Bradford City suffered their first defeat of the season after a disappointing 2-0 loss at Plymouth Argyle.
Goals in either half, the first City have conceded this season, proved decisive. Julio Pleguezuelo opened the scoring before Harvey White added a second. The Bantams managed just four attempts on goal and failed to register a shot on target.
A quick apology, but we don’t have a match report of this game. Unfortunately, none of our team were able to make the trip to Home Park.
Feel free to share your thoughts on the performance in the comments below.
We’ll be back on Sunday with an article looking ahead to the transfer window deadline and assessing City’s summer business so far. It was written before today’s game so, erm, some of the optimism may need rewriting before it goes live!
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Big reality check today!
The forwards seem to have gone awol – Beesley needs a goal (pressure on).
Sarcevic’s legs have gone if he’s expected to do that MF role – needs putting back as a no 10 instead of Jackson (who seems like he’s way off the pace)!
Agreed. Sarevic is a forward player and less effective in midfield. I know Graham is looking for 2 wingbacks. I believe he needs a young strong midfielder. I fear its too late. Metcalf is doing a great job at Millwall. Shoud have kept him.
It seemed to me , watching on to, that City looked tired and Plymouth capitalised on this by speed and pressing
I’m not surprised after Wednesday, and that long journey
Hope and think it’s a one off
Having watched the game, Plymouth seemed faster, stronger and to have more energy. Plymouth were the form team from January onwards except for Lincoln, so it’s no major discredit to lose away to them. But, we did seem incredibly sloppy and struggled to keep the ball, which only encouraged Plymouth to come at us more. Which presented an opportunity for White to shoot and get some fortune with a deflection. At 2-0 it always felt a massive job to get a draw, considering the lack of chances we’d made.
It is worth highlighting the Swan chance when it was 0-0, if that goes in we could have gone in 1 up, instead we go in 1-0 down. It does seem to be a feature of Swan’s play that when he was too much time to think he doesn’t have the composure to score (e.g. Rotherham away last season). Most of his goals seem to be first time finishes and about being in the right place at the right time. He did score a different one at Blackpool but that struck me as more of an instinctive shot after a run. I’ve got a lot of time for Swan, he works hard and is probably good for 7-10 goals a season if he plays regularly. However, I don’t think he’s got the composure to score those big chances currently and that is costly in games like this. Probably in our squad, I’d say I’ve only seen Sarce and, to a lesser extent, Humphrys have the composure to take a 1-on-1.
Remember the crucial mantra “We don’t get too excited when we win and too down when we lose”.
Largely different personnel but this was reminiscent of several away defeats last season. There are extenuating circumstances: Plymouth are a good side and big and physical with it; they have had an extra day to recover and we have had the long journey; the result might have been different if Swan had scored. But we looked disjointed in and out of possession and reverted to hoofing the ball up the field. I can see some difficulties ahead in as much as Sarcevic has to play as captain and the manager is on record as saying Connolly is the right choice for defensive midfielder. Neither player seems particularly mobile or creative or confident in that central area, and they do not make a natural pair. So, I am guessing we will have to sign an out and out ball-carrying midfielder who can pick a pass and unlock defences – they don’t come cheap – or change the system, probably to 3-5-2. You have got to feel for the travelling army going all the way to Devon to see that and then having their misery compounded by railway problems.
Nothing to see here this is how football goes. Teams have bad days. My view would be to credit Plymouth rather than overly criticise ourselves.
Plymouth were better than us, stopped us from playing and didn’t allow us to build any rhythm. They reminded me of City on a good day and did to us what we have done to many others.
Plymouth are a good side, not many teams will go there and get a result. A long trip, after a midweek game. Graham will let them know it wasn’t the standards we expect and we move on.
I was there and it was not good.
