convinced it was in the area), had the potential to have grave consequences for the Bantams. One of the star performers in the second half of the season, Thompson will again be hoping to start at Wembley in a couple of weeks time.

Gary Jones – 9

Magicman Gary Jones had a poor game by his very high standard on Thursdays, but on Sunday he was back to what we have all come to expect. He leads from the front and is a true inspiration to his team mates. Jones’ full time celebrations typified the man – I’ve never seen a non-Bradfordian or home-grown player show so much passion for the club. A club legend already and, if that’s a little early, lifting the play off final trophy in a couple of weeks’ time would surely grant him such status.

Nathan Doyle – 9

Sunday’s game was Nathan Doyle at his best. A physical performance that we missed badly in the fist leg, where Burton dominated the midfield area. Doyley lost form after the League Cup Final, but his performance at Burton will probably put him in the starting line up for Northampton and rightly so in my opinion. On their day there isn’t a better midfield partnership in the division than Doyle and Jones.

Kyel Reid – 7

A steady game by Kyel Reid, lively at times and did his fair share of tracking back when required. Hopefully he can stay fit over the next couple of weeks and get onto the Wembley turf, to make up for his disappointment of not playing in the Cup Final.

James Hanson – 10

The big man again shone at Burton. Often James Hanson goes under the radar when it comes to praise, but his performance on Sunday alongside Wells was immense. His goal was sensational – a first time strike on his weaker foot! In the words of Andy Gray (not ours!) ‘take a bow son!’

He dominated the Burton backline in the air and held the ball up numerous times to bring others into play. Similar to the Doyle/Jones partnership, as strike forces go in League Two, Hanson and Wells have to be amongst the best. He could have made the afternoon a lot easier had he put away what seemed an easy chance late on, ballooning his shot high and wide.

Nahki Wells – 10

It’s all or nothing with Nahki Wells. On his day he is unplayable, but on other days it’s like playing with 10 men. Thankfully, when it really mattered, Wells rose to the challenge. He worked the channels really well and ran himself into the ground for the team. His first goal came about because he gambled about the header falling short to the keeper. His second was a typical striker’s goal, getting on the end of Hanson’s knock down before turning the defender in the 6-yard box and slotting home.

Wells will be hoping to get more game time this time around at Wembley compared to last February, when sadly he had to depart after Matt Duke was given his marching orders. If Wells is going to leave for a bigger club in the summer, then what better way to sign off his time at Bradford than firing us into League One?

Substitutes:

Will Atkinson – 6

Didn’t have that long on the field to make a massive impression, but Will Atkinson provided cover for Meredith when required and should have won a penalty when his cut back was clearly handled in the area.

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Bradford City bring back good times with Wembley return

5 May

2013-05-05 13.56.28

Burton Albion 1

Maghoma 55 (pen)

Bradford City 3

Wells 27+57, Hanson 50

(Bradford City win 5-4 on aggregate)

Sunday 2 May, 2013

By Jason McKeown

Supporting Bradford City has never been easy. You are mocked and pitied by others. You endure lots of terrible football. Disappointment becomes second nature, because it seems like, wherever you place the bar of expectation, the club will usually fall well below it. The glory days had become something from a different era. We’ve experienced some very difficult and dark times.

Which makes days like today so much more special. After enduring years of failure, testing your faith and testing your sanity, today City got their day of celebration. Today, years of frustration, heartbreak and so, so many home defeats has been rewarded. Today, every reason for supporting Bradford City was vindicated. Today.

The scenes at full time, after Bradford City had defied the odds, once again, to book a second trip of the season to Wembley, will live in the memory forever. They were every bit as electrifying as the best ever moments supporting the club. Some who were there for Blackpool 17 years ago stated this was on a par. Being at Villa Park in January may or may not have shaded this, but it’s all academic. For a club that has achieved no success since 2000, to have two occasions like this in one season is astonishing.

Astonishing because of how good it tastes. The memories of Wolves, Blackpool, Liverpool etc were beginning to fade. The mind plays tricks – were they really that good, or have we just built up a halcyon recollection of emotions that we could never possibly hope to relive again? The truth is we’d forgotten what this felt like. How amazing it is to feel this happy following your football club.

Supporting Bradford City has never been easy, but on days like this it is impossible to imagine ever wanting to do anything but.

All of which masks what was, in truth, a terrifying ordeal. Three days on from seemingly throwing promotion hopes away with that dismal first 45 minutes at Valley Parade, hope had been allowed to grow and theories of how we could turn it around given wings to fly. Beforehand I was hugely confident that we could do it, but as soon as the match kicked off I instantly questioned my stupidity in what I had been thinking. Have I just set myself up for another terrible let down? As Burton charged forwards in the opening minutes, the temptation to run out of the stadium and go home there and then was strong.

Even when City took the lead 27 minutes in, my nerves only increased when they should have eased. A horrendous misjudgement by Burton defender Marcus Holness – an attempted back header to keeper Stuart Tomlinson falling well short – allowed Nahki Wells to steal in and tap the ball home. Everyone went barmy. I could not jump up down myself, as I was hugged by people either side of me and from the row in front. Manic, but brilliant. From being 3-1 down at half time on Thursday, City had pulled the aggregate score back to 3-3. That’s why my anxiety grew. It was now in our hands. That was scary.

The goal had followed a half hour of nothingness. Andrew Davies, back from suspension, handled the still-strong Calvin Zola excellently, and Jacques Maghoma was kept quiet by a much improved Stephen Darby. Jon McLaughlin made one good save, but Phil Parkinson would later talk about the huge psychological advantage City gained from Burton resorting to 4-4-2 mid-way through the half, as the Brewer’s first leg tactics were nullified.

Indeed Burton were on the ropes. Wells’ goal unravelling their composure and revealing their insecurity. A few seconds later a scramble in the box resulted in the referee Graham Scott blowing for a City penalty and it seemed like we had one foot at Wembley. Alas, Wells was ruled to be offside in the build up and the linesman persuaded Scott to award a Burton goal kick instead. But it was still a blow of some sorts to Burton. They were hanging on, and we had nearly exposed the thinness of the margins.

