| Bradford City 0 |
| Rotherham United 1 |
| McWilliams 5 |
By Jason McKeown
A scrappy early goal, followed by 85 minutes of scrappy, disjointed and stop-start play, adding to what is increasingly becoming a scrappy start to the season beset by problems Graham Alexander just cannot seem to solve.
It didn’t matter greatly to lose this final EFL Trophy game, given Bradford City had already qualified for the next round, but another defeat contributes to a supporter mood that is plummeting as fast as the West Yorkshire temperatures. Confidence in the Bantams prospects for the season is starting to wane. And for all the huff and puff here, there wasn’t an abundance of positive signs to suggest they’re on the cusp of figuring out what’s going wrong.
They were a bit unlucky for sure. In the second half, the home side hit the post three times, and had a reasonable penalty shout turned away. A decent performance, featuring 19 shots on goal. Some good attacking play, but end product once again falling short. The forward line continues to falter outside of Andy Cook. And Alexander’s determination to play two up top leaves him desperately hoping that someone else, beyond City’s number 9, can find some semblance of goalscoring form to share the load.
Until then, the manager is shuffling, tweaking, trying new things but not getting the tune he wants. Here the team was much changed around – good to see Cook and Richie Smallwood especially rested up – with some success. Encouraging for Paul Huntington and Corry Evans to finally get some game time and they looked decent. Evans has the potential to be the best player in the division and provide Smallwood with genuine competition.
But there are problems for sure. Tyler Smith and Olly Sanderson as a front two? Crikey, let’s never do that again. Smith got only his second start of the season but was so far off the pace he was subbed off at half time. Sanderson showed some neat flicks, yet so much more is needed.
In keeping with some strange recent experiments, Alexander decided to invert his wing backs. The right sided – and captain for the night – Brad Halliday shifted to left wing back. Clarke Oduor deployed as right wing back. Erm, yeah that happened. Not sure what the City boss was hoping to gain from deploying defenders on their wrong side. But hey, this is the time to try it. He can say he did it. Now, let’s move on and make sure it’s never repeated.
The impotence of City’s first half forward line and defensive inverting contributed to a low key, forgettable game. Rotherham took the lead from their first real attack after a corner was half cleared and Joseph Hungbo was able to skip past Jack Shepherd and cross from the byeline (the ball may have gone out). After taking a deflection, it looped to Shaun McWilliams, who could not miss.
Rotherham would ultimately triumph from here. They are a decent League One side of course (if falling short of expectations), having been two divisions above the Bantams last season. But they’re also utterly useless away from their New York Stadium home. This was only their second away victory in 49 matches on the road, stretching over a two-year period. I’ll say that again – only their second away win in 49 games. Given the Millers higher league status, we won’t put this forward as the next entry to the big book of Bradford City infamy. But it’s pretty typical of City to be such willing hosts to beleaguered travellers. It’s what we do.
The game continued to be tepid after the break, at least until the final 25 minutes when it seemed to finally liven up. Shepherd had to go off injured just before half time and Alexander threw on Vadaine Oliver for Smith after the interval. Oliver got on the end of a brilliant Brad Halliday cross, forced a superb block from Dillion Phillips, before his rebound header bounced along the line and hit the post. It was Oliver’s best moment of the night by far. But once again, he failed to make an impact overall. We are entitled to expect a lot more from him.
The second smacking of the woodwork came when Cook entered the fray and received the ball inside the area, where he produced a low shot that beat Phillips but not the goalframe. And in the game’s final moment, Cook headed the ball down for Jamie Walker – making his 100th City appearance – to hit a powerful effort from distance that rattled against the very same post. Another sub, Smallwood, earlier had an appeal for a penalty turned away. He was probably too eager to fall to the ground. But definitely one in the category of seen them given.
So City finish runners up in Group H, and will face a second round away tie at one of the other group winners. That means a mid-December trip to either Stockport, Wrexham, Morecambe, Bolton, Blackpool, Doncaster or Chesterfield. Morecambe aside (and please don’t be Morecambe again!) they all look pretty tricky. But they could be fun too.
