Written by Jason McKeown (images by John Dewhirst)

Fair to say Luke Williams did not know What Bradford City Did Last Summer. As infinite days of wintry rain gave way to weak February sunshine, the Bantams donned their shades and re-lived their sparkling start to the season of routinely beating up naive League One victims who badly underestimated their prowess.

This was a jaw-droppingly stupid Peterborough performance. They fell for every trap laid in their path. Their unjustified overconfidence in deploying a risky, pass-it-around-at-the-back approach was no match for City’s press. The home side stood wide-eyed, almost unable to believe their luck. After weeks of opposition sides deploying the same playbook to nullify the Bantams, it seems the Peterborough boss never read his copy – and was seriously made to pay.

Peterborough’s gullibility should take nothing away from Bradford City. They were absolutely outstanding, capitalising on the circumstances that played right into their hands. In doing so, they delivered their most dominant performance of the season. Some going, after a week where Graham Alexander has talked of internal soul searching with his players over who they really want to be, in the wake of a slightly timid display at Luton and general decline in form.

This was the most emphatic antidote to self-doubt. This was Bradford City at their marvellous, snarling best. A performance oozing Graham Alexander DNA.

The hardest part is choosing where to begin with the praise. Each and every player deserves to be waxed lyrical about. Bravery and conviction levels were universally high.

Shall we start with the attack? There were pre-match debates over whether Paul Mullin or Stephen Humphrys should lead the line. No one expected Kayden Jackson to land the role, and it proved a masterstroke. Jackson showed great movement, power and trickery to lead defenders a merry dance. Along the way he got his first goal in City colours. And this time, no one’s iPad was stopping him.

On either side of Jackson were the fit-again and rejuvenated Bobby Pointon and Antoni Sarcevic. The dynamic wide forwards who lit up the early season were back to their best. Pointon also got on the scoresheet – his first goal in two months. And after weeks of City struggling without the injured Sarcevic, the 33-year-old stamped his quality on proceedings to elevate everybody else. Quite simply, what a guy! Alexander surely sleeps in Antoni Sarcevic pyjamas. The Manchester Messi is his trusted foot soldier. His difference-maker.

What about that midfield? Max Power and Jenson Metcalfe completely dominated their counterparts, former Bantam Brandon Khela and Archie Collins. The duo lay in wait, pressed, won back possession, and instigated attack after attack. This was Power’s best display in months (shame about the booking, which triggers a suspension), while Metcalfe just keeps getting better and better. He is possibly already the best central midfielder City have had since Josh Cullen. Enjoy him while we can, because Metcalfe is going to be almost impossible to keep hold of.

Power and Metcalfe benefited from Peterborough going man-for-man against them, rather than the usual outnumbering strategy. And as the pair scanned their options to launch the next attack, they could also see wing backs running into space without being doubled on. Josh Neufville and Tyreik Wright must have relished this afternoon so much. Peterborough right back Carl Johnston was completely destroyed by Neufville. He’ll be having nightmares for days.

And then there’s the back three. Personal preference, maybe, but I always think Aden Baldwin is better as right-sided centre back than in the middle. He seems to find more space and better angles to spray passes to Neufville and Wright. Curtis Tilt took the centre spot instead, shaking off recent struggles to deliver a dominant display that even included Cruyff turns. And Ibou Touray was his usual brilliant self at left-sided centre back. Hopefully the fact he went off injured early in the second half is nothing serious.

(At this stage we should complete the set and say something nice about Sam Walker, but honestly – he virtually had anything to do. Walker could easily have sat in the stands and drooled over the team’s display with the rest of us.)

Peterborough’s fragility and over-ambitious technical approach was simply no match for City’s widespread excellence. The Bantams scored five minutes into each half, and – if we’re going to have a moan – it’s faintly ridiculous they didn’t score more. Should have been 4-0. Scratch that – should have been 6-0. The final shot count was 29-4 to City. Complete and utter dominance.

The gulf was evident within seconds of kick off. Peterborough played the back to former City loanee keeper Alex Bass, who booted the ball out of play. Moments later, Bass misjudged a long ball that let Jackson in. His low shot was cleared off the line, and from the rebound Metcalfe forced a good save from Bass.

