Tag Archives: Zavon Hines

The wonderfully dull close season

14 Jun

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By Jason McKeown

For us Bradford City supporters, the tradition, at this time of the year, is to fret about the lack of signings and worry about the transfer business already completed by our league rivals. This summer looks set to be different, however, with the quality over quantity mantra of last year’s close season having proved to be a successful strategy that we all understand will be continued.

Indeed it is tempting to boldly predict that this should prove to be one of the most low-key close seasons that Bradford City have experienced for some time. The squad has not been dismantled, and the success of promotion to League One means there is not the usual need to introduce a new philosophy for the next season.

The extent of Phil Parkinson’s recruitment will be found in the resolution of the futures of a handful of out of contract players. Tellingly, only youth striker Adam Baker has been shown the door to date, although on the other side of the coin only Andrew Davies is definitely staying on. Garry Thompson, Jon McLaughlin and Kyel Reid have been offered deals and will all be expected to take them. When it comes to Matt Duke, Will Atkinson, Zavon Hines, Carl McHugh and Nathan Doyle, there is a curious ‘wait-and-see’ declaration that will be determined by the size of the playing budget.

Ignoring McHugh, who will clearly be offered a new contract, the dilemma over these players is one we can educationally guess at. Duke, Atkinson, Hines and Doyle were by no means certain starters during the second half of last season, and as such Parkinson will surely be contemplating whether this will prove to be different a division higher.

Are they good enough to be back up for their respective positions? Could they play a more important role? Or could the budget be better spent elsewhere? Perhaps spent on new signings who can displace current first choice players, so they move into the back up positions of Duke, Atkinson and Hines?

If the bar is to be raised – and a move up a division strongly indicates that it must be – then Parkinson must surely be looking for ins that are an improvement on what he has in the building. Without an unlimited budget, it may prove to be the case that some squad players no longer quite measure up to the raised standards and so are moved on. You suspect much of the wait is due to Parkinson assessing if there are better, affordable options.

Not that such dilemmas will be exclusively applied to out of contract players. The need for improvement – and finding the space and budget for that – could see Parkinson willing to let other players to leave. Alan Connell is perhaps the best example – though by no means the only – of this. Despite pledging his future to the club via the local paper, a scenario similar to Swindon last season – where the newly promoted Wiltshire club were prepared to wavier a transfer fee to unload Connell to the Bantams – could easily occur. Andy Gray is said to have a place in Parkinson’s plans, but you wonder where Davies’ new contract leaves Michael Nelson and even Luke Oliver.

Also potentially in the outgoing section are players who have impressed enough for higher league clubs to issue tempting offers. Nahki Wells has undoubtedly placed himself in the shop window and City’s resolve to keep him will surely be tested. WOAP has also heard of Championship level interest in James Meredith, though this may not come to anything more concrete than the Aussie appearing part way down someone’s shopping list.

As for the areas of improvement, Parkinson will surely be chiefly focused on midfield. Gary Jones’ heroics have seen the veteran deservedly earn a new contract, but at 36-years-old he is fast approaching his best before date and needs help. Ricky Ravenhill’s strong end to the season shows he still has much to offer, but would he be a starter in League One? There are so many rumours about Nathan Doyle that it would be a surprise were he to stay, though one hopes so. A central midfielder is an obvious target with the excellent Marlon Pack linked with a move.

A winger will also be on the shopping list, especially if Hines and/or Atkinson depart. WOAP has been informed that Burton’s Republic of Congo-born wideman Jacques Maghoma is a strong target. The 25-year-old produced a stunning performance against the Bantams in the play off semi final first leg at Valley Parade, and in total managed an impressive 18 goals from 50 appearances last season.

Up front, although a link to Calvin Zola has been denied by T&A journalist Simon Parker, WOAP understands that there may actually be something in it and that Zola was in West Yorkshire earlier this week for talks. Like Maghoma, Zola impressed greatly in the play off first leg but evidently lacks consistency. We might expect Parkinson to set his sights higher than the 28-year-old. Time will tell.

So change afoot, but not on the scale witnessed on an annual basis in so many years. That unsettling feeling, going into pre-season friendlies, of struggling to recognise half of the team should not be the case this time around. By and large, the squad who performed such heroics last season will remain in tact.

We may not know what to expect from the division we join next season, but from our own it should largely prove business as usual.

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2012/13 season review: The best trip, I’ve ever been on

28 May

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By Jason McKeown

It was the year of walking onto the field to the supporter-created song ‘claret and amber’. Of hooped home shirts. Of Flexi-cards. A year where Valley Parade was filled to capacity for the first time in over a decade. Where we were looking up the league rather than down. Of over-achieving in the cups. Of selling out numerous away games. Of Gary Jones.

Right from the start, you suspected this could be a special one. League One Notts County away in the League Cup kicked off the season. We travelled to Nottingham on a baking hot day merely in the hope of a good performance, accomplishing not only that but a credible 1-0 win. The BBC called it a “giant killing”. This was just the warm up.

The league began with a bang too. After an opening day loss, back-to-back home wins over Fleetwood and Wimbledon set the tone for a sustainable promotion push. The Dons were swept aside in stunning first-half fashion – 5-1 at the interval – and it was hard to avoid feeling wildly optimistic. “Champions by Christmas” one of group of friends quipped. “No”, responded someone else. “Champions by August Bank Holiday”.

Pre-match optimism

Rotherham was a reality check. The first of many City away sell outs, we rocked up to the wonderful New York Stadium in expectation, but went 1-0 down within 75 seconds and would go on to lose 4-0. Accrington a week after not much better, despite a 1-1 draw. Perhaps it won’t be so easy: Champions by Easter?

But we soon got into our stride. Barnet were woeful, Morecambe swept aside in thrilling fashion – Jones’ first City goal met with a pump-fist celebration in front of the Kop. He and Nathan Doyle were forming a great partnership, James Hanson and Nahki Wells could not stop scoring. The summer warmth lingered long enough for a t-shirt day at Oxford in late September, with a 2-0 win taking us joint second.

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A fourth win on the trot was achieved in the cup against Burton. What a night that was. Even at 2-0 down at half time, confidence was high that we could win it. Kyel Reid came off the bench and destroyed the Brewers, and fellow sub Wells netted two late goals. The celebrations for his last minute equaliser up there with any moment we’ve experienced this season. Stephen Darby’s extra time winner was academic.