Lots of solid observations already made – we were over-run in central midfield (and, sadly, Sarce, for all he looks keen, also looks out of place), we were out muscled at the back (they could have had 3 in the first half from weak defensive headers), we suffered from all too often wasteful passing (we had 59% possession but created nothing apart from Swan’s chance), all three strikers probably need a goal (no shots on target all game is the key stat there and not surprised GA changed 2 of the front 3 at half time) but also that it is too early to draw too many negative conclusions.
It all allowed a ‘lacking confidence’ Plymouth to grow in belief and, by the end and if we are honest, they beat us easily and with a swagger.
I’d hoped that, as we’d got nothing out of long, high balls in the wind in first half and after GA had clearly transformed things against Wednesday, our half time changes would lead to us playing more on the deck and pressing higher up the pitch in the second – after all, what’s the point of lumping it up to Pointon in the hope he wins it in the air? – but it was just more of the same.
All in all, I felt sorry for those who made the long trip. As a Plymouth supporting friend said afterwards, he was ‘surprised how poor Bradford were’ after the start we’d made – he wasn’t the only one!
Definitely seems CM is a problem & poor judgment to try Sarc there given his age & influence in us winning games last season up front. I also don’t understand why Jackson & Swan are starting over Pointon & the new lad.
I agree with all the comments re Sarcevic. GA did the same last season in persisting in playing Humphrys out of position and, consequently, we never got the best out of him. I’d also question the wisdom of extending Sarcevic’s contract.
GA has now got a big problem. We need to recruit a replacement for the role GA thought Sarc could play. This leaves Sarc, Phillips and Jackson competing for right sided position. Given, you’d expect the captain to play, what does he do with Phillips and Jackson?
Yes, indeed. My thoughts entirely. We have at least 3 players vying for that right slot at the front in the system we play. I am not in favour btw of these split shifts where Beasley does an hour and Powell the rest – or Jackson, who laid our only chance on a plate, gives way to Philips. It’s not good for the players although I can see the reason for Powell’s minutes being rationed.
Yes, indeed. My thoughts entirely. We have at least 3 players vying for that right slot at the front in the system we play. I am not in favour btw of these split shifts where Beasley does an hour and Powell the rest – or Jackson, who laid our only chance on a plate, gives way to Philips. It’s not good for the players although I can see the reason for Powell’s minutes being rationed.
Plymouth seas threatenreign; twenty five’s treasured chest.We are sunk this time.jcu – a moment in time20260829 1500hrs (65th minute)
Despite our solid start to the season, I feared this sort of result was on the cards.In previous games we’ve survived going behind due to woeful finishing, no such luck this time.
We have a great work ethos and in the past has paid dividends, however we needed more yesterday and it was unforthcoming. Beesley runs around a lot and so far offered little else. Give Swan time to think and he’s guaranteed to put it wrong side of the post.
There’s no way in the world that Connelly and Scarce will be the centre midfield pairing throughout the season, their careers have been blighted in the past by losing chunks of the season due to injuries. Despite what GA tells us midfield is a priority for strengthening.
We do a lot right, however to emulate last season’s finish we have to improve in certain areas, the biggest one is looking after the ball, watching us concede easy possession is infuriating.
Of course we had dire games away last season, at Mansfield and Huddersfield for example. GA is shrewed and got us through then, hopefully can do the same this time.
City have two main deficiencies to remedy this season. The same two as last season. The lack of a midfield which is able to control a game and contribute goals and the need to have at least one accomplished striker up front. Apologies for stating the bleeding obvious but no amount of grit and determination and team spirit and crowd support can those two deficiencies.
Graham Alexander has done an excellent job since his tenure started and last season was a wonderful effort, but the past two seasons have been incredible achievements, with a fair amount of good fortune at times, against the odds.
Recruitment has been generally good but the last elements of a team are needed which can dominate rather than be hard to beat and scrape a victory a lot of the time.
From what I’ve seen of him so far I think Connolly can be part of the answer in midfield and Powell, if fit, can be a useful addition up front. I’ve always thought Humphrys has a part to play in forming a team with a significant goal threat. The fact remains only further recruitment can turn City from a team who are admirable competitors into a formidable outfit.