Five minutes into the second half, and Gary Jones – back to his magnificent best after a no-show Thursday – sent Wells away down City’s right. He was challenged, but the ball ricocheted central towards the edge of the penalty area where James Hanson was charging forwards. A powerful low finish – Tomlinson could not get near it – and the back of the net ruffled. A huge roar. The celebrations were immense both on and off the pitch. In a season of incredible moments, this was right up there with the best.

A fitting goalscorer too. Hanson had played well Thursday but was widely criticised, as usual. Today he was unplayable. Sensational. For how much Zola has been praised over the last few days and Hanson compared unfavourably, today James’ critics must once again eat their words. He and Wells gave the performances of their lives, and Burton could not cope. Hope was turning into realism. Wembley on the horizon.

A scare came five minutes later when the home side finally came to life. Maghoma got away from Darby, and Garry Thompson’s desperate lunge to deny him a shot on goal resulted in a penalty. It is claimed that the challenge was outside the box. It is also claimed Thompson was the last man and should have gone. After the handball antics of the first leg, Burton were in no position to take the high ground on the latter point.

So just like on Thursday, the 2-0 down home side pulled one back from the penalty spot – Maghoma doing the business – but just like Thursday, the away side responded quickly. It took all of two minutes for Wells to restore City’s lead with a clever turn and shot that Tomlinson might have made a better fist of keeping out. The ball trickled slowly over the line and we were in dreamland.

Looking from the outside, the last half an hour must have seemed curiously routine for City. Burton were shot to pieces. Their attempts at coming back lacked confidence or conviction. A couple of half chances were dealt with by McLaughlin, but for the most part City reduced them to pot shots from distance that were so wayward they flew out of the ground. Meanwhile City continued to attack in a measured way, looking more likely to score.

Being on the inside, however, the last half an hour was utter torture. Burton only needed one goal to force extra time, and the minutes ticked by painfully slowly. My heart was beating so fast. My breathing got heavier and heavier. At times I had to turn the other way and stop watching the game. From being all over at half time on Thursday to the brink of Wembley, the prize was too important for anything but total devastation to occur if we let this slip from our grasp. City had two very, very strong penalty appeals turned away that might have made it safer. Where six minutes of injury time came from is a mystery.

But we were magnificent. Nathan Doyle’s return to the starting XI bringing calm and rational-thought to City’s play. Davies – complete with a head bandage in the second half – sensational at the back. Jones, Meredith, Darby, Reid, Thompson, Rory McArdle – pillars of strength. For how brilliant Burton were on Thursday, City were doubly impressive today. For how much we froze on Thursday, Burton were now the ones who had bottled it.

Finally, the final whistle. Cue the celebrations. Me and my wife hugged each other and I realised that she was in tears. The last time she had cried at City, we were 4-0 down to Swansea at Wembley. I started supporting City in 1997, so have seen some good times at least. She saw her first City match in 2002 and unfortunately could not join me at Villa Park. I’m so glad that she has at last experienced this kind of magical moment.

Some fans invaded the pitch, but the police’s heavy handiness discouraged others from joining. Instead the players were able to party in front of us. Dancing up and down to our chants, throwing their shirts into the crowd. The highlight for me – and it was possibly the highlight of the whole day – was Parkinson’s pumped up celebrations as he ran around the pitch. It’s no secret that I am a big, big Parkinson fan to the point I irritate others. I’m so pleased for him. He endured some strong criticism post Wembley that was undeserved. Please, dear reader, join me in rugby tackling Parkinson and not letting him back up until he signs that bloody contract.

The players went inside, but we were not going home until they came back out. In the meantime Mark Lawn leapt from the director’s box to pitchside and was hugged by fans at the front of the stand. Finally our heroes came back. It was still early afternoon, and the party was just getting started. Talk of Wembley is great, but let’s enjoy this achievement first.

“We’re proud of you” was the chant from the City fans and how well deserved it was. As fans we’ve spent years booing and jeering, singing “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” and, once, “love the club, hate the team”. “We’re proud of you” is praise indeed and the players and management deserve every bit of credit coming to them and more. Magnificent. Thank you.

But football supporting is, first and foremost, a selfish thing, and today belonged to us, the fans. It has been an incredibly difficult 13 years supporting Bradford City. The bad times have completely outweighed the little good. That we still have a club to support has been our biggest – neigh, our only – achievement. And it is for days like this that we put in all their effort, spend all that money, and sing all those songs following the club up and down the country.

Days like this, when, for once, the sun shines on our wonderful football club.

City: McLaughlin, Darby, Davies, McArdle, Meredith, Thompson, Doyle, Jones, Reid (Atkinson 73), Hanson, Wells

Not used: Duke, Nelson, McHugh, Ravenhill Hines, Connell

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2013-05-05 14.14.02

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Bradford City 2 Burton Albion 3 – how the players rated

3 May

2013-05-02 21.07.44

By Gareth Walker

Jon McLaughlin – 7

Had no chance with any of the three well-taken Burton goals, but McLaughlin did produce one outstanding stop with his feet from a one-on-one situation that might hopefully prove vital. He wasn’t helped last night by the poor performances of the back four, but his communication with his defence still worries me at times and almost led to a shambolic mix up with McArdle in the second half.

Stephen Darby – 5

I recently described Stephen as possibly the unsung hero of the team. He has been Mr Reliable for large parts of the season, but last night was possibly the worst game that I have seen him have for quite a while. He looked petrified every time Jacques Maghoma got the ball and was largely at fault for the first goal by standing off his man allowing Maghoma to cross. He did improve slightly after the break and tried to get forward towards the end.

Michael Nelson – 4

To say that we missed Andrew Davies last night is a massive understatement. Nelson is normally a solid League Two defender who dominates in the air and this makes up for his poor distribution. Sadly last night, he was well and truly dominated by Zola and had a game to forget.

Rory McArdle – 4

City’s Marathon Man has been a little bit shaky since his injury just before Wembley, and last night it started to look like this arduous campaign might have finally caught up with him. At least partly at fault for Burton’s second goal. Along with Nelson, he couldn’t handle Zola and, again, his distribution has never been his strong point.