Bumps on the road to promotion followed. Port Vale ending City’s 100% home record – undeservedly so – 10-men Rochdale could not be beaten on their own patch, and then at Dagenham the Bantams managed to go 4-1 down with a late two-goal fightback in vein. A trip up the A1 to Hartlepool in the JPT was memorable only for another City penalty shootout victory and a nightmare drive home due to roadworks.

We needed a big win, and defeating a fellow promotion rival – Cheltenham – provided that. 3-1 having fallen behind. Mark Yates correctly moaning about being denied a penalty when his side was 1-0 up. Wells was the hero. Not a great performance, but a great win. Wells netted again three days later at Northampton. Now we’re cooking.

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The League Cup run was getting really exciting. We went to Premier League Wigan in Round Four – initially a disappointing prospect, but following news of a 5,000 City away end sell-out, excitement for a good night. Losing at Burton three days earlier – with the added nightmare of injuries robbing us of Luke Oliver for the rest of the season and Andrew Davies until February – meant we went to the DW Stadium with little hope. A stunning performance ensued, capped off by a penalty shootout win. Duuukkkkkeeeee!

That set up a quarter final home tie with Arsenal. How to concentrate for the six weeks in-between? Progress in the FA Cup occurred with a memorable 3-3 replay – and yes, another shootout success – over Northampton. City’s lowest home crowd of the season, but one of the best games.  In the league, form was mixed, but a trip to Bristol Rovers stands out as one of the season’s highlights. It was wet – very wet – and the away terrace offered no protection. But we skidded in the rain in celebration of City coming from behind three times to earn a point. Fantastic character.

But it was all about waiting for Arsenal. Tick the games off. Port Vale in the JPT, good fun. Brentford on a Friday night in the FA Cup, notable for how drunk one of our group was (“It is pay day drinks!”) and City temporarily getting kicked out the competition for fielding loanee Curtis Good. Three days before the Gunners came to town, an important 1-0 home win over Torquay was sealed by a superb Alan Connell strike. He was fast cementing his status as super sub. Will Atkinson, James Meredith and Rory McArdle were also in excellent form.

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So now we can enjoy the Arsenal game. It was bitterly cold, and Manningham Lane an hour before kick off was packed out in a way I’ve not seen for years. Long queues to get inside the Kop; and just as we made our way to our seats, the Arsenal team was announced. Blimey, they are taking it seriously.

Garry Thompson’s opening goal is one that we will treasure for years to come. We’re beating Arsenal! Just 70 minutes to go! Incredibly, we almost held out. A late Gunners equaliser would surely cost us, but we held on through extra time with the noise levels from a packed out Valley Parade never relenting. Penalties. Say no more.

The next night, a group of us got together to watch the semi final draw. Please be Villa, at home first, was my wish. That is what we got. Another scramble for tickets, but both legs sorted out with only a couple of sleepness nights. Now back to the League…oh dear. After scrambling to victory over Accrington on Boxing Day (Connell again!), form fell off a cliff. Rochdale embarrassed us; at Morecambe we rued that miss by Hanson; Barnet thumped us 2-0 three days before Villa. At least the likes of Stephen Darby and Zavon Hines were impressing.

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Oh what a night we had, in the home leg against Villa. I’ll always remember a friend in the pub beforehand predicting “3-1…and I begrudge Villa that 1!” and thinking he was mad. But he could not have been more right. Rory McArdle’s header that made it 2-0 saw Valley Parade rock like it hasn’t since Gordon Watson netted a brace in front of the same Kop end in September 1998. I lost the plot celebrating. The wonderfully promising Carl McHugh’s goal for 3-1 was special too. If you could dismiss the Wigan and Arsenal wins as being on penalties, there was no talking down of this one. League Two Bradford City had beaten Premier League Aston Villa over 90 minutes.

Other games happened in-between the two legs, but attention was only on Villa Park. A 4-1 thumping to Crewe in the JPT was painless in the circumstances, save for how ridiculously cold it was. No one minded that Saturday’s trip to Vale was called off, let’s just hope this heavy snow doesn’t make it impossible to travel to Birmingham.

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I took a car-load to this game. As a group some of us barely knew each other, but by the time we met up on the street outside Villa Park at full time, we were on hugging terms. The first half was horrible as Villa came flying out the blocks; but then Gary Jones swung a corner onto Hanson’s head, 10 minutes into the second half, and we were gleefully celebrating an improbable equaliser. I will always remember my good friend and fellow Width of a Post writer Gareth Walker needing a sit down next to me, as he was so overcome with emotion. A late Villa winner added anxiety, but we did it. What a night. Perhaps the best moment of my time supporting Bradford City.

We were in the League Cup Final at Wembley. Even writing this article months after, I can’t help but smile at the absurdity of that statement. I never thought it would happen in my lifetime.

Reality bit back at Fleetwood a week later, with a 2-2 draw on the North-West coast not what we needed to close the gap to the play offs. A 1-0 defeat at home to leaders Gillingham – our only home game in-between Villa and Wembley – was played out with an air of obvious distraction on and off the field. At least we beat Wycombe away in midweek, but a 2-1 loss to bottom of the table Wimbledon eight days before Wembley was not ideal.

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What more can you say about Wembley One? The build up was phenomenal.  The world’s media camped out at Bradford, covering every angle possible. Revel in all the TV and newspaper coverage, enjoy the players being treated like rock stars. “Now live to the Cedar Hotel in Bradford, where the players are about to board the coach to Wembley” Sky Sports News told us. The challenges of producing this website were increased by numerous media requests. I loved it.

As I loved Wembley. It was a special feeling alighting from the train nearby and walking down the streets with hundreds of City fans. The pubs were packed out, the nerves were growing. A walk up and down Wembley Way was more wonderful than I could ever imagine. The first look inside Wembley was an awesome moment. 33,000 Bradford City fans making an almighty racket. I shed a tear before a kick off. An incredible day out.

Shame about the football.

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The hangover from Wembley was not insignificant. With so much ground to make up on the play offs, every game felt win or bust. A good 2-0 victory at York aside, it was a tale of dropped points and anger. “Does Phil Parkinson deserve his new contract?” some asked. A couple of miserable buggers even plummeted to the depths of writing off the cup run as “lucky”.

The nadir moment, for me, was a 0-0 draw at Plymouth on a Tuesday night in March. I travelled down with two friends, booked into a Travelodge, and the tame performance convinced me that faint play off hopes were over. That we couldn’t get on a run of wins. That it was time to start planning for next season. A 4-1 loss at Exeter the following Saturday only added to that conviction.

