Words and images by Jason McKeown

No one wanted to go home at the end. The players and coaching staff soaked up the acclaim of a sold out Bradford City away stand, who serenaded them with joyous songs about how the Bantams are on their way to League One. For a football club that has spent large parts of the past six years leaving its supporters disunited, cynical and angry, the full time love-in at Spotland was a meaningful gauge of its ascent.

We’ve got our club back. Not, exactly, back to where we want it to be in the Football League pyramid of course. But back in terms of fans’ affection and pride for those who represent our badge. It’s felt like an awfully long time since a Bradford City team has attracted this level of adulation from its public. The Willbutts Lane Stand was absolutely bouncing. A sea of happy faces soaking up the joy of what could prove a huge Bradford City victory in the promotion run-in.

Success feels without our grasp. We can dare to dream.

The heady scenes were quite the contrast to the mood engulfing the rest of Spotland, where at the final whistle all three home stands were almost empty. Defeat for Rochdale, coupled with relegation rival Crawley’s 2-1 win over Tranmere, meant this was season-defining for the home side – but for all the wrong reasons. A mini revival ended abruptly, with reality calling.

Dale are now eight points from safety, with only four games to play. They’re done. A proud history of 122 years in the Football League is about to come to an end. When Scott Banks’ shot deflected and looped into the net to put City 3-0 up, a mass exodus of Rochdale fans followed. Those who stayed looked utterly crestfallen.

We can relate to how they’re feeling. It’s four years ago this very week that Bradford City’s relegation into League Two was confirmed in a Good Friday defeat at Coventry. The sense of betrayal, the despair, the fury – relegations are never nice. And Bradford City’s last one came in the middle of such a dark period for the club, one that has only really come to an end over the past 12 months.

And for those lean times we’ve endured, the enjoyment of afternoons like this feels even more rewarding. We’ve been through hell, but now we’re back.

This was a game City had to win and they did it with little fuss. “No drama, that’s how I like it,” was Mark Hughes’ post-match verdict. City were not entirely convincing throughout, but the gulf in quality between the two sides was considerable. The Bantams ultimately did their job, and for a club who have a DNA weakness of slipping up against sides at the bottom, that felt important. A positive sign of the stronger mentality that Hughes has instilled.

They laid the groundwork early doors. Just five minutes had been played when Harry Chapman’s charge towards the penalty area was illegally ended, and Richie Smallwood’s resultant free kick was headed home by Sam Stubbs. Hold the front page – a defender has actually scored for Bradford City! It’s the first time all season a member of the backline has found the back of the opposition net.

The quick breakthrough ensured that an away stand atmosphere that was fervent before kick off continued to rise in excitement levels. And as City initially dominated, the game could have been wrapped up inside the first 10 minutes. Dale’s interim manager Jimmy McNulty has introduced a play it out from the back style, but the startled home players looked ill equipped to deal with City’s press. Mistake followed mistake, and City smelt blood. As Dale struggled to get the ball out of their own half, City had a whopping 67% of the ball in the first 12 minutes.

But in a wearily familiar trend, they didn’t keep their dominance up. It was though it was too easy, causing City’s intensity to drop off. Dale suddenly got themselves up the pitch and began to build some confidence by keeping the ball. From the 12th minute onwards to half time, the strugglers had more possession and more attempts on goal than City.

It was all a bit sloppy from the Bantams. A brilliant Dale passing move saw Liam Kelly play Ian Henderson through on goal. The veteran forward took the ball around Harry Lewis, before somehow dragging his shot wide. Soon after a poor back header from Stubbs let Abraham Odoh in one-on-one with Lewis. The City keeper made a good block, though Odoh should have scored. “Despite the fact that we were nowhere near the races, we still managed to have some chances,” summarised McNulty.

City – who did hit the crossbar through a stunning effort from Banks – needed the half time break to sort out the issues. “Initially we were trying to win the ball back too quickly and over committing, and they were having a little bit of joy,” was Hughes’ verdict. “We needed to sort that out at half time, which we did.”

Indeed, the second half was a 45-minute display of City authority and assurance. They kept Dale at arm’s length, with the hosts not managing a single shot on goal until the 70th minute. Rochdale had plenty of the ball, but following Hughes’ instructions City did not overly chase it and leave gaps that could be exploited. They were also more direct, getting the ball quickly up the park where the front four could get hold of it and do damage.

