| Bradford City 3 |
| Smallwood 10 (pen), Cook 41, Pointon 79 |
| Bromley 1 |
| Webster 86 |
By Jake Verity
We’ve been here before. So many times.
If you look back to our first full campaign in League Two, the 2007/08 season (coincidentally my first ever year as a season ticket holder), we have since played 11 teams making their debut in the Football League. From the likes of Dagenham and Redbridge and Morecambe in 2007/08, to Sutton United three seasons ago.
In many ways, it is fascinating that 9 of those 11 teams are still Football League clubs. The exceptions are Sutton United, Dagenham and Redbridge. All are good National League sides. It shouldn’t be forgotten either just how much that league that has increased in quality over the years either.
Why is this relevant?
Today we came up against a side new to the EFL, and our record against Football League newbies is mixed at best. W3 D3 L4. For many non-league sides making the step up into the 92, a first visit to Valley Parade has brought memorable rewards.
My general view is that it has forever been an issue for us that most newly promoted teams will come to Valley Parade and sit behind the ball. This could so easily have been one of those occasions.
After all, we get it from established Football League clubs. Managers know our crowd is their greatest asset, if they can rock the boat and prevent us from building an atmosphere.
On to Bromley…
So you can imagine the apprehension in having Bromley, another newly promoted side taking their place in the Football League for the first time in their history came to Valley Parade. This is one of the largest grounds that some of the Bromley players will have played at – and one of the fullest too. I must say though that they are an established club, with a proud 133-year history and deserve to be here.
They have also started very well, beating both Harrogate and Wimbledon. Their star striker, Michael Cheek knows where the net is as well. His 21 goals in 42 league games helped them up last year, and went into today’s game with two goals in two games.
But the good news is none of that mattered – they came up against a Bradford City side in a rich vein of form. Going into this game, I saw a statistic which showed we were unbeaten in nine league matches going into this game (W7, D2), with only Manchester City being ahead of us on a 24 game streak.
You can make that ten unbeaten games now. We are in a good place on the pitch and long may it continue.
The match itself
After the first few minutes, we settled into the match. But it was a fantastic corner worked by Richie Smallwood to Tyreik Wright and a ball into the back post that led to the first goal. A flying header from Calum Kavanagh was judged to be handled on the line, and the next step was a penalty.
I think it’s fair to say most fans in the stadium were shocked to see Richie Smallwood step up to take the spot-kick. Especially after his penalty against Grimsby hit the bar and went flying over. But he put it away calmly to give us a 1-0 lead and lifted a huge weight of expectation off the crowd.
Much has been made of the abundance of options we now have in attacking midfield, and our lack of cover in the number six position. It is fair to say that if Smallwood is injured, we will be in very big trouble.
Though Smallwood has, at times, been a divisive figure amongst the fanbase – he has started this season well. Today was one of his best games for us this season, and if he can keep this form up, we will do very well.
The next half an hour or so had promise but little product. Alex Pattison looked lively out on the left and Wright had a fantastic game, but we unfortunately weren’t able to find the net, with an Andy Cook shot being cleared off the line by some good defending.
But it wasn’t long before Cook was on the scoresheet. No surprise there either – that’s simply what he brings to the table. We are so lucky to have him and may that be the case for many years to come. He has every makings of a true City legend.
Key observations
There was little to report from the second-half. But before I get into one of the best moments of the afternoon, a few quick observations:
- Kavanagh is definitely getting frustrated at his lack of goals, but really adds to the team. His workrate in getting back, preventing counter attacks and supporting Cook really adds to this side
- Sam Walker has been one of the best signings we’ve made. He’s a solid goalkeeper but today showed his adaptability and how a summer can benefit this squad. It’s clearly a deliberate tactic to play on the counter with some of his short throws to Wright and from one brilliant counter attack that Kavanagh so nearly scored.
- The back line does look reassured. Though there’s definitely some mistakes in the defence, I think it looks like a solid unit and an upgrade on last season. This feels like a squad that is settled and that’s going to be very important.