But how wrong I was. The surge began with a low key 1-0 win over Wycombe. A 2-2 draw with Southend felt like two dropped points, but then three wins in a row over Torquay, Northampton and Bristol Rovers improbably put us in the top seven. Even automatic hopes weren’t over! Thompson was in great form, Davies a rock in the centre of defence and Reid had rediscovered his swagger. The decision to pick Ricky Ravenhill over a fading Doyle had also helped. RR’s sitting in front of the back four bringing the best out of Gary Jones.

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The stall came with a 2-2 draw at Chesterfield in what was a superb atmosphere, followed by a 2-0 loss to Rotherham in front of a packed out Valley Parade. Still, seventh spot was sealed with a 1-0 win over Burton. A trip to Cheltenham on the last day meaningless, but we had a good time nonetheless.

Bring on the play offs! Burton had the best home record in the Football League, so taking a lead to the Perelli Stadium for the second leg seemed vital. Alas, we endured a dreadful first 45 at Valley Parade to go in at half time 3-1 down – and they might have had more. We’ve frozen, blown it, folded. Burton could have finished us, but a save from Jon McLaughlin, at 2-0 Burton, was vital. Thompson’s stunner gave us hope for the second leg. Burton had let us off the hook.

At Burton, the players more than made amends. Determined, bullish, confident. Wells made it 1-0 to level the tie, and we never looked back. Hanson’s stunner early in the second half sparked delirium. Wells made it 3-1 and we were in dreamland. Blow your whistle ref…six minutes injury time, eh?…blow your whistle ref!

The final whistle brought relief and ecstatic celebrations on and off the pitch. What a wonderful sight to see the players going crazy in front of us. What an uplifting moment to see Parkinson punching the air.

Back to Wembley!

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More serious this time, the consequences of losing would be. We’re not massive underdogs on this occasion, the expectation level was much higher. Less time spent taking photos down Wembley Way, leave that to the Northampton fans. We’ve got work to do.

What a time to produce your best performance of the season! We never gave the Cobblers a sniff. Three goals in 13 minutes. All pile on top of each other. Disbelief at how easy it was. No relaxing until the closing stages. See out the job. The atmosphere was so special.

When Gary Jones and Ricky Ravenhill lifted the trophy, the outpouring of joy topped anything we’d seen all season. And there had been plenty of other outpourings of joy. Promotion a fitting reward for an incredible campaign. 64 games. I personally saw 52 of them. I don’t want to think about how much that cost me, but it was worth every single penny.

The 2012/13 season – one of the greatest in the club’s history. And undoubtedly the most fun I’ve ever had.

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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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On-off play-offs well and truly back on

20 Apr

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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

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In the players Parky trusts

30 Mar

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By Jason McKeown

Half time inside one of the Kop’s Gents toilets, and the mood was foul as supporters took turns to complain about different aspects of Bradford City’s first half performance.

“He needs to get shut of both goalkeepers”, “Reid is a waste of space”, “Get Hines off”, “What does Hanson bring to the table?” As anger and despondency reigned, you could only stay quiet and occasionally agree. There was little to feel enamoured about, following a first half as poor as anything that City have served all season.

One hour and one stirring fight back later, and the invitation to feel happier about your team rescuing an unlikely draw was there to be accepted. Sure, a point doesn’t help our slim play off hopes. And if, unlike myself personally, you still thought a top seven finish could be secured, the reality of that tall order becoming even taller wouldn’t have felt enjoyable. Yet I left Valley Parade with spirits lifted by what I had seen in the second half, and my faith in Phil Parkinson enhanced even more.

For years now, TV coverage of football has been littered with ex-players performing as pundits, having gone straight into the studio from retirement. They are, somehow, considered to be experts on what managers should do – when they have no experience of the demands of the role themselves. Predictably and dismally, this means usually means urging a losing manager to start making substitutions five minutes after the interval, and then criticising them when this does not happen.

Such lazy and subjective punditry has spread to football fans up and down the land, including Valley Parade. Without fail, every single Bradford City manager I have seen has been accused of always making their subs too late. Or of not knowing how to change a game.

But although certain flavour-of-the-month managers are cited for making substitutions early, I’ve often thought that it covers their failings – such as did they pick the wrong starting XI in the first place? And when football is primarily a sport where two teams battle it out and the better one wins, I think too much emphasis can be placed on the influence that substitutions have.

Which is not to suggest that Parkinson’s three changes on Friday were anything but vital in City coming from 2-0 down to earn a draw, but I don’t agree with the criticisms that he should have made them sooner. Parkinson had picked a side that we know was capable of much better than what they had showed in the first half. And, to a man, those players deserved the opportunity to prove that. Which they did after the break, with a much stronger performance. And because they wrestled back control of the game if not the scoreline, the substitutions could be used for what good managers should use them for.

That is to tactically change the shape of the team and the course of the game, rather that punish badly performing players. For me, Hines performed better than Reid; but replacing the former with Will Atkinson enabled City to have the extra body in midfield that the middle two of Gary Jones and Ricky Ravenhill increasingly required. Ravenhill was also taken off at this point, with Alan Connell playing just in front of Jones and Atkinson. A central triangle of intelligent footballers in place, who linked up impressively.

It was a good tactical change. Southend’s impressive (but temperamental) Bilel Mohsni had spent the afternoon sitting in front of his back four and was as close as anyone to setting the game’s tempo. Pushing Jones or Ravenhill directly onto the Frenchman would have resulted in one of the two Southend attacking midfielders having a free reign to run at City’s back four. It meant City had to attack down the flanks, which although stretching the game was something Southend increasingly got to grips with. So Connell came on to force Moshni onto the backfoot, and Jones and Atkinson got on the ball to start pulling the strings. Southend were pushed further and further back.

Then with 10 minutes to go, a last gamble of City going three at the back and Nahki Wells, introduced for Stephen Darby, an extra man up front. City effectively went 3-3-1-3, with Wells and Garry Thompson wide forwards and Hanson in the middle. A risky strategy that could have been punished by an effective visiting counter attack, but there wasn’t going to be much difference between losing 2-1 or 3-1. As it was Wells – who looked back on form – set up Hanson to equalise within two minutes of his introduction.

To me this was good management by Parkinson. He made three very effective substitutions that contributed to the rescuing of a point, but what was more impressive was demonstrating the trust he holds in his players. The half time mood in the stands dictated that a double or even triple substitution at that point would have been widely cheered, but he retained his belief in players who had unfortunately allowed themselves to fall below acceptable standards for 45 minutes, and gave them the opportunity to put things right.