Whether we point a finger at Davies for getting needlessly sent off at Cheltenham or at Phil Parkinson for running the risk with playing City’s leader at the back when he was already on a yellow card is unclear, but Davies is sure to come back into the side on Sunday. I don’t think that Zola would have enjoyed such a good game if Davies had been playing and, to be honest, neither of last night’s centre backs could really complain if they were dropped to accommodate him coming back into the team.

James Meredith – 5

Similarly to Darby, I don’t think that I’ve seen Meredith have such a poor game before. Completely went to sleep and lost his man for Burton’s third goal, and his link up play wasn’t to its usual standard. Again, Meredith improved slightly after the break and looked more of himself, when his usual partner on the left, Kyel Reid, entered the fray.

Garry Thompson – 7

One of the few City players who did himself any kind of justice. Thompson looked the most likely of any of our players to create something and he never stopped working. He capped his performance off with a stunning goal that keeps us clinging onto the tie by our finger tips. Thompson has become a key player for the team over recent weeks and he was my man of the match last night.

Gary Jones – 6

Jones was well below his usual standards in the first half and his passing was often astray. Another player who improved after the break and tried to drive the team on in his usual style. Garry Thompson’s shot looked to skim off his head for City’s second goal and, again, I am clinging on to the hope that this could prove vital.

Ricky Ravenhill – 5

I can’t remember noticing Ravenhill too much last night and I had almost forgotten that he was on the pitch until he was substituted. City’s form player of recent weeks wasn’t his usual busy self, and maybe this was one of the reasons why Burton seemed to play the better football.

Will Atkinson – 5

Another player who was almost anonymous. Atkinson could easily be described as City’s most improved player this season, but he hasn’t featured in the team much since the Cup Final. It was a big surprise when neither Kyel Reid or Zavon Hines started the game last night, because I can’t remember the last time that neither of these two started a home game. We understand that Reid wasn’t fit enough to start the game, but Phol Parkinson has previously stuck with Hines when Reid has been unavailable despite his obvious deficiencies on the left, and I was shocked at the change in approach last night.

Maybe it was because our management team expected Burton to pack the midfield. Whatever the reason, it didn’t work and City looked drastically short of an outlet or any width, which resulted in too many long balls being played up to James Hanson.

James Hanson – 7

Last night was the ideal opportunity for many supporters to get on Hanson’s back but, in my mind, he didn’t do too much wrong other than miss his only chance near the end, and he was far better than many of his team mates.

Hanson battled admirably against the solid Burton defence and won his fair share in the air which he had to do, as it seemed to be our only tactic at times. James often gets a rough deal out of referees and last night was no different as he was punished for the most minor of indiscretions, whereas Zola seemed to get a free ride at the other end of the pitch in particular with a couple of dubious looking hand balls.

Nahki Wells – 5

Something of an enigma last night. Wells put his penalty away when he was called upon, despite probably wondering, like the rest of us, why a red card hadn’t been shown to the offender. However, Wells appeared to becoming more and more frustrated with the long ball tactics as the game wore on. Spent a lot of time in the second half diving on the floor looking for free kicks and it became almost embarrassing to watch.

The complete airshot as he tried to pirouette and switch feet in the second half when it looked easier to score somewhat summed up Nahki’s performance. He missed a couple of other decent chances too, which you would normally have expected him to score.

Substitutes:

Kyel Reid – 7

Looked a threat when he came on, but Reid’s clear shortage of fitness probably prevented him from turning the game around. He was on the end of a shocking challenge in front of the main stand that somehow only resulted in a booking. His performance against Burton in the cup earlier in the season, coupled with the nervousness of the opposition when he came on last night might give us a glimmer of hope if he is fit enough to start the return leg on Sunday.

Nathan Doyle – 6

Doyle made a difference when he came on because of his physical presence and his ability to pick a pass. I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts the game on Sunday.

Alan Connell – N/A

Was given his standard poultry allowance of just a few minutes to try to change the game. Connell didn’t really have time to get involved, but frustratingly attempted an overhead kick from the edge of the box near the end when he had a simple pass available to Darby who was galloping into acres of space on the wing.

Connell’s comment on BBC Radio Leeds, after the game, that he won’t hold his breath about starting the game on Sunday may indicate that his future lies away from the club. This would be hugely disappointing in my mind as he is clearly a quality player at League Two level.

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City lose the plot before setting up a big finale

2 May

2013-05-02 21.07.37

Bradford City 2

Wells 38 (pen), Thompson 74

Burton Albion 3

Zola 22+28, Weir 44

Thursday 2 May, 2013

By Jason McKeown

After the pre-match tension: terror. This was frightening, harrowing, shocking. Every worst fear realised during 45 minutes of football as poor as anything Bradford City have produced all season. What a time to freeze. What a time to implode.

And yet, the tie is not over. Garry Thompson’s superb strike 16 minutes from time means that City can travel to Burton on Sunday still believing it can be done. Burton should have finished the job. Phil Parkinson will know it and, crucially, Gary Rowett will know it too. That the Brewers take a lead from Valley Parade might be beyond his expectations; but we were on the ropes and they let us off. For them, the psychological effects of being handed the red-hot favourites tag will also take some managing.

Quite where it went wrong for the Bantams tonight is a mystery. With Kyel Reid having not trained all week, meaning he stood no chance of starting, Parkinson’s decision to go without an out-and-out winger left City one-dimensional and painfully predictable. That Zavon Hines had endured a difficult afternoon playing out of position on the left in the league game against Burton must have come into Parkinson’s thinking. He didn’t want to dislodge right midfielder Thompson to accommodate Hines’ pace and rightly so, but Will Atkinson on the left caused a narrow midfield to look even more restricted.

And Burton – who made good on Rowett’s pre-match promise to go for it at Valley Parade – were simply magnificent. There were aspects of their play tonight that might leave much to be desired, but they combined the ugly grittiness with some devastating passing football that City simply could not live with. The previously excellent back four were a shadow of themselves. Michael Nelson – in for the suspended Andrew Davies – will no doubt bear the brunt of the criticism, but really there was no defender who could emerge with any credit.

