| Bradford City 1 |
| Chapman |
| Doncaster Rovers 0 |
By Tim Penfold
Bradford City are, despite all of the chaos and mess of this season, 90 minutes away from Wembley in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy after a 1-0 win over Doncaster.
It had already been a dramatic day to be a Bradford City fan, with the fanbase set abuzz by an article claiming that the club were already looking to sack Graham Alexander and were just haggling over the size of the payout. Strenuous denials via local journalists followed, as did a hasty retraction of the article and an apology from the publishers, but it made for a strange atmosphere in the build-up to the game.
Alexander, ironically, was missing from the touchline anyway due to suspension, but rang the changes from the dismal weekend defeat to Swindon. City lined up in a 3-4-3 system with Jake Young and Harry Chapman both given starts either side of Cook, and Kevin McDonald replacing the suspended Richie Smallwood in midfield. Lewis Richards returned at left wing back, while Matty Platt and Jon Tomkinson both started in the back three, with Sam Stubbs dropped to the bench and Ash Taylor not even in the squad.
It was a slow start from the hosts, and Doncaster had a few half-chances early on, but after about ten minutes an unusual thing happen. City began to play football.
Kevin McDonald, deep in midfield, started to get on the ball and dictate the tempo. His passes, combined with Lewis Richards’ constant energy at wing back, got City up the pitch without constantly resorting to the long ball. Jake Young and Harry Chapman started to find space and cause problems, and Doncaster were forced into several blocks in quick succession to deny Young. McDonald then produced a diagonal pass that put Brad Halliday in at the far post, but his shot was straight at the visiting keeper.
Doncaster needed a breather, and got it when an injury delay took the sting out of the contest. They were able to regain the ascendancy before half time, with one cross-shot fizzing across the six yard box and only needing a touch to go in.
City regrouped at half time and went again. McDonald continued to shine, and Richards went very close with a low drive that was pushed behind at the near post. Alex Gilliead then went on a driving run that was brought cynically to a halt at the cost of a booking, giving the Bantams a free kick 25 yards out. Harry Chapman stepped up and curled the ball round the wall and into the bottom corner – a deserved lead.
Unfortunately, the hosts were unable to keep their intensity up after scoring. Doncaster pressed hard, particularly after Chapman, who looked to be carrying a slight knock, was withdrawn in favour of Clarke Oduor. City dropped deeper, though Oduor nearly created one chance on the counter, and were indebted to Colin Doyle for a good save from a low shot from distance to keep them ahead.
Things got even more difficult as the game went on. Andy Cook picked up a booking for a sliding foul on Jamie Sterry, then a few minutes later another one for a daft foul in the middle of the park, and the hosts were down to 10.
Doncaster, however, lacked the guile to break City down, and their plan B of sending veteran centre back Richard Wood up front as an extra target man backfired, as Wood gave away a series of momentum-stopping fouls. After a stoppage time made lengthier by an injury to the visitors’ Ben Close, the final whistle went and the Bantams were through.
It is no coincidence that tonight’s performance was much improved. Just as he did against Derby, Graham Alexander finally picked most of his best technical players, and as a result the team played well. Tomlinson’s recovery pace gave the defence confidence to play a bit higher, helping the press, while Richards has the mobility that Ridehalgh lacks at wingback, meaning that the ball progressed up the pitch. Chapman and Young provided far more spark up front than Smith and Oduor, while Matty Platt had a fine game at the back, heading everything away.
And finally, Kevin McDonald was the best player on the pitch, producing a performance levels above anything that Richie Smallwood has done recently. His quality on the ball meant that City retained possession better rather than aimlessly launching it into the corners, and his range of passing gave us options beyond the long, high ball up to Cook. He deserved his player of the match award, and deserves a decent run in the team. To be honest, everyone who started today deserves to keep their place for Saturday.
Graham Alexander’s position is not as perilous as it seemed at lunchtime today, but if he is to turn around our league season he needs to heed the lesson from today. You need technical quality as well as physicality to do well at this level. Meanwhile, City fans can begin to dream of an unlikely day out at Wembley.
Categories: Match Reviews
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Prior to the game the discussion was all about should we part company with Alexander now or carry in Hope that things will change. The reason why we love this game is because it can change in an instant. Following the previous dour games of hoof ball we we’re treated to a decent game of passing football , all down to Mc Donalds quality , the ability to find a pass when all around panic.
Top marks to Young , who having been thrown out of the door , making a name for himself at Swindon , then dragged back to City surrounded by noise proceeded to just put all his energies into his return , well done young man. All around a better performance . Whilst it’s early days i am looking forward to Sat now. Who’d have thought. In the words of the great Jimmy Greaves , “it’s a funny old game “.
If he plays McDonald on Saturday, maybe 20/1 odds on us getting to the play offs doesn’t look too ambitious!
Hi Dave,
I was at Swindon to see the lads get off the bus. A Swindon programme seller called Young over to have a chat.
He was really pleased to see her and they had a natter. She had a couple of young supporters with her and he a word or two for them and signed their programmes before disappearing into the stand.