It might not have changed the world yesterday, and it wasn’t enough to earn the three points needed to make unrealistic play off hopes realistic, but it was a useful exercise in good management by Parkinson. And it was further confirmation of the character and qualities he has natured in this group of players – a team that needs tweaks rather than an overhaul, in order to fulfil top seven ambitions next season.

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The catch up game continues

29 Mar

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Bradford City 2

Hines 53, Hanson 83

Southend United 2

Tomlin 10, Assombalonga 11

Friday 29 March, 2013

By Mark Danylczuk

Eight points off the play offs, with seven games to go. Mathematically possible – yes. In reality – probably not, barring an incredible run of results. Another one of those days for Bradford City, with dropped points proving costly in catching up to the play off pack and one less game as a margin for error. In a freakish reversal of the 2-2 draw at Southend in December, where City let a two goal lead slip to draw, the tables were turned today. The Bantams coming back from a two goal deficit to earn a deserved draw in an entertaining game at Valley Parade.

Parkinson kept the same line up from the team which beat Wycombe 12 days ago, with an attacking impetus of Kyel Reid and Zavon Hines on the wings to provide delivery to the pair of James Hanson and Garry Thompson up front. The game saw Phil Brown’s debut as Southend manager, as the hosts were looking to build on their promotion push with neither team wanting to drop any points at this crucial time in the season.

Both teams started the game fairly brightly but then, before City had time to make any sort of impact, the killer blow was dealt with two goals conceded in a matter of minutes, which meant the remainder of the match was a game of catch-up. The first goal in the 10th minute was very poor defensively with a long ball floated in, Jon McLaughlin flapped and missed the ball, Mohsni hit the post from the resulting shot and Tomlin was there to convert the rebound for the visitors.

A minute later Southend raced away again on the counter attack with the ball switched to the right-hand side, crossed in by Clohessy and Assombalonga clumsily converted from six yards. The two goals from Tomlin and Assombalonga made it 27 between the prominent Southend front pairing and, for the rest of the first half, City simply could not cope with the duo’s pace and presence.

City were quick to respond and from a free kick in the 12th minute; Reid was unlucky to hit the underside of the bar and Hanson’s resulting header was cleared off the line by the Southend defence. With the crowd spurring the team on, Gary Jones began to get a grip of the midfield and City enjoyed more of the possession with some neat and tidy passing, but no end product in the final third. Southend looked comfortable to soak up the possession, being effective on the counter, and City struggled to muster anything of any significance for the remainder of the first half. In particular, Hines looked poor and lacklustre and Ricky Ravenhill was also anonymous.

The Bantams began the second half strongly with continued pressure. The first chance of the period came in the 52nd minute with a ball in the box from James Meredith, a Hanson knock down and the resultant scramble leaving Hines to bundle the ball home – but the referee Steve Rushton disallowed the goal, apparently for a handball against Hines. Zavon was to have his moment a minute later though, as City got the early goal required to put pressure on the hosts in forcing a comeback. Again, another ball across from Meredith, and Hines struck the ball sweetly with his left foot, first time into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal. Justice done.

The momentum was clearly with City now in getting the equaliser, but Southend were also just as dangerous and had a great chance to re-establish the two goal cushion in the 70th minute. Substitute Matthew Lund broke clear down the middle and, with the City defence stretched, had a great opportunity to slip the ball through to Assombalonga to make it 3-1. But Lund selfishly tried his luck with a shot from 20 yards out which went well wide.

Parkinson could see that reinforcements were needed to freshen things up and Will Atkinson came on for Ravenhill, slotting into central midfield, whilst Alan Connell came on for Hines and went up front with Thompson moving out to the right wing. Again, the hosts went closer to scoring, this time with Mkandawire hitting the post in the 75th minute with a shot from the edge of the box.

Last chance saloon and it called for Nakhi Wells to come on for Darby in the 80th minute and form an attacking front three with Hanson and Connell. The substitution almost immediately paid off as, a couple of minutes later, City grabbed a deserved equaliser. Wells broke free to the left of the box and clipped a ball over to the far post for Hanson to head in.

Cue pandemonium from the City fans and the roar to press on for the winner. It was backs to the walls for the hosts who, although stunned from the two-goal lead lost, seemed keen to preserve a point. It was a game of attack and defence. City’s two best remaining chances came in the final minutes. The first was Wells cutting in from the right just outside the box and forcing a good save from the keeper with a powerful shot. The second was from another Reid run, which resulted in him going down in the box with Rushton refusing the penalty appeals and – to rub salt in the wounds – giving Reid a yellow card for diving.

But it was not to be. After five minutes of extra time, the game was up and City were left to rue another two points dropped. The damage was done after the two early goals conceded so quickly after one another. A few plus points can be raised – the tactical changes by Parkinson with introducing Wells in making an impact to set up Hanson for the equaliser, and Wells himself looking much sharper and more effective than in recent weeks. The warrior, Gary Jones, produced another impeccable and inspirational midfield performance.

Reid, given the sponsor’s man of the match award, also must be credited for putting a shift in and getting balls in the box to create chances. Yes, some of his crosses were poor, but most were decent, with City players not willing to gamble. I cannot understand some City fans who jeered and booed a player who was our most creative outlet, willing runner and focus of our attacking play. Personal opinion indeed, but where would the crosses come from otherwise? Hines on the opposing wing barely produced one all game.

Although City have not been picking up as many points as hoped, it is worth noting that it’s only one defeat in the last eight games. Progress, but the fact only two of these games have seen victories is simply not promotion material. With two matches a week for the next three weeks, it is asking a lot for a team to produce a promotion run of multiple victories with such a schedule. Parkinson will have to chop and change the team in order to work towards this.

Simply put, it has to be two wins against Torquay and Northampton next week – to keep the distant play off dream alive.

City: McLaughlin, Darby (Wells 81), Meredith, Davies, McArdle, Ravenhill (Atkinson 73), Reid, Thompson,  Jones,  Hanson, Hines (Connell 73)

Not used: Duke, McHugh, Nelson,  Doyle

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The Midweek Player Focus #33: Nathan Doyle

25 Mar

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By Jason McKeown

It would be easy to say that Nathan Doyle’s fortunes over this season have reflected that of his football club, and what that says about his influence. It would be easy to say that – just as Doyle began to look too pedestrian – so to did Bradford City’s progress stall. And it would be easy to say that a fully on-song Nathan Doyle would see a steadfast return to a fully on-song Bradford City.