Certainly not the previously unflappable Stephen Darby. Tasked with marking Jacques Maghoma, City’s right back was the unwitting victim of one of the most astonishing individual performances I have seen in our six years in League Two. Maghoma ran the show, tearing down the left wing at times but equally showing a willingness to cut inside and run past Ricky Ravenhill in the centre of the park. No one could get near Maghoma. On this form, Burton won’t be keeping him no matter which division they are playing in next season.

Maghoma set up Burton’s opener midway through the first half, after getting clear of Darby and delivering a superb cross. Calvin Zola – who yet again had saved his best form for the Bantams – ran from deep and headed the ball home, unchallenged, in between Atkinson and Meredith. Rory McArdle was seemingly tasked with marking Zola tonight, but the Brewers’ striker popped up all over the final third with some very intelligent off-the-ball runs and strong physical all round approach.

City were punished for failing to take the initiative. A packed out Valley Parade roared the players onto the pitch and through the opening stages; but after the players mustered little more productive than a couple of corners, frustration did not take long to be aired. It was a cracking atmosphere tonight, with the level of noise at times prompting hairs to stand on the back of your neck. And yet the mood was not one of unequivocal backing that the big crowds against Arsenal and Aston Villa had provided. Tonight the greater expectation led to greater grumbling.

Within six minutes of opening the scoring, Zola had a second. Zander Diamond’s long ball forwards in truth found Zola in an offside position, but there was no excuse for affording him the time and space to work an angle and fire a stunning drive into Jon McLaughlin’s far corner. McArdle was with his man this time, but allowed Zola the yard of space he needed to pick his spot. Ravenhill might also have done more to help him.

At this stage Burton truly threatened to run riot. They passed the ball with a swagger and style that was chalk to the cheese of City’s direct style. Without the outlet of Reid or Hines, only Thompson took his share of responsibility of getting on the ball to make things happen. What happened to Gary Jones tonight? Perhaps the rest on Saturday was a mistake, as he certainly looked rusty.

Burton might have made it three when some superb passing tore City open and left John McGarth one-on-one with McLaughlin, who made an excellent block. That felt like a pivotal moment in not only the game, but the tie – preventing the visitors’ climbing out of sight. It had been Burton’s fifth shot on target, while City were still to register their first.

When they did it came from the penalty spot, putting the home side back into it. A free kick by Gary Jones had led to James Hanson crossing for an unmarked McArdle, only for the defender to produce an air shot that fortunately saw the ball fall to Thompson. His shot was handled by Burton right back Damien McCory as though he was making a goalkeeping save. Appeals for a red card were ignored, but at least Nahki Wells coolly slotting the penalty home.

But there was another sting in the Burton tail. McCory’s long pass saw Alex MacDonald run clear of a dozing Meredith, and his cut back was met by Robbie Weir to finish with ease. The space he found in-between McArdle and Nelson was hugely troubling. It’s stating the obvious that Davies was missed tonight, but this was the same back four that had kept a clean sheet against Burton only the other week.

The second half saw improvement from City, as Burton eased off and attempted to hold onto their two-goal cushion. The introduction of Nathan Doyle made a big difference, as he provided the composure and tempo that had been lacking, with City finally starting to pass the ball. Fellow sub Reid, whilst clearly short of full fitness, offered much-needed width and did well. But Burton were defending admirably.

Thompson’s strike did put City back into it, and it could be looked back on as pivotal come the final whistle on Sunday. A deserved goal it was too, as he, Hanson and McLaughlin were the only City starters to emerge with any credit tonight. That Burton hit the bar through MacDonald soon after underlined their counter attacking threat, but we were firmly into time-wasting and gamesmanship country, as Burton ran down the clock.

City might have drawn on the night, with Wells and Hanson wasting glorious chances in almost identical fashion. Screwing shots wide on the turn when there was time to take a touch and show composure. That summed up the evening for City, one where the basic principles of what has got us to where we are were somehow forgotten. The fact the tie is not over is probably the best we could have hoped for.

With three days until the second leg, Parkinson will need to formulate a strategy for the Perelli Stadium very quickly. He was clearly caught out tonight by Burton’s adventurous approach and the free role afforded to Maghoma, but worrying about what the opposition might do to us cannot be the principal focus.

We didn’t do ourselves justice tonight. Now all we can do is ensure that’s not the case on Sunday, and to leave the pitch having given everything. It will be a tall order to overturn the deficit on the turt of the Football League’s best home form team, but it is not impossible.

As fantastic as Burton were tonight, I still don’t believe they are a better side than the Bantams. We now need to go and show that. Give them lots to worry about. Prey on their anxiety. This magnificent season does not deserve to end on a whimper, and everything we’ve seen over the last 10 months suggests this group of players won’t let that happen. I have every faith they can turn it around.

It’s only half time, and all season long we’ve proven to be a better second half team.

City: McLaughlin, Darby, Nelson, McArdle, Meredith, Thomspon, Ravenhill (Doyle 57), Jones, Atkinson (Reid 57), Hanson, Wells (Connell 89)

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On-off play-offs well and truly back on

20 Apr

2013-04-20 16.42.12

Bradford City 1

Hanson 44

Burton Albion 0

Saturday 20 April, 2013

By Damien Wilkinson

In the final home match of the 2012/13 campaign, Bradford City managed to secure a play off place – a feat which has eluded them until now, in this,the sixth season of residence in League Two. Indeed, the only previous play-off activity goes back to 1988 and 1996, thus representing somewhat uncharted territory for many.

Yes, do not adjust your sets. Following today’s 1-0 win, City will take part in the first round of the League Two play offs, scheduled for Thursday 2 and Sunday 5 May.

When offering to write this match report, back at the end of March, WOAP editor Jason McKeown remarked that he hoped I wouldn’t be “writing about a Burton promotion party”. How things have changed! Whilst many euphoric fans celebrate tonight, there will no doubt be a few slices of humble pie accompanying some celebrations. Write this Bradford City side off at your peril. Burton themselves have wobbled greatly over the last few weeks, including a 7-1 mauling at Port Vale, and previous genuine hopes of an automatic promotion spot are now seemingly extinguished.