In the meantime, it’s back to the league and a visit from an Accrington side who are showing improved form after a really slow start. Not the best time to play them perhaps, especially if Shepherd joins Lewis Richards and other long-term absentees on the sidelines.
It’s a big moment for sure. The feelgood factor that followed the three straight wins in October has been followed by one win in six – and that only victory was against an 18th-place National League side. City need to put on a show in front of their public. Quieten the growing mutterings.
And as part of it, Alexander has somehow got to unlock an effective attacking approach. His non-Cook striker options have just six league and cup goals all season (two goals in the league). And the more starting opportunities each striker is given, the worse they seem to look. No one is coming close to staking a claim to partner Cook. And the over-reliance on their talisman is becoming an ever bigger worry. Just imagine if this season’s injury curse strikes Cook? We’d be toast.
The club is already talking about January – a depressing situation to be in, given the window doesn’t open for some six weeks and there are nine games to complete before it does. They cannot wait until then to fix these problems. They’re very unlucky with their injury list and they have showed what they can do. But the last few weeks suggest Bradford City are once again suffering from a slow puncture that – if not corrected quickly – will set them on a path for another season of failure.
Categories: Match Reviews
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widthofapost.com 
I did not get to watch today but odour on the right Brad on the left, this is another strange decision that puts the spotlight on the manager. We are not in a good position, results, performances, tactics, transfer dealings all lead to a low level of confidence in the manager, is this lining up to be another season of failure under sparks snd Rupp. I read today that we have 2 points from 12 and 3 wins in 11, I am really concerned. We need to turn it around quickly.
As was suggested a few matches ago on WOAP, perhaps Bobby Pointon would provide a better option up front, with Cook, than the recent occupants of the second striker role. He has proved he can score goals; he’s blessed with the ability to dribble in tight situations and can find a killer pass. Attributes that are not possessed by others who currently play up front.
I think the lack of options in midfield currently would stop this from happening. We need more goals from midfield and deploying Evans next to Smallwood leaves us in the same pickle we had when Gilliead played alongside Smallwood. A lack of creativity and goals. After losing Wright too we are in danger of returning to a similar shape that didn’t answer the goalscoring problems last season.
But additionally is Pointon better in pockets of space? Having to do running for Cook and get alongside him therefore being more tightly marked may not be the best use of him. I think it would be a change of formation rather than just putting Pointon up top. Potentially an option when Sarcevic and/or Pattison are back but Alexander’s preference has alway been 2 up top.
I do not claim to be a tactical expert, but have always thought some good players could play in different positions. In 1959/60, admittedly in another era, City moved a reasonable left winger named Derek Stokes to centre forward. If you want to know the effect, just look at Stokes’ career stats. Maybe your theory about Pointon could be correct. I don’t think he could be more ineffective than Smith and Oliver.
iv’e said for years city are a very poor side ,and the manager is not fit for purpose.and shortly he will bite the dust..promotion what year were they thinking of
Exactly my thoughts, could turn into a Mills & Blake partnership. Definitely worth trying, all other options have been tried & failed
The talking point on the night was our ‘inverted’ wingbacks. Okay so Oduour came as a left wing back but did not want to play there so let’s try him on the other side. Not surprisingly Rotherham’s goal came early from an attack down our right. And while we’re about it let’s nullify Halliday’s attacking strengths by playing him on his weaker foot. There’s no method in this madness but indeed there is perceptible madness in the method. Did our coaching staff actually sit down to discuss this new idea and, if so, the first question the journalist worth his salt should ask is for the rationale behind it. Halliday can make shift to use his other foot but you never see Oduour even attempt it. I heard Mr Sharp’s interview and was temporarily hopeful until the suspicion came to me that it’s just words to calm the nerves and sell the Christmas merchandise. Talking about somehow acquiring our own training facilities is just a podcast pipe dream. It is surely time that statements like this were exposed to rigorous scrutiny. How would it be funded and by whom.
madness in this method
I want to pick up on two things within this article.
Firstly, you say the manager is shuffling, tweaking, trying new things but not getting the tune he wants. In a way he is and I see this perspective, but he’s re-shuffling and trying new things within the same system. Maybe currently with all our injuries, especially at cb and lwb, playing 3-5–2 isn’t the best choice and we should implement an actual change to fit to the strengths of the team. Alexander is in effect not changing anything. Like when he played Pointon at lwb rather than taking the sensible option of playing 4 at the back and Pointon in midfield.