But to assume that current issues with both the player and club relate simply to tiredness and a failure to reach top gear would be to ignore the bigger picture. And though it would be correct to say that Doyle’s recent stint on the bench is merited, it is far from the player’s own fault.

Midfield has evolved over the course of the season, moving away recently from being built around Doyle’s strengths. The return to fitness of two out-and-out-wingers – Zavon Hines and Kyel Reid – has seen a shift towards accommodating this dual threat; and, as such, a readdressing of the midfield balance. It means that a player widely written off mid-season has improbably re-emerged to become the team’s tempo setter. The same player who has taken Doyle’s place in the team.

Ricky Ravenhill’s form of late has been excellent, leading to an improvement in the performances of both Reid and Gary Jones, plus the continuation of high standards from Hines. Doyle sits on the bench as an outstanding back up option, relative to this division. Out of contract in the summer, Nathan’s future may be dependent on how much Parkinson views other players as forming part of his long-term plans.

During the first half of the campaign, Doyle stood up as a worthy rival to Gary Jones and Rory McArdle for the title of player of the season. Signed partly, it seemed, because of the RR-shaped hole caused by a bad pre-season injury to the club captain, it did not take long for Doyle to make a big impact on his return to a club which – during his loan spell from Derby in 2006/07 – did much to launch his career. All the more impressive, given he looked a long way short of full fitness.

And while first time around he had proven himself a tenacious right back with bags of potential, his emergence at Hull and Barnsley as a central midfielder meant we have seen a very different Nathan Doyle this time around. He and Gary Jones seemed to click instantly as a central pair. They were dominating matches, laying on the foundations for some excellent early season victories.

But there was a but. Evidenced somewhat graphically at the New York Stadium in early September. A spring in the step caused by three straight victories, the Bantams went to Rotherham continuing to start with Reid and Hines on either flank, with Doyle and Jones patrolling the centre. Effectively a 4-2-4 formation, it was, in footballing terms, a kamikaze approach. City’s midfield was easily bypassed by a rampant Rotherham. At the time I wrote, “A central midfield pairing of a 35-year-old and someone who looks half-fit – for the first time this season – looked like a central midfield pairing of a 35-year-old and someone who looks half-fit.” They were completely overrun.

Which led to the gradual emergence of a Plan B, one that enabled Doyle and Jones to continue as a central pair: Will Atkinson. A bad injury to Reid at Rochdale hastened the need to abandon two out-and-out wingers, and replacement Atkinson’s energetic approach of cutting inside and taking up a wide variety of positions provided the balance badly needed. When City had the ball, Atkinson and Jones could get forward, and Doyle’s stunning passing ability could pick any of the attacking players out. When needing to defend, Atkinson was able to tuck inside, next to Doyle and Jones, thereby increasing our ability to win back the ball.

With James Meredith emerging from Reid’s shadow to demonstrate what an effective attacking left back he was, Plan B was working a treat. Atkinson’s drift-inside-approach did not cost City its width, because there was Meredith charging forward into the space vacated. Doyle performed like an American Football Quarter Back: give him the ball, and watch him pick out the right pass. He was everything that Tommy Doherty was supposed to be. Intelligent, creative, visionary. A thinking supporter’s favourite player.

It all began to slowly unravel, like City’s form, with Meredith’s illness. “What’s wrong with Meredith today?” I remember asking on the Kop concourse at half time of the December humbling to Rochdale. A worryingly below-par 45 minutes at Morecambe on New Year’s Day – he was withdrawn at half time – and Meredith has not appeared again until last week’s victory over Wycombe, because of illness.

This absence began to have negative consequences for first Atkinson and then Doyle. Carl McHugh, Ryan Dickson, Stephen Darby and Curtis Good have all stepped in at left back. But no one proved to be as effective as Meredith when City had possession. Suddenly Atkinson was required to provide the width instead of Meredith – much less his game – and his form began to suffer. City became easy to stop.

With Reid back on the scene, the temptation to go back to dual out-and-out wingers, instead of asking Atkinson to play in a manner he is evidently less comfortable with, has grown. Subsequently bringing us back to the Jones/Doyle mobility problem.

If the pair provide a more than passable imitation of the best central midfield two I have ever seen at City – Stuart McCall and Gareth Whalley – the fact that Jones cannot cover every blade of grass in the way that McCall could limits the effectiveness of Doyle compared to Whalley. Watch back the first goal of City’s cup final defeat to Swansea, and where possession was conceded to the Swans in the build up. It has been our first attack of the game, with the ball worked into their box. But after Swansea won the ball, one relatively short pass within their half completely took Doyle and Jones out of the game, and they went on to score.

Jones and Doyle roam in a pack, which is great at times. But when left as an isolated pack, they appear too slow and are outgunned by any opposition playing three in the centre. You can see why Parkinson was looking to bring Jason Kennedy to help them, in the January window.

So as Meredith’s absence ultimately led to Parkinson returning to Reid as a starter, Atkinson’s absence has diminished Doyle’s effectiveness. Without Atkinson to help, greater reliance fell on Doyle to become the ball winner. Something that, despite typically playing deep, he is much less able at doing compared to Ravenhill. It was time for a change in approach.

Fatigue cannot be dismissed when assessing Atkinson and Doyle’s form, of course. City’s top three appearance makers currently stand at James Hanson on 49, and then Atkinson and Doyle with 47 each. Atkinson and Doyle were not just playing practically every league game up until February, they were deployed in cup games too (they each played in 12 of City’s 14 cup ties). Doyle was used as centre half or right back in such games, to cover injuries or to enable others to rest. No wonder they have both experienced something a burn out.

The dynamic of the midfield is now different. Ravenhill sits in front of the back four, rarely roaming into the final third of the pitch, with the role of winning back possession and setting up attacks. The major difference between Ravenhill and Doyle is that the former’s greater defensive effectiveness allows Jones to get forward more, rather than have to help out his central midfield partner. In addition, Reid and Hines can be deployed together as out and out wingers absolved of any great defensive responsibility, even away from home.

The question now is where does the recent benching leave both Doyle and Atkinson? Parkinson has stuck with Reid in recent weeks and is finally starting to be rewarded with improved performances by the former West Ham trainee. Ravenhill, who is contracted to City for another year, is firmly back in the fold after spending so much of the season in the role of unused sub. Someone of Doyle’s ability (and, in all probability, wage) cannot simply become a League Two reserve. And with Gary Jones outlining his desire to sign a deal to stay at City next season, three into two may not go.

