By Adam Raj (images by John Dewhirst)

I think the best way to describe that victory is we out-Stevenaged Stevenage. It wasn’t pretty, far from it, in fact the ball most likely spent more time in the air than it did on the grass. But that’s hardly a great surprise when facing a Steve Evans side.

The hosts are an awkward team to play – they put the ball in the box from all angles and play off second balls with little to no interest in having possession of the football. It’s not particularly the style that City excel in facing.

The message from Mark Hughes to his players all week had been to keep composure when in possession and to have the belief to play their style with confidence – not falling into the trap of matching Stevenage’s route one approach, which City are not set up to do. For the most part, he didn’t get what he asked for. City were very direct and struggled to have sustained periods of possession meaning Jamie Walker, City’s chief creator, wasn’t on the ball as much as he would’ve liked.

But it worked. City were more effective at carrying out Stevenage’s approach than the hosts were themselves. The ugly and fundamental aspects of the game, which have so often been missing from this City side, were carried out excellently, as it had to be against a team who are masters at it. City won their aerial duels (debutant Sam Stubbs was particularly excellent in this regard) and anticipated rather than reacted to second balls.

But it wasn’t all positive. If we’re being honest, the first half performance was pretty bad and resulted in City trailing at the break. The Bantams really struggled to get a foothold in the game and whilst they defended reasonably well, the attacking play was non existent. Aside from one decent opportunity for Matt Derbyshire towards the end of the half, the Stevenage backline was not tested. Although up until Carl Piergianni’s put Stevenage ahead, neither were City’s.

That opener was the centre half’s eighth goal of the season. Meanwhile, City’s entire defence have a grand total of zero. Piergianni showed great determination to meet Jake Foster-Caskey’s excellent delivery from the out-swinging corner, rising in between Stubbs and Matty Platt to power home despite Harry Lewis’ best attempts.

As the half time whistle blew, it seemed like mission impossible. City had not come from behind to win all season and had a disturbing second half record that saw them fourth bottom of that particular table.

But City came out galvanised in the second half. That was particularly aided by Derbyshire’s early leveller which in its own right was an excellent goal. Andy Cook’s flick on was picked up by the veteran striker who cut back inside and hit a sweet strike off the underside of the bar and (just about) over the line.

City suddenly had that extra spring in their step going forwards. They retained the ball better and got Cook, Derbyshire and Walker involved more. And within the space of eleven minutes of the restart City had their noses ahead. Having already been warned by the referee seconds earlier, Dan Sweeney was correctly penalised for blatantly pulling a City shirt as City waited for Brad Halliday’s free kick.

Up stepped Cook who was never going to miss as his pin point penalty was too good for Jokull Andresson, beyond his stretching left arm and into the bottom corner. Cook celebrated in typical Andy Cook fashion, running the length of the pitch to cup his ears at the home fans who had given him stick all afternoon.

City were indebted to Lewis who made another stunning save to add to his growing collection as he somehow managed to claw Josh March’s header off the line.

He was helpless though as Sweeney made up for his earlier error by equalising for the hosts. Another Forster-Caskey delivery was powered in at the back post by the centre half. As City lined up zonally, the back post zone was Liam Ridehalgh’s responsibility and was clearly targeted by Stevenage as the matchup with Sweeney was a mismatch that was only ever going to have one winner.

Hughes had seen more than enough and to make sure it wasn’t a case of conceding a hat-trick of corners, Vadaine Oliver and Ciaran Kelly entered the fray in an obvious effort by the City manager to increase the overall height of his team.

For Kelly, this was his debut and first experience of English football and to his credit, he didn’t put a foot wrong. The Irishman slotted into the left centre back role as City moved to a 5-3-2 following the substitutions with Alex Gilliead filling in at LWB – the role he played in Hughes’ first City game in charge.

It did look a somewhat conservative move from Hughes who will have been content with taking a point. But with the way the second half had gone, there was always a feeling that one side would get another golden opportunity. Fortunately, it was City. With 86 minutes on the clock, Cook controlled a long ball and attempted to slip in Oliver but as that pass was cut out, City’s number nine picked up the loose ball and fed Walker who showed great composure to produce a composed finish past Andresson.

City did a very thorough and professional job of seeing this game out. There was time for another superb Lewis save from Luke Norris’ header but City frustrated the hosts who came up against the strong, physical and resolute defensive unit they are often credited with being.

As the full time whistle blew, the reactions of the players said everything. Cook and Gilliead in particular struggled to hide their delight and there was a general outpouring of emotion all connected with the Bantams with what is a statement victory.

Its always nice to get one up on Evans. Its even more satisfying when his dark arts have seemingly filtered all the way down to the groundsman who deliberately obstructed Colin Doyle from warming up Lewis. He had his five minutes of fame as he was derided by the City supporters, but like Cook, Lewis had the last laugh.

Similarly, following Walker’s goal, a Stevenage ‘supporter’ ran onto the pitch and appeared to be heading straight to assault Cook who was unaware of what was going on behind him. Thankfully a number of Stevenage players got in the way and made sure he ran off the pitch with his tail between his legs, only to be arrested as he made it over the advertising hoardings.

But aside from the off the field antics, winning away at second in the league is a huge result. Even more so as City started to put right the two unwanted records that wouldn’t have given them a prayer of a result at half time.

City must now make the most of the home double header. Next week’s two home games must yield maximum points if City are to make up ground on the automatic places. City are seven points off third with two games in hand so a direct return to League One is not yet out of the question. But with a measly five wins from 14 home games, its clear where the improvement needs to be.

Categories: Match Reviews

Tags: 2022/23, BCAFC, League Two, Stevenage