| Accrington Stanley 0 |
| Bradford City 3 |
| Wright 12, 23, Cook 38 |
By Gareth Walker
Today was a good day for me. An away game that is walkable from my house made a nice change and also provided an opportunity to have a few match day beers – so forgive me if my memory of the match events is a little sketchy.
Today was also a good day for Bradford City, who eased to a comfortable three nil victory against an Accrington side who have traditionally proved to be tough opponents.
Someone else who had a good day was Tyreik Wright, who opened his goalscoring account for his second City spell with two nicely taken goals.
The other goal was scored by Andy Cook, who bullied an inexperienced Accrington back line that never really looked like coping with the triple threat of Cook, Wright and a revitalised Clarke Oduor.
It has been quite a turnaround for Oduor who was much maligned during his first six months at City but now seems to be settled in his right sided forward position to which he was restored today following a brief and unsuccessful trial in central midfield against Doncaster on Tuesday.
Today’s central midfield was made up of Ritchie Smallwood who returned from suspension to lead the side with Alex Gilliead alongside him in a position where many of us felt that he should have played against Doncaster.
Gilliead is such a valuable player to have in the squad with Graham Alexander going on record as saying that his versatility and work ethic are a manager’s dream. He may end up being used more at left wing back in future but today and last Tuesday he was needed more in central midfield.
The left wing back role was taken by Lewis Richards, whose energy down the flank was a constant threat and matched that of the ever reliable player of the year contender Brad Halliday on the right.
The surprise defensive selection was that of Liam Ridehalgh, who came in to play as the left of the three CBs because Sam Stubbs was ruled out with concussion. Ciaran Kelly moved to the centre of the back three, with the classy Jon Tomkinson in his usual position on the right.
As for the game itself, it was a rather one sided and comfortable affair against a Stanley squad made up of eight academy products and with an average age of just 22.5. The only chance of note that I can remember them creating was a header from midfielder Tommy Leigh which rattled the City crossbar shortly after Cook’s goal.
Coach John Doolan has taken temporary charge of The Reds following the sacking of their legendary manager John Coleman, and given his history of providing youngsters for their first team it was perhaps unsurprising that he gave many of them a go today. Interestingly meanwhile, the Bantams own academy prospect Bobby Pointon was left out of the squad completely which perhaps further shows where he currently sits in the attacking midfield pecking order.
All three Bradford City goals were expertly taken and came down the left side. The first was a result of a flick on from Cook into the path of Wright on the edge of the box who’s left foot finish crashed home despite Man Utd loanee goalkeeper Radek Vitek getting a hand to it.
The second was an even better finish from the Plymouth loanee again with his left foot this time across Vitek into the far corner after Richards long throw. Cook’s goal was his 16th of the season and came from a long Sam Walker goal kick which left the number nine one on one and allowed him to coolly slot home again across Vitek into the far corner.
It could only have been nicer had the goals been at the end where the City fan base was situated on the Coppice Terrace, or indeed had we further extended the lead after a HT interval by which time the game was largely over as a contest.
The only negative today was the foot injury which forced Wright off at the start of the second half. His replacement, Calum Kavanagh, had a couple of chances in the to further extend the lead but Alexander’s comment afterwards that the injury didn’t look too bad is a welcome relief. That slight negative was also more than balanced out by the sight of Jamie Walker returning to the match day squad for the first time in close on three months, and his ten minute cameo at the end of the game will have made his day a good one too and provides a timely boost going into the end of season run-in.
It was also nice to see Daniel Oyegoke returning to the squad after a long injury lay off and he will provide welcome cover for Brad Halliday for the rest of the season.
City now sit second in the League Two form table and are unbeaten in their last six league matches. Such form will need to continue between now and the end of the season for us to make a play off push – but whatever happens, today was definitely a good day.
Categories: Match Reviews
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Excellent day out in Lancashire. Wright gets the headlines, but from where I was standing, Tomkinson was the best player on the pitch. Absolute class. Can we have their pitch please, it was lovely!
A great result and looking at the form
Over the past 6 games some really strong points to make. City have lowest goals conceded (1) in these 6 games, they are the only team in the division not to have lost either. 14 points from those 6 games. If they can do that again, or somewhere near, we should get in the play offs.
Great all round performance yesterday. Forwards did exceptionally well. Now we play against Forest Green. We must keep that high press on Tuesday. F G are on a run and will be different from the last time we played them. Regarding Pointon, I’m sad that he does not get the opportunities his performances warrants. Alexander is quiet about reasons he’s not picked. I would be keen to know why!
It’s all a game of opinions. Maybe he just doesn’t think that he offers as much as the other AMs at the moment. We don’t have to agree with him.
When Cheltenham comes round traditionally the football season is hotting up. We are now just into the final quarter, the home straight, far better placed for a tilt than we might have expected a month ago. 4 wins and 2 draws in the last six is good enough and if that form can be sustained throughout a very busy and taxing period we can be placed when the race is run. At twelves we’re not exactly a good value punt for promotion, bearing in mind we’ve still got to get to the playoffs never mind win them. Maybe the bookies know something! They usually clean up at Cheltenham.
I loved the way Andy Cook chased a long ball that he had absolutely no chance of getting but he knew would make the keeper have to clear the ball first touch. The keeper kicked the ball into touch with a mis-cued hoof. We got a throw-in that went to Cooky, he either got a slight touch or let the ball run through his legs to Wright and GOAL!
Things such as Cooky’s initial contribution in winning us the throw-in often arn’t appreciated but can have such a big impact on the game.
I am sure lots of others also spotted that the Doncaster goal at VP the other night came from a free-kick that the ref gave when the Donny player in the right-back position, running back toward his own goal, deliberately put the brakes on to cause a collision with a chasing City player, fell to the floor in dramatic style, and succesfully mugged the ref. Symbols of fair and unfair? means in which a game can be significantly impacted by a player who may not have even touched the ball.
I wondered, Lonnie, whether it was a planned move. Wright was already on the move, as though in anticipation of Cook’s letting the ball through him. After the goal went in, Cook’s first move was towards Ridehalgh to congratulate him for the throw. Tremendous if it was planned.
Richards not Ridehalgh!
Well done City, good result. Although a playoff spot isn’t exactly in our own hands, it looks increasingly possible.