It’s four years since Bass was in the City sticks, where he was largely erratic. Since then, he has played for Sunderland, AFC Wimbledon, Notts County, and now Peterborough, notching up 119 games. He’s clearly no slouch, but on his return to Valley Parade he looked every bit the same up and down keeper we knew before. Maybe there’s something in BD8 that brings out the best and worst in him. City quickly smelt blood, sending crosses into the box that too often led to Bass flapping in panic.

That was certainly the case with the opening goal. City were relentless in their press, switching play from side to side as Peterborough struggled to keep hold of the ball. Eventually, it was worked to Wright, who swung across a high looping cross. Bass made a mess of it, leaving Pointon to stab the ball home. Deserved for City. Highly preventable for Peterborough.

The best part for City? They kept going. Teams on poor runs can become nervous and edgy after taking the lead. But scoring early merely set City up for a full-scale onslaught on Peterborough’s goal. It was complete and utter one-way traffic. Alexander must have been so proud.

Let’s do this.

Neufville sent over a cross that saw Pointon produce a shot Bass saved. Wright tried his luck from distance, straight at the keeper. Lovely build-up play from Baldwin and Wright led to Pointon fizzing in a low cross that Jackson couldn’t quite convert. Sarcevic was played through and saw a delicate lob drift just wide. Power – still yet to score for the Bantams – shot narrowly over. Jackson was played through on goal, curiously unchallenged, only for Bass to save again. Power was sent clear in space and should have found the net. Metcalfe got on the end of an excellent pull-back, denied by a brilliant defensive block. Sarcevic headed wide from a well-worked corner.

Attack, attack, attack.

By the time the half time whistle sounded, City had registered 19 efforts to Peterborough’s one. It’s true the visitors did have a semi-decent penalty appeal when Baldwin went in for a strong challenge and it was slightly dubious whether he cleanly won the ball. But really, there can be no argument that Peterborough got off lightly.

Would the interval give them the chance to reset and make a game of it? Williams switched Posh to 3-4-3, bringing on an extra centre half in Lucca Mendonca. But before the restructure was allowed to have any meaningful impact, City struck again. Baldwin kept another attack alive by winning a press before feeding Metcalfe who found Neufville. The right wing back completely skinned Johnston and charged towards the box. His hanging cross was perfect for Jackson to head home. Game effectively over – with plenty of time to spare.

The second half wasn’t quite as ridiculously one-sided, but City’s authority never wavered. Neufville struck a thunderous effort that Bass tipped onto the bar. Metcalfe powered a free-kick goalwards, denied by the post. Pointon sent over a cross met by a Sarcevic volley at the back post that flew just wide. Ethan Wheatley came on and – just like last week – almost scored immediately, doing well to fashion a one-on-one and force Bass into another save. Late on, Wright cut inside and shot narrowly wide.

Once again – attack, attack, attack.

Peterborough fashioned one decent chance when Johnston saw a shot blocked by Walker and sub Oluwalopemiwa Aderoju put the rebound wide. But they were so lightweight in both boxes. So clearly second best.

And that’s a real feather in City’s cap.

Since Williams took charge, only Cardiff and Lincoln have picked up more points than Peterborough. The fact City made this look so easy should not detract from what a big achievement this actually was.

Indeed, the league table now looks much healthier. The Bantams are back up to fifth, leapfrogging Huddersfield, who were beaten at Stevenage. They’ve put distance between themselves and Posh, as well as Luton – who lost to leaders Cardiff. Reading are now the closest challenges to the top six, but trail the Bantams by six points. It’s going to be a battle to finish in the play offs, but City are in a strong position.

Strong because they are so especially strong at home.

This was their 11th Valley Parade success in 15 games, on top of winning 17 of their 23 home games last season. They have picked up double the number of points on their own patch compared to their travels. With three of their next five fixtures on home soil, they have a golden opportunity to fortify their play-off position.

But whisper it all quietly. Destroy the tape of this game. Delete this very match report, for that matter. Don’t let Williams tell anyone how badly he got this wrong. Don’t tell Dave Challinor – manager of City’s next visitors, Stockport – exactly what happened here. There’s a whole bunch of lessons about what not to do against Bradford City – and about what We Did Last Summer – that we certainly don’t want spreading. If anyone else wants to come to Valley Parade and set up like Luke Williams…we’ll rub our hands with glee.

Because on days like this, the league table really doesn’t lie – Bradford City truly are one of the best sides in League One.

Categories: Match Reviews

Tags: 2025/26, BCAFC, League One, Peterborough United