Perhaps Doyle’s future will be determined by the consistency of Reid. The season’s Plan A is back in vogue, and is likely to determine whether faint promotion hopes are realised. Should City fail to close in on the top seven and Reid continue to over-hit his crosses, it will not just be easy to say that Doyle’s fortunes this season have reflected that of his football club. It will be easier to determine that Plan B was the more effective this season – and that Doyle’s considerable talents are worth another contract.

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We would have taken a point, but could have had all three

6 Mar

Port Vale 0

Bradford City 0 

Tuesday 5 March, 2013

 

By Gareth Walker

On the face of things, getting a point away from home against the side who are second in the league would be considered a job well done. However, after City’s second half performance tonight, anyone who was at Vale Park would find it difficult to argue that we didn’t deserve so much more.

City went into the game on the back of a good win on Saturday in the local derby against York and were hoping to gain back-to-back league wins for the first time since mid October. Port Vale were in poor form having only won once in their previous five games.

Phil Parkinson again shuffled the pack as he made three changes to the team from Saturday, with Rory McArdle, Zavon Hines and Garry Thompson replacing Andrew Davies, Kyel Reid and Nahki Wells. Vale meanwhile gave a start to returning loan signing Anthony Griffth and left Lee Hughes on the bench.

The first half was a relatively even affair with both sides enjoying decent spells of territorial possession and looking to get forward where possible, although relatively few chances were created. From a City point of view, this mainly seemed to be because of slight over elaboration on the edge of the Port Vale box. Will Atkinson in particular guilty of this, having got himself into decent positions on a couple of occasions.

The Valiants were trying to use the pace of Jennison Myrie-Williams down their right flank, but he was well shepherded by the impressive Carl McHugh, who also bravely headed away a cross from in his own six yard box despite losing a boot in the process.

The best chance of the first period fell to the division’s top scorer Tom Pope. A free kick was hung up to the back post from the City right. McHugh seemed to mistime his jump and this allowed a Port Vale player to head the ball back across goal. It was met first time by a thunderous Pope header, which had Jon McLaughlin completely wrong footed. Somehow, however, the City shotstopper managed to fling himself back to his left to produce a stunning one handed save, one which Width of a Post editor Jason McKeown described as “The Save of the Season”.

In truth, it was one of those saves that would be replayed over and over again if the game had been shown live on television, and it was definitely the highlight of what had been a relatively entertaining first half.

The second 45 was a different contest to the first in that City really dominated and had their high flying opponents on the rack for large periods. Hines and Thompson in particular were tormenting the Vale defence every time they got the ball, and James Hanson was winning more than his fair share in the air against the experienced Darren Purse. The home side started to look edgy as City increased the tempo. And there were a couple of cynical fouls which resulted in yellow cards, as they attempted to stem the flow that City were putting into their play.

It was from two of the resultant free kicks that Hanson had the two best chances of the game. Gary Jones, whose delivery looked back to its early season best, put in two tremendous crosses. Both were from the City right and both were met firmly by the head of our number nine. The first was well saved by Vale Keeper Chris Neal, although the effort lacked direction as Hanson was put under pressure from the challenge of Purse. The second, however, was a free header that was met firmly yet was disappointingly directed a good three yards wide of the post.

At the other end of the pitch, Pope was looking starved of service although he did have one headed chance from a breakaway that he directed straight into the arms of a grateful McLaughlin.

City had really upped the tempo and it was only an injury picked up by Thompson and his subsequent enforced withdrawal that signalled the end of a spell of complete Bantam dominance. It was a shame to see Thompson go off injured because he has been one of the stand out performers over the last two or three games. It is to be hoped that the injury isn’t a serious one that would prevent him from being involved in what remains of our hectic March schedule.

Wells came on and was immediately involved in the action as he turned left back Daniel Jones and set off towards the penalty area, only to be let down by some poor control. He also had a run down the City right shortly afterwards which involved him beating a couple of defenders and then going down in the box amidst some half hearted penalty appeals from the City faithful.

The home side did eventually have a spell of pressure on the City goal after Reid had been brought on to replace the tiring but extremely impressive Hines. McLaughlin, however, was rarely trouble as most efforts were somewhat wayward shots from the edge of the box. Even the introduction of Hughes, the man who most away fans love to hate, did little to spur the home side on; apart from one flick on that was well intercepted by Michael Nelson, before the onrushing Louis Dodds was able to capitalise.

It was, in fact, City who finished the game stronger with a couple of Reid crosses causing panic in the penalty area and being scrambled away when the ball just wouldn’t drop for a Bradford shirt, even when it squirmed under the body of Neal and was begging to be put away. The last incident of note in the game was the dismissal of Doug Loft in injury time for a clumsy challenge in the centre circle which left impressive referee James Adcock with little choice but to show the red card.

The point, although a welcome one for City, is one which does little to enhance our push for the play offs. And it is to be hoped that we look back on this game at the end of the season as one point gained rather than two dropped. In order to do that, it is surely now imperative that we take at least four points from our next two games against two of the division’s strugglers Aldershot and Plymouth.

City: McLaughlin, Darby, McArdle, Nelson, McHugh, Hines (Reid 76), Ravenhill, Jones (Doyle 90), Atkinson, Thompson (Wells 65), Hanson

Not used: Duke, Davies, Gray, Connell

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Parkinson gets it right in a big, big way

2 Mar

2013-03-02 16.52.30

York City 0

Bradford City 2

Hanson 77, Thompson 86

Saturday 2 March, 2013

By Jason McKeown

I have a special fondness for this type of Bradford City away win, and I only wish that it would occur more regularly.

Where the game is tight, and could easily go either way. Where the football isn’t exactly free flowing, but the defensive qualities of your players are displayed to a level you rarely have to see during home games. Where a late goal or two settles the outcome, goals which are celebrated Über-enthusiastically. This type of grind-out away win somehow provides a greater sense of achievement than a routine victory, speaking volumes for the team’s character.