The guy is a class act. I was really impressed with him. Whatever he does or doesn’t do in football he’s a real gentleman.
Hope GA reads your report and acts on it .
Supposing we get to Wembley and win the trophy: will the ‘silverware’ in any way redeem the season if, as seems likely, we finish a long way from the playoffs. Yes, it is excellent that we have progressed thus far in the unfancied cup competition and we must rightly give praise. But let it not be a sop, a palliative, a diversion from the failure of our main purpose. What we do or not do in the next two days will tell us all we need to know about how the management sees the rest of the season unfolding. In December there was strong and purposeful talk about shipping out 4 or 5 players to trim the squad and bringing in better players. If that is still the intention, we are leaving it late. If it appears we have given up and accepted mediocrity, the remaining months of the season will certainly drag and the actual physically-present ‘attendance’ will decline. On the other hand, any suggestion of a barnstorming finish would at least create optimism for next season and sell tickets. Will the klaxon sound a clarion call or remain mute?
Richards, Young, McDonald all excellent.
Did we miss Taylors heading in defence?
Does Cook need resting?
Is the Chapman/ Oduor role a luxury we can’t afford? (Oduor definitely is).
Have we given up on high press?
Can we get Halliday to beat the first man when crossing (joke).
Some interesting things came out of the game. I hope Alexander is brave enough to take note.
Thanks for this Tim. I imagine ( & hope) the buzz around sacking Alexander is hot air- madness to change managers within season multiple times (we’ve been there…)…I’ve liked him and what he says, but confidence is inevitably eroding fast with not just form and league position, but the lack of logic to us in some of the judgements. Why is Pointon so marginal? Why stick with under-performing players like Richie Smallwood match after match? Can it be right never to rotate, and just run players into the ground?
I was there last night and liked McDonald, as I have when he has played before- i think the challenge there is fitness not talent or consistency. My love for Brad Halliday continues undiminished.
Fingers crossed for an adjustment to tactics, approach, or even just the potential goals converting to real goals.
I suspect if supporters were offered a tin pot trophy final and an 18th place finish,not many would have taken it
What a difference a day makes…..Or is it that we finally started with players who look interested and play for the shirt.
A Much improved performance last night, Yes we have a long way to go and Doncaster did offer very little attacking threat but from the doom and gloom we’re now only 90mins away from wembley which doesnt sound too bad.
The big question now is will Alexander continue with the team from Tuesday or slip back to his old ways, I’m in no doubt eyes will be glued on the teamsheet come 2pm Saturday and whether Alexander will stick with Mcdonald, Chapman and Platt or bring back the inaffective Taylor, Odour and Ridehalgh.
Could tell the difference last night what a natural LWB in Richards offered, More balance on the left, a clear attacking threat and a willingness to track back. Mcdonald was brilliant in midfield always attempting to bring the ball down despite the awful pitch and full credit to Young for his energetic performance upfront.
The only concern last night was Odour who again came on and looks lost playing in the number 10 role. I do wonder what Pointon needs to do to be considered above Odour in the pecking order.
I really hope last night can act as a turning point, You can see the difference amongst the players and the mood created when playing players who show an interest and hopefully the possibility of a wembley apperance will help to improve the overall performances within the squad. It might only be the EFL cup but we’ve never been this far before so maybe some stratergy is working within the club
I agree with most posters on here of starting Mcdonald not smallwood, platt not Taylor, Richardson not ridehalgh, and see that Chapman and young look better than Smith and odour. I would also suggest Doyle for Sam walker, I think he is a better shot stopper.
We can’t afford Doyle to get injured as only he can play in the s/f (and Wembley!)
Happy we beat Doncaster. But interestingly, Bradford and Doncaster have done very well in this competition, despite their form in league matches. Selection on Saturday is going to be interesting. Alexander, will be judge with the team he picks and the tactics he plays. If he decides to adopt his current policy of keeping the same side and tactics he will not last the weekend. I was puzzled by his decision to bring Oudour on for Chapman. Surely, Pointon was the better option! It would be interesting who he let’s go this coming deadline day.
That would appear to be two managers in a row where Richie Smallwood has been exposed as the problem by the ability of Kevin McDonald.
Proof, if it were needed, that big effects can come from small changes. I do wonder sometimes, if Smallwood had been just a tiny bit better at passing-or perhaps if Watt and Cooke were still around playing crisp passing football, or if McDonald had been fit, or a million other tiny variations on our current unfortunate timeline-would we be riding high in League One now, dreaming of the Championship, and celebrating the footballing nous of Hughes, the vision and leadership of Sparks, and the safe stewardship of Rupp.
But we’re not are we.
Or if Lewis had not lost form ….
The tin pot cup is acting as a convenient smokescreen to partially obscure the deep malaise within our club . Like all smokescreens,it will clear and then we will be exactly as we were; deep in the brown stuff. Fed up of stating that without a CEO with proper industry credentials and flair, we remain in the grip of Sparks and his now well documented and demonstrated,poor leadership.
It’s a bit like failing all your GCSEs but getting a bronze Duke of Edinburgh award.