The Bantams two previous matches against Burton this season have had something of a pivotal or significant feel to them.

The League cup match last September, now almost mirrors City’s season – bright start, failure to capitalise on pressure, facing an upward struggle following conceding two goals against the run of play, but eventually turning things around to 3-2 after extra-time, and the subsequent march to Wembley.

The 1-0 reverse in the league fixture at Burton in October saw serious injuries to Andrew Davies and Luke Oliver, which threatened to derail the campaign, compounded by the harsh sending off of Ricky Ravenhill in the first half for violent conduct after a clash with Lee Bell, who had fallen to the ground. Bell’s subsequent Twitter comments, where he admitted he had somewhat milked the moment, didn’t endear him to may City fans, and were to come back to haunt him in a spectacular manner.

Pre-match activities, on what was a remarkably glorious sunny day, saw an excellent Bantamspast trip around historically significant spots in the city centre led by Glyn Watkins and David Pendleton, which included retracing the journey taken by the 1911 FA side from the station to the Midland hotel and culminated in Mark Lawn pulling a pint in the Sparrow Bier Café to launch the inaugural Bantams’ History Week.

At the ground the traditional anniversary minute’s silence for the fire victims was observed in the usual fitting manner by all fans and players alike within the crowd of 13,235.

City made one change from the previous match against Rotherham, with Michael Nelson drafted in to replace Andrew Davies, who is still nursing a calf/back injury. More welcome news was the return to the side of James Meredith, who had recovered from the hip injury that saw him substituted during the Rotherham match, adding much-needed balance to the left side.

Burton made a couple of changes to their line-up, restoring Calvin Zola to the side, following injury, and brought in Matt Paterson to partner him. Ex-Bantam Michael Symes and Billy Kee consequentially dropped to the bench.

City began the match positively, enjoying a good amount of the play without carving out any real opportunities. Disappointingly, Kyel Reid saw his afternoon cut short on 18 minutes, an injury, perhaps a recurrence of his recent problems, causing him to be replaced by Zavon Hines. Despite Burton not offering the muscle or directness seen in City’s recent match against Rotherham, the pattern continued and the Bantams failed to make any serious in-roads.

However, with half time approaching a ball knocked forward was latched onto by Nahki Wells, and whilst the initial effort was thwarted in a haphazard manner by goalkeeper Lyness and defender Holness, James Hanson was on hand to hook the ball into the net for his 13th goal of the season. An element of fortune to the goal perhaps, but it resulted in no small part to the persistence of both Hanson and Wells, and more importantly was a crucial first half goal.

Matters rapidly got worse for Burton. A challenge on Hines by the aforementioned Lee Bell saw the Burton captain dismissed with a straight red card for an apparent elbow on the City winger. The irony of the dismissal was not lost on many, but more critically represented a hammer blow to Burton’s hopes of a revival.

The second half largely saw much of the same, and for a period it looked like City’s inability to capitalise on their numerical advantage might come back to haunt them. Again, despite much possession City couldn’t create many gilt edged chances, and Phil Parkinson shuffled things, bringing on Alan Connell for Nahki Wells on 68 minutes, followed by the replacement of Garry Thompson by Will Atkinson 10 minutes later. But this didn’t result in any notable differences.

The best chance of the half, late on, saw Hines played in, but his disappointing shot went well wide and capped off a frustrating afternoon for him in which he never really seemed to ‘click’. Which also underlined the importance of a fully fit Kyel Reid.

Ultimately, the game itself was an curious one, nobody really had a particularly bad game and indeed many players had good games including Gary Jones, Michael Nelson, Stephen Darby, James Hanson and Jonny McLaughlin. But there was perhaps a nervousness across the whole side given the importance of the fixture, and certainly the fluency seen in the recent home game against Bristol Rovers didn’t emerge, nor did the extra man really seem to count.

Furthermore, as the half wore on, fears of a late Burton equaliser persisted. With the recent memories of the injury time Chesterfield equaliser fresh, the five minutes of injury time was not overly welcomed. City managed to see things out, however, and with news of Exeter’s defeat by Cheltenham, the traditional last home match of the season lap of honour finally had some significance. The players were jubilantly cheered off the field and a pitch invasion was, thankfully, absent.

It is worth highlighting that the atmosphere within the ground was again excellent, and in particular the chants in the last 10 minutes or so certainly seemed to help pull the City team over the line. It demonstrates the benefits that can be generated from a ‘positive’ 13k+ crowd.

So on to the final match of the season, in which the Bantams visit Cheltenham. Whilst the match certainly has more importance to the home side, who still harbour hopes of an automatic promotion place, the outcome will certainly have a bearing on City’s play off opponents, and there are various permutations from any of Rotherham, Burton, Northampton and Cheltenham themselves.

At the moment though, who cares? It is just fantastic to finally be involved in the end of the season play offs, in what now can finally be declared a truly amazing season. The fact that the play off place is now guaranteed will allow Parkinson some options regarding the side he puts out against Cheltenham, and perhaps buy some much needed time regarding nursing Andrew Davies and Kyel Reid back to full fitness.

In a season that continues to keep giving, and one in which pride in being a City supporter has been well and truly restored, let’s look forward to a final chapter in the hope it will deliver the holy grail of promotion.

City: McLaughlin, Darby, McArdle, Nelson, Meredith, Thompson (Atkinson 78), Ravenhill, Jones, Reid (Hines 19), Hanson, Wells (Connell 68)

Not used: Duke, McHugh, Doyle, Gray

2013-04-20 17.03.06

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Rotherham set back tests City’s powers of recovery

16 Apr

Bradford City 0

Rotherham United 2

Frecklington 80 (pen), Agard 90

Tuesday 16 April, 2013

By Jason McKeown

The margin of error is squeezed even tighter, the tension racked up another notch. If Bradford City are going to hold on to the top seven spot that they have occupied since last week, they need to recover from this set back very quickly.