Secondly, you mention that Evans has the potential to be the best player in the division and provide Smallwood with genuine competition. Why not find a system that plays both of them, rather than just competition for one spot. I think Evans looks quality and his career would suggest he’s above League 2. This is the like the pick the greatest xi in cricket debate, which spinner would you pick between Warne and Muralitharan – they are the two greatest bowlers there’s been so why wouldn’t you balance the team to pick both.
I appreciate Alexander and Sharpe have recruited to play 3-5-2 and with a fully fit squad, I’m sure we would be successful as the signs showed at the start of the season before the injury crisis. But we do not have the luxury of a fully fit squad right now and our problems exist from trying to play to the same system even if it means players have to play in a position they are not suited to. We have to play to the strengths of the squad that we currently have and whilst we have no defenders we can’t keep playing a system that requires 5 defenders.
Personally, I think City should play a 4-3-1-2. Smallwood, Evans and Walker in midfield and Pointon as the 1 just infront of them and just behind the 2 forwards. Mansfield played this same system, one that Sharpe will be aware of, when they drubbed us 5-1 at home last season. Walker, Smallwood, Evans, Pointon and Cook are our best players right now and this system would suit them and as a result would benefit the team. Having Pointon in behind the strikers will give him the opportunity to shoot more and create more for Cook.
I don’t agree with one of the comments above that Evans couldn’t play with Smallwood. He looks mobile and has good passing ability.
Just to clarify I didn’t say couldn’t play together. I think they can. I thought Gilliead played his role ably with Smallwood.
However, we’ve moved away from that to try and increase attacking output. Evans might not be the answer in the current system and Smallwood has shown he is able more often than not to protect the defence himself. His finest performances have come when he has had sole responsibility for this.
If we changed system then I think they could work well but any change has to solve our problem – creating and finishing chances. Keeping clean sheets would of course help too!
All good, I misread it.
When I watch the games I always feel there is too big a gap between the forwards and the midfield three and could do with someone like Pointon to play in the CAM role and dictate play higher up the pitch.
Pointon reminds me of Jack Payne who played/plays in that position where he’s agile and can lose a man from the drop of a shoulder. Think this would somewhat fix our creativity problems given Pointon would be in better positions to shoot more often and create more chances for the forwards
Manger playing players out of position.
We have a poor squad filled with substandard loaness.
We can only rely on Cook for goals.
The club and fans are desperate for the next Transfer Window.
It’s Groundhog Day!! Again…
We play Accrington on Saturday. They played Wimbledon last night and were winning 2 nil until Wimbledon scored twice in the last few minutes. I can see City struggling on Saturday. Lose against them, I feel it will be GA’s last game in charge.
It may be a bonus for the club management. I feel the change in manager will not have sufficient time to assess requirements needed in January.
i would be shocked if Saturday’s game was Alexander’s last what ever the result. When Hughes and Adams before lost their jobs you could sense that their time was up and they had lost the crowd. I don’t get that feeling in regards to Alexander.
i do think that if we don’t win Saturday the atmosphere will start getting more toxic again though, but think it will probably be more aimed at sparks rather than Alexander.
i agree that Alexander has made some strange choices in recent games. You put your finger though on the 2 elements that are the main causes of our “slow puncture” and lost momentum:
Unlucky last night I thought.
Changes 10 mins earlier/abit of luck and we’d have won. Credit to Smallwood for injecting some pace into the game.
Sanderson had a great chance if he’d anticipated the rebound from Oliver’s header – it’s amazing to think he’s on loan from a prem club, he’s a long way off their standard.
I would like to flag the injury crisis and I think the club have been very humble in not reallt talking about it.
In formation order we have the following out:
Baldwin Kelly Richards Wright
Patto Sarcevic Adams
That list includes 5 who started at MK, in theory our best 11.
If we are 8th with 2/3/4 of our best 11 to come back I’d say that’s a decent enough start, talk of a sacking is bonkers!