And I’m especially pleased for Phil Parkinson. His post-Wembley week involved getting slated on national radio for his tactical acumen and having his future questioned by a vocal minority of City supporters. He deserves better than that, for what he has done for this football club. I respect the fact some don’t share the same opinion as me that it is essential we keep Parkinson, but when today a very well-known City supporter – sat right behind me – rose to his feet and called him a w*nker for being so negative (this minutes after he brought on Zavon Hines, which looked a positive change to me) then you wonder whether some Bradford City fans really deserve to share in the accolades bestowed upon us all this week. One week after leading us out at a major cup final and the manager is called a w*nker by someone who should know better. That really, really upsets me.

And it is a typical example of many supporters who attend the match but do not seem to watch what is going on. Introducing Hines provided City with the extra momentum to win a game that York might feel they merited taking something from. But it was a gamble by Parkinson to go more open, and we’ve seen City punished for doing so earlier in the season (think of Rotherham). Had we lost, the criticism would have been intense. So Parkinson merits every plaudit going for his bold move paying off.

As he does for his back-to-basics approach that saw Ricky Ravenhill restored to the line up – eyebrows were raised and, again, many people watching today were guilty of not recognising how well Ravenhill performed (he was receiving some awful stick). I’m really happy that Parkinson made this change. The Gary Jones/Nathan Doyle central midfield partnership has performed heroics this season, but has proved less effective for several weeks now. The pair are almost too similar and struggle to cover as much of the pitch as you’d like. And as much as I rate Doyle, his form of late has not been good enough. He needed this rest.

So Ravenhill – a player whose ability and quality seems to have been forgotten over the last few months – sat in front of the back four and produced a man of the match display, which provided Jones with a greater licence to roam forward. The balance was much better, as Jones delivered his best game for some time (not that he has been playing badly). It looks to be a template to stick too, for the time being at least.

The game was even, for the most part. York’s 10-game winless run was evident by the nervousness of their attacking play; but at the back they looked solid and neutered the threat from the restored James Hanson and Nahki Wells. Kyel Reid and Will Atkinson had mixed success getting in behind, but were adept in supporting Ravenhill and Jones. Just before half time, York enjoyed a strong spell of pressure that served only to show off the virtues of Andrew Davies and his backline colleagues. In Jones and Davies, City now have two clear leaders on the pitch. Davies was sensational with his last ditch blocks, ably supported by the on-form Stephen Darby, Michael Nelson and Carl McHugh. Tough on Rory McArdle to be left out, but – a theme developing here – it provided greater balance.

With Jon McLaughlin also on top form – justifying  Parkinson’s decision to leave the returning Matt Duke on the bench – the foundations for an away win were in place. McLaughlin made a handful of superb saves, especially the one from Matt Blair’s drive midway through the second half. All we needed was a goal of our own.

Which you began to question the likelihood of. City got into good positions, but moves broke down due to an over-eager pass or the wrong option taken in which way to dribble. And with the game rightly billed as must-win, it felt like the season was on a knife edge and that it could be as good as decided here and now. Wells’ unfortunate early withdrawal through injury was a blow that threatened to reduce hopes further, but Parkinson made another smart decision by selecting Garry Thompson as his replacement. Zavon’s introduction 10 minutes after firmly tipped the scales in City’s favour.

The opening goal came from the head of Hanson, though York keeper Michael Ingham should have made a better fist of keeping his powerful attempt out. Darby set the goal up with a brilliant cross. Yet the true inspiration behind the breakthrough was Hines. He had picked up the ball in space, wriggled free from his nearest challenger and was able to get to the byeline. His marker was now back and able to block any attempted cross for a corner; but rather than look to win a set piece, Zavon turned around and played the ball back to Darby, in space, to cross. Great awareness from the in-form winger.

And from the moment Hanson’s header crept over the line, every player began to look 10 foot taller in terms of stature and belief. Confidence, which has been eroded over the last few weeks, was rediscovered. A second goal should have arrived when Thompson was blatantly fouled in the box, but appeals were ignored. No matter, City were digging in deep and defending brilliantly. A 1-0 lead never looks comfortable, but a rising shot from Alex Rodman aside, the Bantams were not for opening up.

The game was sealed by a horrendous York defence mix up, when two defenders allowed a long ball to bounce without getting to grips with clearing it. Thompson stole in to nip the ball, and then ran clean through with just Ingham to beat. He finished emphatically, and that was that. The Garry Thompson of recent months is a different player to the under-achiever pre-Bristol Rovers last November. Another example of Parkinson’s coaching and man-management skills, which should also offer hope regarding the so-far underwhelming performances from Andy Gray.

The league table doesn’t look much better for this win, truth be told. City are still 12th, and the gap to the last play spot has only been reduced to nine points. It still looks a tall order to gain promotion, and the players are going to have to produce something extraordinary just to extend the season. But don’t give up on them just yet.

Because the commitment on show today…well, to be frank, it hasn’t always been evident since we defeated Arsenal in the League Cup quarter finals last December, setting up those semi finals and a Wembley final. That the eye was taken off the ball prompts lots of emotions and frustrations from supporters, which are completely understandable. But I personally never thought we weren’t good enough. And were it not for the epic cup run (and, really, who would trade that?) we would be right up there now.

The doom and gloom that has been allowed to surface is typical of this football club over recent years; it is that losing mentality that Parkinson spoke of within a month of being installed as manager. The team and manager deserve greater support from fans (and the Board), but have it in their own hands to shape the outlook by, at the very least, maintaining a high level of commitment until the bitter end.

Today was a promising step in the right direction, now it’s on to Port Vale for more of the same.

City: McLaughlin, Darby, Davies, Nelson, McHugh, Atkinson (Hines 67), Ravenhill, Jones, Reid, Hanson, Wells (Thompson 55)

Not used: Duke, McArdle, Connell, Doyle, Gray

After the match York City confirmed they had sacked manager Gary Mills. Meanwhile Phil Parkinson revealed that Curtis Good and Blair Turgott’s loans have been ended and they have returned to their respective clubs.

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Flagging City fall short

28 Feb

Bradford City 1

Hanson 86

Dagenham & Redbridge 1

Howell 69

Tuesday 27 February, 2013

By Damien Wilkinson

For what now seems an age following the euphoric victory at Villa Park in January, which secured the historic Wembley final, the subsequent fixture at home to Dagenham & Redbridge, always had a potentially strange feel to it.  Despite being moved from the usual Tuesday night slot to the following evening to allow Wembley-weary legs extra time to recover, there were the usual doubts that traditionally accompany a City ‘after the Lord Mayor’s parade’ scenario, at least before Sunday’s match.