- Antoni Sarcevic is the key. I think it’s fair to say Alexander sees him as crucial to this side as he is almost the only attacking player he didn’t take off. He goes about his work quietly, but he is certainly good at what he does.
The best of the rest
So let’s get into Bobby Pointon’s goal. He’s one of our own; and one of the only players we’ve been so keen to see on the pitch for so long.
After a fairly dull second-half in which a ten man Bromley side showed they may well be competing towards the top-end of the division this year, Pointon took his chance after coming on with roughly thirty minutes to go. He thundered a ball into the back of the net to put us three nil up, and out of sight. Let’s hope that keeps happening – and if he is to be locked out of the team, it’s because we’re continuing to win.
Bromley did get a deserved consolation goal in the final few stages of the game. There’s definite criticism to be had for some of the game management towards the end against a side with ten men, but the most important thing is that we did win, and comfortably.
Final thoughts
Before the Salford game, I put an overly optimistic piece out about our fortunes, playing-style and home form. Admittedly, last week’s encounter certainly didn’t live up to that billing – even if we should have won through a goal that was never given.
But this week was what I expected. On the front foot. An early lead. Taking initiative.
It wasn’t a huge win. But it was a comfortable one.
We are now up to second in the league. There’s little more you could want from a Saturday at Valley Parade.
Unless, of course, a win against Carlisle can take us to the very top.
Categories: Match Reviews
Redemption, resilience and a win that Bradford City badly needed 
Humiliated and humbled: a bad night for Bradford City prompts revision of expectations 
A derby day to forget puts Bradford City’s resilience to the test 
Pride in pain as Bradford City push league leaders all the way 
widthofapost.com 
I know we had a nervyish finish to the end of the game, which sounds a bit ridiculous given we were 3-0 up until the 86th minute but it was great to see us score 3 goals against 10 men and make plenty of chances. It’s probably just clichéd talk but it feels like we don’t want always do plain sailing against 10 men.
Players that stood out the most for me:
Smallwood: Goal, assist and kept the play moving nicely. Did his usual of battling and winning the ball back. Hoping he can keep his high standards up. However, have to pull him up for flailing his arm at the Bromley player, potentially an intentional swing, which could have seen him sent off.
Baldwin: Really felt you could see why we’d brought him in with this performance. Lots of good passing, a beautiful cross from the right which almost saw Pattison score and not troubled defensively. Obviously he’ll have much harder days defensively but you can see what he brings from a passing point of view.
Pointin: A day after another promising 20 year old has been brought in on loan, what a statement from him to come on and smash in a lovely piledriver.
I’ve always backed Smallwood and pleased that GA realises what he’s good at and maximises that.
In that unbeaten run last season and now these three games, he’s been superb at keeping the tempo of the game going. And we’re finally seeing his ability to pass the ball forward – because that’s what he’s been asked to do under Alexander.
He’ll be a big asset this season – but he will be a very big miss when he isn’t available.
I feel someone could write an interesting article on why Smallwood is so divisive, is it because he came with such high fanfare that he was never going to live up to it? Is it his style of play is less Gary Jones/Stuart McCall and that of a defensive midfielder? Is it the set pieces? Or all of the above… He seems to be that one scapegoat/divisive player every club needs… For example, I went to the Salford game and had someone nearby regularly shout sarcastic comments whenever Smallwood would do something poor, reminded me of the comments Daley or Reid would get! For what it’s worth, I rate Smallwood and what he brings to the team. Although I could do with seeing him take less corners!
He’s not as charismatic / passionate etc as Jones or McCall.
However, he’s still time to make himself as popular as Jones. Obviously, no-one’s going to live up to Stuart in midfield – unless we’d had Cullen for the last ten seasons. LOL!!