Beaten by Rotherham, but not bettered. Pride dented, but not deflated. The sight of the Millers managing Steve Evans racing on to the pitch to celebrate his side’s game-sealing goal from Kieran Agard may have being the realisation of every City supporter’s worst fears, but there is no need to feel too despondent over this defeat.

It was unjust, it was unfortunate, it was unnerving. But come 3pm on Saturday, Bradford City will once again take to the Valley Parade field with their fate in their own hands. And if they play as well as they did for an hour this evening, they will surely take a giant step towards sealing an extended end to the season.

For this was a good display from the Bantams, against what must be acknowledged was a good Rotherham side. The visitors packed the midfield and defended with admirable heart; standing up to everything City could throw at them. In the early parts of 2013, an opposition side putting five in midfield was a sure-fire way to outgun City’s counterparts. But with Ricky Ravenhill once again producing a composed display in front of the back four, a simply outstanding Gary Jones stood head and shoulders above everyone else on the park.

It seemed as though City were set for a victory that would have all but secured seventh position, when after just four minutes James Hanson headed home a Jones corner. Celebrations were cut short by a linesman flagging for a push by Hanson on Claude Davis. False hope remerged 30 minutes later, when Garry Thompson finished off another Jones pass but was flagged offside.

Probably the right call that time at least, but a frustratingly inconsistent referee Mark Haywood got more wrong than he did right over the course of the evening. The only benefit for City was his leniency in letting Nahki Wells off with a warning after the Bermudian kicked the ball away when already on a booking. By that stage he had sent City’s assistant manager Steve Parkin to the stand for something said to the fourth official, after complaints were raised about Michael O’Connor’s reaction to a robust tackle.

Haywood’s over-officiating – rather than letting the game flow – played right into Rotherham’s hands, as Evans’ side chased and harassed for every decision whilst falling to the deck following the slightest of contacts. We have being here before, of course, with Evans’ Crawley side of a year ago behaving in the exact same manner. But what impressed me tonight was how little City’s players allowed themselves to be affected by Rotherham’s gamesmanship attempts and over-physicality. They stood up and simply got on with it.

When Rotherham bothered to engage themselves in a game of football, City for the most part looked comfortable dealing with their attacks. This was despite the obvious set back of losing Andrew Davies to injury after 24 minutes. It had been touch and go whether Davies was to be fit enough to play tonight and – in truth – starting him was a call City got wrong. Even during the game’s opening minutes, Davies’ struggle to run was evident. Michael Nelson came on and slotted in where he left off on Saturday, letting no one down.

However, another loss through injury – James Meredith on 50 minutes – tipped the balance back into Rotherham’s favour. Meredith’s replacement, Carl McHugh, has impressed previously in the less familiar left back role, but tonight was not such an occasion. The young defender’s hesitancy coming forward impacted on the previously impressive Kyel Reid, who suddenly found that being double marked was too much of a hindrance without Meredith to back him up. The balance of the team began to suffer.

Rotherham grew stronger, even if Jon McLaughlin’s goal was not tested anywhere near as threateningly than a Alex Revell header in the first half, but it began to look as though City were out of ideas. Wells has enjoyed much better nights than this – he got little change out of Davis – and though Hanson toiled hard, he was not able to dominate the Rotherham backline in the manner he has of other defences this season.

Then came the sting in the tail. Goalkeeper Scott Shearer pumped a long ball forward to Revell just inside City’s box, only for the Millers’ striker to push Nelson backwards, which resulted in the unsighted defender handling the ball. Haywood pointed to the spot, and Lee Frecklington expertly fired the penalty past McLaughlin. A dreadful, dreadful decision from Haywood, which had Phil Parkinson livid.

City pushed hard for an equaliser, with Alan Connell quickly summoned from the bench as part of a switch to 3-4-3. Wells might have done better with a header that he placed wide of the goal. Jones glanced another effort over the bar. Then Connell somehow shot wide with just Shearer to beat following Hanson’s flick on. It was a gilt-edged chance, and Connell was the one player on the pitch you’d have wanted that chance to fall to.

With the five minutes of injury time all but completed, one last City corner saw McLaughlin race forward. The ball was cleared to Agard, who was able to sprint clear of the back-tracking goalkeeper and tap the ball into the empty net. It was at this point a previously restrained Evans raced onto the pitch, with the highly disappointing sight of an object being thrown from the main stand towards him. It seemed some City fan had decided to join the Rotherham boss in the gutter.

For his own safety, Evans was quickly rushed to the dressing room by four stewards at the full time whistle. He paused only to clench his fist at the Rotherham fans who were celebrating wildly in the Bradford End. There is a good chance he will be back at Valley Parade in just over a fortnight, for a play off semi final first leg.

For that to happen, City probably need four points from their final two league matches to complete the job. That we have to play fourth-placed Burton and fifth-placed Cheltenham underlines just how there are no guarantees this will happen. Chesterfield, beaten also tonight, can still catch City, but Exeter remain the biggest threat to that last play off spot. One ear will be on events at St. James Park on Saturday.

City: McLaughlin, Darby (Connell 80), Davies (Nelson 24), McArdle, Meredith (McHugh 50), Thompson, Ravenhill, Jones, Reid, Hanson, Wells

Not used: Duke, Atkinson, Doyle, Hines

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Consolidation is the aim of the game

16 Apr

image

Bradford City vs Rotherham United preview

@Valley Parade, Tuesday 16 April, 2013

By Mark Danylczuk

Automatic promotion? You would have laughed at the thought a couple of months ago but the dream was very real at the 90th minute on Saturday. A mere six minutes of injury time later, and it’s a very different story. It’s time to re-gather the troops and focus.

What a six-pointer we have on our hands tonight, with both teams vying for promotion with this crucial game in hand. The match has more significance than it ever should have done – this fixture should have been played at the end of February, but the Bantams instead were pitting their wits in the League Cup Final at Wembley. Some reason for having the game re-arranged, eh?