Not that it was an attacking display quite as fluid as the Easter Monday success over Sutton. Whilst Chapman made some positive contributions, this afternoon became another example of his struggles to deliver consistently effective displays. He was taken off for the somewhat forgotten Thierry Nevers, who made a really bright impact on the left.

Nevers is not quite the touchline-hugging winger you might expect, but has pace and is intelligent in finding others. He popped up in different areas of the pitch, making him difficult to mark. “He’s a talented boy,” was Hughes verdict on Nevers’ impact.

Nevers won the free kick that ultimately put the game beyond Dale. Smallwood again swung over a delightful ball into the box, and the hapless Ethan Ebanks-Landell could only nod it into his own net. Smallwood deservedly soaked up the acclaim of jubilant City fans. Two assists, and another really strong all-action display, the Bradford City skipper continues to step up. Hughes reflected of Smallwood and City’s set-piece prowess, “I was pleased with our deliver today. We’ve been guilty sometimes of not quite putting the ball on the money, but not today.”

Eight minutes later, it was 3-0. Liam Ridehalgh’s cross wasn’t properly cleared, and Banks picked it up, stepped to the right and sent over an effort that took a huge deflection before looping over ex-City keeper Richard O’Donnell and into the net. It’s the second game in a row Banks has scored – both times with his weaker right foot. Hughes has been coaching the on-loan winger to not always cut inside onto his left foot, as it makes it easier for opposition players to predict and stop him. Banks has taken that on board with huge rewards.

That was the cue for a sizeable amount of Rochdale fans to head home. Those who stayed got to see the agonising moment of sub Devante Rodney hitting the bar late on. It was the sort of misfortune that relegated teams suffer from. But it wouldn’t have made any difference to Dale’s seemingly inevitable fate. McNulty rued, “After mistakes were made early individually, a lot of our boys never recovered mentally. We are in a critical, fragile position.”

In league position terms, nothing has changed for City. They stay sixth, and are still two points off the automatics with a game in hand. But Stevenage were the only close rival to win, meaning City have clawed level on points with Carlisle and Stockport, and still have a game in hand on everyone but Stevenage. In the race for promotion, City are coming on really strong and have just posted their fastest lap times.

For City and Hughes, there are two big takeaways here. The first is that, after recent criticisms of being too reliant on Andy Cook, the goals were shared out between others once again. In fact, seven of the last nine City goals have been scored by someone whose name isn’t A. Cook.  

So many players are hitting their top form. The restoration to a 4-2-3-1 has allowed Banks to demonstrate what he can do in an attacking position. Walker had another very good game. Alex Gilliead and Smallwood are playing their best football of the season – no one is criticising that partnership anymore. And the back four continue to be outstanding.

Amazingly, they’ve only conceded one goal in their last six away games – five clean sheets. Huge credit to Brad Halliday, Stubbs, Ridehalgh and Lewis, who have been ever-presents on that run.

The other big takeaway was the amazing atmosphere and strongest indications yet of the togetherness around the club. This is not the first occasion it has been evident, but it felt like it went up a notch here. The clearest demonstration yet that the bond between club and supporters has been restored.

It’s a fanbase in love with its team. More and more players are attracting their own chants. And when Walker and Cook were substituted and chose to walk off on the side of the pitch where City fans were located, they each got wonderful ovations. “There’s clearly a connection with the lads,” smiled Hughes when asked about the atmosphere created by City fans. “Our away following is on a different level to everyone else. It’s fantastic support, never taken for granted and always appreciated.”

I don’t think I’ve felt this proud on a Bradford City matchday since the heady days of 2016/17. All the utter garbage endured since Wembley 2017 severely damaged each and every City supporter’s trust and confidence in the club. We’ve kept coming, sure, and we’ve kept hoping it would change. But failure has followed failure. And you can only look on enviously at other football clubs giving their fans success and the wonderful atmosphere that it generates.

But right now, this feels like out turn. All the promise of a season of improvement is manifesting itself into something of genuine substance. There’s a warmth and affection towards the club that has been absent for too long. This is a group of players and management team who embrace the pressures of representing this football club and are feeding off the energy we’re giving them. A feedback loop of positivity is growing in prominence and significance.

We are on the cusp of something.

A happy ending is far from guaranteed. There’s still five games to play. A lot of teams are in the mix. The margins for error are incredibly thin. But whatever the fate of City’s promotion push, these are the occasions to embrace and to savour. An outpouring of happiness in the sunshine, after years of misery in the rain. And it’s why no one was in a rush to go home.

Categories: Match Reviews

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