| Northampton Town 0 |
| Bradford City 0 |
By Adam Raj
A new season of following the Bantams on the road is among us. And it’s in League One. Finally. A trip to former League Two rivals Northampton Town was first on the batting order, backed by a sold out travelling Bantams army.
It was an unchanged side from the opening day victory over Wycombe. Alex Pattison and Aden Baldwin returned to the bench, with Brad Halliday and Lewis Richards missing out.
The first half was very much a non event. I couldn’t tell you a single thing that happened. Perhaps, Josh Neufville requiring treatment 10 seconds into the game after his cross deflected straight back into his face is an accurate representation of what the following 90 minutes would look like.
At times it resembled a pre-season friendly. Misplaced passes, loose touches, rusty decision making – it didn’t make for pleasant viewing. Neither side created a chance of note, albeit City did find themselves in a number of promising counter attacking situations, only for a poor pass/decision to frustrate. This is only the second game of the season though, so such sloppiness is still understandable at this stage.
The second half was very much the same in terms of quality. However, City did manage to fashion out two big chances. First, Bobby Pointon’s short corner was worked back to him and his cross was headed against the post by Curtis Tilt who probably should’ve scored. The big centre half had a free header six yards out but couldn’t steer it home.
Ten minutes later and City had an even better chance to score. Steven Humphrys robbed Max Dyche as the centre half dallied under a long ball, he was sent clear and squared for Antoni Sarcevic who somehow managed to kick the ball against his own foot with the goal gaping. The resulting rebound from Max Power was cleared off the line by Dean Campbell before Neufville skied the third attempt well over. Northampton were well and truly let off the hook.
It’s a bit of a hard game to analyse this. On the one hand, you’ll have a section of the fanbase who deem this to be ‘a good point on the road’ whereas you’ll have others who say that these are the sort of games we should be winning. Neither of these positions are particularly wrong but the title of this piece is a giveaway as to what side of the fence I’m on.
Looking away from this game and performance in isolation, I think everyone is in agreement that our away form is in need of big improvement this season. It’s not overly realistic to expect our phenomenal home form to reach the same levels as it did last season given the step up in quality we will be facing. Therefore more points will need to be picked up away from home.
One thing I was particularly critical of us on the road last season was how we allowed the more direct/physical sides to dictate games against us. I’m thinking Gillingham, Wimbledon and Port Vale off the top of my head. Today was very much the same. Northampton are a long ball/percentages team and City played right into their hands by trying to fight fire with fire.
We’re a good footballing team when we want to be – I want to see us be braver. Get the ball down and play. Pointon, Sarcevic and Humphrys all had quiet games, yet were all involved in City’s big chances. It just shows the quality they have and how we need to ensure they are influencing games on the road as well as at Valley Parade.
Defensively however, City were very good. Northampton were very limited but credit has to be given to the City back line for limiting them to one effort on target and no big chances. In truth, the Bantams were never in danger of conceding this afternoon and their defensive performance displayed confidence and sharpness.
For the first time in six years, there are probably lots of differences in expectations and ambition amongst the fanbase and club. Whether that be a solid mid table finish, a play off push or merely to survive, I can’t help but thinking this should’ve been three points closer to that target.
Everyone would probably have taken four points from the first two games. However after last week’s high, it does feel like a wasted opportunity to have had maximum points.
Categories: Match Reviews
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Very early days, thought Joe Wright was exceptional at the back – absolute stand out MOTM performance. Solid defensive foundations there for GA to build on, slight concern would be the impact off the bench (ie distinct lack of). Also interested to see how the Leigh or Pattison conundrum unfolds in midfield when both fully fit…Leigh looks like a tidy ball player in the middle. Great tests on the horizon and lots to look forward to.
Not always agreed with your commentary (as you may know Adam), but spot on today 👏
completely agree with it being a missed opportunity, Northampton looked like a team destined for a struggle near the bottom. Think we need to try Humphrey’s as a winger with Swan up top as that’s where he played his best for Barnsley think he was wasted today
On another day we would have won the game. We never were under any major pressure and if we had scored, we had won the game convincingly. Keep the faith, I am happy with points from two games.
Thanks Adam and WOAP Season greetings!
Clear to me that the next few weeks will test the ambition to the max if we do go ahead for a (mobile hopefully proven and experienced) No9. Expecting Andy Cook to be the main guy to shoot us to glory this season is at best a long shot. Not because I don’t believe in him but after so long out and no proper pre season under his belt he’s unlikely to be at his best until early next year. Kav, Swann and Humphries just aren’t naturally central players but can all be very useful in many ways. In certain games a No9 (like today) and even against the so called bigger and better sides will be vital. I think even if Andy wasn’t recovering from so long out with ACL we would still probably expect us to have another option. We had Oliver as back up in L2 so an upgrade on Oliver but in a similar/ better mode would complete a superb transfer window. Or we soldier on and hope for the best until Jan and go from there. Either way it’s an exciting phase for the club right now.
Think it was a missed opportunity not bringing Tayo back , teams unbalanced , pace down the right , no pace down the left , we’re lacking pace in the final 3rd. Touray is solid defensively but he’s more of a left back than wing back which is having an impact on Pointon. Need a couple more attacking options preferably with some pace before the window shuts.
We look strong, resolute and well drilled. But, I fear, our system requires a good deal more than we got today from the two wide forwards. I was surprised Humphrys didn’t move out left when Swan came on and replace Pointon: and I would have favoured Lapslie, on the right, over Tyreik Wright, on the left. In the end Northampton, having been outplayed for 65 minutes, looked more likely to nick it than we did. The points were here for the taking and I doubt we will come up against many poorer sides than the lads from Sixfields. Once again the standouts were Neufville and Wright, but the whole of the defence looked solid and Walker had little to do. On this season’s (limited) evidence, Power is a distinct upgrade on Smallwood, and Leigh, having found his best position, is an asset to the team. Yes, Adam, this was a wasted opportunity.
The Richards and Pointon combination on the left worked well last year.
Again, lack of substitutions that could have changed the outcome. Not sure why Pointon and Humphrey were substituted. Both were creating problems. In particular when they were trying to pass the way through Northampton’s defence. However, happy with the outcome of City’s journey thus far.
The big off-pitch story, of course, is the entire omission of Halliday, a regular last year and a former recent player of the year. If he’s not injured that does seem very odd, especially as the only-just-fit Kelly travelled as ‘19th man’. What’s going on here? Is Jack Hunt still in the building. Nudge, nudge!
I’m not interested the club panic buying a striker, when all it might do is take us from, say 14th to 8th.
I never saw the Northampton match as a given as some on social media thought it was. This team always does better against more open teams – of which there are at least 15 in this division.
I think your expectation of two wasted points was a bit critical? This squad is still finding their feet in this division and trying to gel. Four points from the first two games is a good foundation to build on. The visit of Luton on Saturday will be another tester and many other games to come. Give this team time and keep expectations to a minimum. After watching them against Wycombe I think this squad has all the credentials to succeed.