For Rotherham, a point would guarantee their play off position whereas three points would take them into the automatic promotion places with their superior goal difference. For City, the win would keep us four points ahead of Exeter in 8th place and well on the way to securing a play off spot. A further three points on Saturday for the Bantams should be enough to secure a play off space. With our fate in our hands, we are in the best possible position to achieve this.

Rotherham, like City, are on a decent run having won their last two – in turn doing City a favour by beating play off rivals Fleetwood Town and Exeter City. We will have to keep star striker Daniel Nardiello quiet, with the Millers striker having hit 20 goals already this season. With boo-boy Steve Evans at the helm, we can expect a physical and mental battle –the manager being well-known for issues around sportsmanship and gamesmanship, notably with his current club and Crawley Town previously.

As for City, we can expect a similar line up to Saturday. The impressive pairings of James Hanson and Nahki Wells up front, and Gary Jones and Ricky Ravenhill in midfield can expect to keep their places. Wells could not pick a better time to be getting back into form: spearheading City’s promotion push. We will need the Bermudian to be as sharp as ever. With Ravenhill getting a boost from getting his first goal of the season on Saturday and with Gary Jones as ever in inspiring form, the pair could win the key midfield battle and put the game in City’s control in trying to get the win.

There could be a couple of changes elsewhere though. With Kyel Reid being forced off at half time on Saturday after tweaking his groin, this could result in a start for Zavon Hines or Will Atkinson in the midfield. Michael Nelson may begin again in place of Andrew Davies, who was injured in the warm up on Saturday.

Although a mid-week fixture may deter some from attending, we City fans need to be buoyant in getting behind the team even after the disappointment of Saturday. With Rotherham expected to bring a big following to add spice to the Yorkshire derby, it is time for City to bounce back, stand up and be counted.

The play offs are within reach and it’s in our hands – a win on Tuesday and it’s almost job done.

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City go to Chesterfield closing in on the play offs

12 Apr

chesterfield

Chesterfield vs Bradford City preview

@Proact Stadium on Saturday 13 April, 2013

By Joe Cockburn

The play off picture could really take shape this weekend, as Bradford City travel to fellow late contenders Chesterfield.

Both clubs also sit joint top of the form table, taking 13 points from a maximum of 18. City can take heart, however, as another of the four teams on 13 from 18 is Bristol Rovers – demonstrating that the Bantams are capable of beating anyone.

Staying with form, and City look the most likely winner. Three wins on the bounce and just one loss since Wembley is impressive. Chesterfield, on the other hand, have lost two of their last six at home, so are prone to a slip up.

Everything points towards an away win, or at least a draw. But, obviously, us City fans know it is never that simple.

However, we clearly live in hope and expectation. Three batches of away tickets have been snapped up, and 3,200 Bantams are expected to make the trip into Derbyshire. They could be instrumental in driving the visitors to what would be a crucial three points.

A result would likely see Chesterfield out of the equation. Should Rotherham also triumph over Fleetwood 25 miles up the M1, that would see the Millers out of reach of the Spireites, leaving just Exeter in contention. The Devon club face a tough trip to Wimbledon, and should they fail to win there, City would have a chance to put a real foothold on a play off spot, Exeter having played a game more than City.

As a result, wins against Chesterfield and Rotherham could secure the Bantams’ play off position, making Saturday even more important than it is on the face of it.

In terms of the team line up, it seems Phil Parkinson has found his best XI, and with just four games remaining, I don’t think fatigue and rest come into it. You play for the last four games, you get your break soon enough.

It was good to see Parkinson able to use his substitutes to that effect on Tuesday. Gary Jones and Garry Thompson, who both can be forgiven for looking leggy in the latter stages of the recent games, were both taken off with 15 minutes to go, simply to give them the rest that they truly deserve.

Perhaps one change he might consider making would be in the centre of defence. Rory McArdle, while being undoubtedly excellent throughout the season, has struggled slightly lately, making an increasing amount of mistakes. While being small, at least two have been costly on Tuesday, and Jon McLaughlin bailed him out twice. I think they can be forgiven, but maybe a bit of a break may do him good. At this stage of the season, we cannot afford to be making those mistakes.

Michael Nelson has impressed me since joining. While I criticised the signing, I think it has been clear that it was the correct decision. With injuries and such meaning defenders have been at a premium, so to have such an experienced campaigner at hand has been a luxury other teams just don’t have. I think it would be a good idea to play him from the start at Chesterfield.

As I noted not so long back, in an article on my own blog, keeper Jon McLaughlin has proved that when given a string of starts, he will pay dividends. He made one outstanding save against Northampton, and he pulled off two more against Bristol Rovers. He looks really solid, and at this moment, one who you would want behind your main line of defence.

As has been noted numerous times, I think it is important not to forget the impact James Meredith’s return has had on not just the team, but especially Kyel Reid. It has been a breath of fresh air seeing those two back on form on the left wing, and Reid looks back in full flow after his recent excellent home performances.

In terms of the attack, it would be a surprise if anything changed. They have been performing well going forward and, on Tuesday, we finally managed to turn some of those chances into goals.

One I think has gone slightly unnoticed is Ricky Ravenhill. He has been excellent since coming in for Nathan Doyle last month, and that has also had a positive effect on the team. Ravenhill sitting deep and comfortably holding the midfield together allows not only Thompson and Reid to get forward, but Gary Jones, who as we know from his time at Rochdale is at his best when on the attack. Ravenhill has ultimately made us a much better team, both on the attack and in defence.

Having said that, just a quick note to say that, although it was obviously an easy game to come into, Nathan Doyle looked near his best in his 20-minute cameo against Rovers on Tuesday.

Going back to my early point about form, we haven’t lost in our last five games. The four teams above us, all of whom we can realistically catch, have lost at least two of their last five.

Is third place too much to ask?

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Let’s go round again

9 Apr

Bradford City 4

Wells 6, 22 (pen), Davies 45, Thompson 57

Bristol Rovers 1

Hitchcock 50

Tuesday 9 April, 2013

By Jason McKeown

Judged against a list featuring some highly impressive accomplishments, how does this stack up?