Had we won the cup then a subsequent home defeat in front of a massive crowd would no doubt have been a foregone conclusion; but in the cold light of day following a resounding defeat, and priorities now re-focused on the league, would City be able to quickly re-adjust to the rigours of League Two, and rapidly re-energise a fading promotion surge?

The answer was a resounding no and, yet again, City have followed up a cup match with the absence of a victory and a far from convincing performance.

Phil Parkinson, as expected, made a number of changes from his Wembley line up.   Matt Duke, serving his one match ban following his Wembley red card, was replaced by Jon McLaughlin, and there were a number of further unenforced changes. It was all change at the back with Andrew Davies and Michael Nelson slotting into the centre, and Rory McArdle and Stephen Darby playing musical chairs with the right back and left back positions.

Zavon Hines and Kyel Reid replaced Garry Thompson and Will Atkinson on the wings, with Thompson moving to centre forward to partner Andy Gray; changes which left Nahki Wells and James Hanson on the bench. Despite the restructuring the formation still looked like an attacking line up, particularly with the pace available down the flanks.

Dagenham, arrived on the back of a mixed recent run of three wins, one draw and six losses in their matches this year, which has left them sitting in 16th position in the table and three points below City (albeit having played 3 matches more).  The Daggers, however, had been rocked by the departure on the previous day of the league’s longest serving manager and City nemesis,  John Still, who, having been with the club in his second spell since 2004, had left to take up the reins at non-league Luton.

The Valley Parade crowd was buoyed by a sense of post-Wembley pride and Parkinson’s rhetoric that, with almost a third of the season left, City now had 15 cup finals to seize promotion.  Following the club’s request to try and re-create the Wembley party atmosphere, many fans in the crowd of 10,006, brought their Wembley flags, banners and scarves to proudly wave.  The attendance was somewhat lower than might have been hoped for, although the visitors only brought 58 fans of their own.

As the City players made their entrance on to the pitch, the visitors admirably formed a guard of honour in recognition of City’s cup exploits and there was a noticeable increase in the levels of noise and atmosphere, which impressively kept going for a substantial portion of the match, and furthermore at key times when the team needed lifting.

Given this, surely the Daggers were simply cannon fodder for a resurgent Bantams side, who, now backed with the goodwill of the footballing world, would sweep them aside, exorcise the demons of Sunday, and get the promotion charge well and truly back in the groove.

Of course not. As we have seen countless times over the years, such logic never prevails with City, and the atmosphere and opportunity to impress their new boss seemed to galvanise the visitors to a greater degree.

The match began with City attacking the Kop end, and the opening exchanges were fairly well matched. Dagenham showed no shortage of desire, commitment, and looked well organised and solid. Both sides knocked the ball around without carving out any significant opportunities, a half chance for McArdle being an early effort, which went over the bar.

The rest of the half saw a decent chance for Dagenham, a shot from Medy Elito, which McLaughlin was able to tip away, and City seemed to improve slightly as the game approached half time with Garry Thompson, and to a lesser extent, Andy Gray, beginning to see more of the ball and make better use of their possession. This also coincided with Zavon Hines exerting himself more on the game and he made several positive runs and crosses, and looked the most likely player to make something happen.

On the other flank, Kyel Reid struggled and had a largely forgettable half, which continued into the second half.  He unfortunately seemed well off the pace, reluctant/hesitant to go past his man and nothing seemed to come off for him, with a constant shifting back to his favoured foot to make crosses, which slowed things down.

After the Wembley masterclass, whilst it was quite sobering to return to the sliced clearances, misplaced passes, hoof ball and agricultural challenges of League Two opposition. City were not able to raise their own game to capitalise on this, and perform to previous levels witnessed.

Going in 0-0 at half time was certainly a fair reflection of the half, but it was hoped City could up things and go on a secure a much needed victory.  However, the Daggers had other ideas, and three minutes into the second half, hesitation between Darby and Reid resulted in Reid making a clumsy challenge in the box which sent Luke Wilkinson tumbling.  Referee Chris Sarginson had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, leaving McLaughlin facing his second penalty kick in the space of a few days.  Thankfully the outcome was different and Sam Williams woefully screwed his effort wide of the target.

This was clearly a let off for City, and it did provoke a reaction and a subsequent spell of pressure. However there was no real conviction in the final third, or cutting edge, although a string of corners on 65 minutes did result in the ball being knocked onto the crossbar, just as expected substitutions, James Hanson and Nahki Wells, were about to be introduced.  Thompson and Gray, who again didn’t seem to make the most of a starting place, soon made way for them on 67 minutes.

Dagenham had continued to threaten in spurts however, and went ahead two minutes later, when, after being able to thwart a number of attempted City clearances out of defence, largely through their desire to be first to the ball, the ball fell kindly to Luke Howell, who made no mistake firing home.

City responded with more domination of play but, despite a number of chances, were unable to convert these into goals.  Hines continued to be City’s main attacking outlet and Gary Jones also helped drive the team forward with a number of bursts from midfield.

A further substitution was made on 78 minutes, Alan Connell joining the action and replacing Darby, and furthermore City’s attack was bolstered by Andrew Davies pushing forward, as Nathan Doyle dropped back to hold the centre of defence.  Again a few chances came and went and it was increasingly beginning to look like another tale of woe.

As the clock wound down, City didn’t give up though, and finally a cross from Hines was helped on by Wells into the path of Hanson, who was presented with an easy tap in at the far post on 86 minutes to level the scores.  Despite some further City attacks, including an Abu Ogogo goal line clearance from Wells, Dagenham saw out the bulk of the four minutes of injury time in the City half.

This left the team to face a smattering of boos at the final whistle largely from yet another frustrating game, which prolongs City’s failure to win a home league match this year.  Dagenham also remain unbeaten at Valley Parade.

The result leaves City in 12th, and Saturday’s local derby fixture at York now offers the latest opportunity of redemption to kick start the faltering promotion push.  York themselves are on the back of patchy form and it will be a match that City will definitely need to target a return of three points from.

Clearly, the next few matches will be pivotal to the remainder of the season. And City need to somehow discover the league form consistency that has eluded them over the past few months.  With no cup distractions from interviews, suit fittings, cup final songs and so on, some further re-runs of Phil Parkinson’s Churchillian speech may be required if the suits are to be used again in May.

Keep the flags flying…

City: McLaughlin, McArdle, Nelson, Davies, Darby (Connell 78), Reid, Jones, Doyle, Hines, Gray (Hanson 66), Thompson (Wells 66)

Not used: Bentley, McHugh, Ravenhill, Atkinson

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