Good, positive reviews. I was impressed with several players, Baldwin, Sam Walker and Pointon in particular. There’s plenty of competition for places in most departments but I still feel we need a couple more in and at least 4 out. I would like Gillead to stay but realise it looks like he may be leaving in this window. I’d have Odour and Gillead as the wing backs and use Wright as an attacking option from the bench. Of course it’s up to GA and its great he has plenty of options. I was impressed with Bromley — and the fact that they had a go at us in the 2nd half , rather than a ‘limitation’ exercise. 2nd in the table is a great place to be at this early stage, particularly as we’re not quite there yet in regards to putting I a top performance.
Kavanagh and Sarcevic need dropping for the next game
as do the small number of miserable old people in b block who don’t even stand up to celebrate a goal
As I want us to keep the unbeaten record, I’m not recommending this to GA.
Sarcevic (and pattison) both need benching from time to time to preserve their fitness And remind them there is competition
Kav is just genuinely out of form at the moment and needs a break
I thought we played some really good stuff at times and put in some very good challenges. maybe I watched a different game because I thought Bromley were poor, even before the sending off, but especially after it. I thought Wright looked frustrated, him and Patterson were both hugging the same touch line all the time and seemed to run out of space and pitch to play in. We should have buried them today but a combination of poor decision making, lack of tempo and finishing held us back. I was so happy to see the second goal because we deserved far more than a 1-1 draw. I also disagree about Cook, I think he is becoming less and less effective. And when Sanderson came on we really missed Kavanaghs movement. We also saw the negative side of Walkers game, needless free kicks in dangerous positions. Having said that there were lots of good things going on and I really enjoyed the day.
Whst game were you watching. Bromley I thought were decent. Think if they had 11 players on they would have caused problems. Cook was decent and effect , listen to what Alexander had to say about him?
As a Halifax Town fan at the game yesterday, Bradford were the better side in the first half, fair play to Bromley who went for it in the second half, putting an extra forward on, were the the better side in the second half, Bradford seemed to lose there way before the third goal, had the sending off not happened I believe Bromley would have caused Bradford more problems.
Good luck for the season.
strange that the article makes no mention of Baldwin, who was great defensively and in bringing the ball out of defence to link up with the attack. His passing and crossing was spot on and he’s obviously the centre half who has been given licence to join in the attacks. Wright was lively, Pattison was disappointing today. Despite our dominance Walker still had to make to great saves. Still a work in progress, but still a deserved victory.
Good points about Baldwin.
Hes a great signing for a team that wants to be on the front foot.
He was one of the few players with >90% pass completion rates last season. And you can see why.
Good win, against a team you can tell were full of confidence and never let their heads drop.
The type of game we’d have had a frustrating 1-1 draw against, with ten men, before the April turnaround.
And before anyone says it was against ten men. QPR failed to beat a 10 man Plymouth team (reduced to 9 when they had another sent off).
More tellingly, Chesterfield couldn’t see out a 1-0 against 10 men Salford – who apparently are rubbish and we should have beaten them easily.
Early days yet. But I’ve a feeling no-one is looking forward to playing us.
Great to have genuine debate on who should or should not be in the team. It feels like years since we’ve had something like Walker v Sarc or Bobby v Patts, all good players with different attributes, me and the lads got through three pints on that topic alone. Sanderson is going to add to that discussion as is the new lad Adams, perhaps Shepard as well.
Also the places without direct competition all have a pretty good backup options, possibly bar Cook and Halliday but if it was Oliver or Calumn for a few games, you’d suspect we could manage.
Great stuff so far.
by the way
Bradford must now be the only team that has beaten every team in the league?
Good
A minor point, but I think it was Baldwin’s header that caused the red card and penalty, not Kavanagh’s? Which I see as a positive because it’s been rare in recent seasons for our centre backs to make much of an impact in the box on corners. He got free, made a really purposeful run and got power in the header – deserved a goal for it. I agree with above posters that Baldwin’s better use of the ball has stood out in both the home games so far. He seems just that bit more composed and is happy to pass along the ground, not always sky-high up field.
Thanks for the report 👍🏼 excellent days work…by the way any news on how the so called “atmosphere section” behaved yesterday after the chaos last week?