Bradford City’s season was supposed to over. Barely a month ago, we’d seemingly blown our promotion hopes. A heavy price paid for distracted minds over the League Cup miracle. Regroup and prepare for next season. See out this one with a whimper. It was, depressingly, so typically Bradford City.

And yet instead here we stand, in the top seven of League Two. In the play off positions. What’s more, automatic promotion cannot be ruled out. An incredible turnaround of fortunes, a testament to the virtues of never giving up. Only most of us had long since returned a verdict of no chance on promotion. For me personally, I walked out of Home Park, Plymouth four weeks ago fully convinced it was over.

But not the players. And not the management.

It all clicked back into gear, somewhere between the half time whistle on Good Friday – City 2-0 behind to Southend – and the second 45 minutes that saw the Bantams come back to draw 2-2. Three straight wins later, and the impossible has become the probable.

And tonight there was a strong case to make that the players delivered their finest 45-minute performance of the entire campaign – which is some compliment, given the cup highs of this season. Against an in-form Bristol Rovers who still managed to impress, City were in devastatingly rampant mood. Exhilarating to watch. Precise in almost everything attempted. Clinical. Rovers could not live with us. Few, if any, League Two sides could have done.

Nahki Wells rattled the bar in under 30 seconds, laying down a marker of intent. The Bermudian had only to wait until the sixth minute to get on the scoresheet. Garry Thompson got clear of his marker down the right flank, crossed the ball accurately towards Wells’ forehead and there was no danger of him missing. 20 goals for the season – the first Bantams player to achieve this feat since Dean Windass in 2006.

His second soon followed, after the excellent Ricky Ravenhill was fouled in the box and Wells struck a superb low spot kick into the right-hand side of the goal, despite Stephen Midenhall getting a strong hand on it. Valley Parade – buzzing from the start – could relax.

That the Bantams were quickly in such a strong position owed much to a pair of superb saves from Jon McLaughlin either side of Wells’ penalty. First, at 1-0, Oliver Clarke – who replaced the seriously injured Danny Woodards – charged down a Rory McArdle clearance but could not beat City’s stopper one-on-one.  Then at 2-0, Tom Hitchcock saw a header blocked by McLaughlin from point blank range.

There has been much debate about the abilities of both City’s goalkeepers this season, but both have played very well at different stages. I just hope that McLaughlin’s contribution tonight and on Saturday is remembered the next time he makes a mistake.

For as well as City performed in the first half, a Bristol Rovers goal at either of these points could easily have changed the pattern of the contest. Instead, McLaughlin’s heroics enabled his outfield team mates to continue dictating the tempo and playing with a relaxed freedom. Kyel Reid, like Wells, is back to his best form and patrolled the left flank with an authority missing when City were struggling last month. He tracked back almost as effectively as he charged forward.

With Gary Jones bossing the centre, Andrew Davies winning everything, Stephen Darby and James Meredith coming forward with purpose and James Hanson popping up all over the final third, the quality of City’s football was hugely commendable. The game all but wrapped up when in stoppage time Midenhall misjudged the flight of Jones’ free kick and Davies headed home.

To their credit, Bristol Rovers did not give up; Hitchcock running clear on goal and beating McLaughlin five minutes into the second half. It came from another McArdle mistake, and the only worry from tonight was the continued slight dip in form of one of the strongest contenders for player of the season. Do we simply put it down to fatigue – given how much football McArdle has played since August? Mr Consistency is starting to look anything but. Nothing to be alarmed about yet, but a breather might be required.

Any hopes Bristol Rovers harboured of an improbable comeback ended with Thompson racing onto Wells’ pass and firing low under Midenhall for 4-1. Only then was the contest truly settled, and the last 30 minutes became an unexpected breeze for the Bantams. Phil Parkinson could even afford the luxury of taking off Jones, Thompson and a clearly disappointed Wells in order to give them a breather for Saturday. Wells had played like a man desperate for a hat trick, ignoring passing options around him when in possession inside the area. Midenhall blocking his best attempt following a mazy dribble.

City could have had more goals; but at this stage of the season, to win 4-1 is a huge morale boost. And just like on Saturday, the loud chanting emanating from the Kop during the closing stages was a hair-raised-on-back-of-neck confirmation of what a special period this is for the club.

Because it was all over, this season, and yet now the possibilities seem endless. The credit for that belongs to the management and players. They were largely written off by all, including a good proportion of us supporters. Yet just like the League Cup heroics, they have defied the odds.

The warm sense of approval swirling around the stadium was notable only for how much it has become the norm this season. There was no player being singled out for abuse, no groans of frustration after a move broke down. When the subs warm up along the touchline, they were warmly applauded simply because we love them. Parkinson was being openly questioned a few weeks back, but now there surely can’t be anyone who disagrees he is the right man for the job.

Tonight, as on Saturday, a chant of “Stand up if you love City” echoed around. I think this is fantastic, not because I particularly needed to stand up to prove I love City, but because of what it means to sing about ourselves. How many times over the last decade or so would we chant “Stand up if you hate the Leeds”? Now weeks and months go by without a single anti-Leeds song being aired. Now games come and go without groans of anger or boos. Negativity, to ourselves and to others, out of vogue.

It’s easy to be this way when you’re winning, but not so easy to win games in the first place. The wonderful atmosphere around the club right now is therefore a huge testament to the players and manager. They built this. They have turned around a season that had slipped away. They have returned us our hope.

This remarkable, incredible season still has a chapter or two in store when it seemed to have been closed. I genuinely don’t know how this is going to pan out, but right now that can wait. Just for a few moments, I want to revel in the here and now of City being on the brink of promotion with four games to go. I want to revel in debating which is the greater achievement – reaching a major cup final or coming back from play off hopes over to sitting proudly in the top seven? And, most of all, I want to revel in how wonderfully proud I feel to be a Bradford City supporter.

A season of some of the biggest highs I have ever experienced following the club, and yet the best may still be to come.

City: McLaughlin, Darby, Davies, McArdle, Meredith, Thompson (Atkinson 76), Ravenhill, Jones (Doyle 72), Reid, Hanson, Wells (Connell 82)

Not used: Duke, McHugh, Nelson, Hines

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