Wednesday 11th November, 2009last year, mid-November
Finding out what you are good at
Bradford City 2 Port Vale 2 (Bradford City win 5-4 on Penalties) At Valley Parade in The Johnstone's Paint Trophy, 2009/2010
Rather unexpectedly, Bradford City become involved in a cup run.
The 2-2 draw with Port Vale saw the Bantams win on penalties and ended up as one of eight in a competition since 1989′s League Cup all of which seemed unlikely after a first half in which the Bantams seemed to have forgotten any or all of the elements which have made the club enjoyable to watch this season.
After an initial ten minutes against a Vale side who predictably defended deep in which the Bantams showed some fluidity but soon the attempted midfield of Zesh Rehman sitting behind Michael Flynn and Luke Sharry. If the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy is for anything it is for blooding young players and it is admirable that Sharry was given a chance but the midfielder did not take the chance with two hands and and with Rehman sitting naturally atop Steve Williams and the recalled Matthew Clarke the midfield triangle became more of a string.
As a result the ball was punted long – punted as opposed to passed – with the ball often going to an out muscled Michael Boulding or Scott Neilson rather than the powerful James Hanson. It was from this that John McCombe gave the visitors the lead with a corner being cleared to Boulding who’s attempt to hold the ball up was lacklustre and so as the Bantams came out the ball pinged back in to the flank and then the centre with McCombe converting.
Micky Adams has Port Vale playing at what they are good at. They sit deep and attack with pace and as City had failed at their endeavours in the first half and Vale had not they deserved the lead. Moreover though Stuart McCall took his team into the dressing room knowing that there was a problem which he set about addressing.
Sharry may not get another 45 minutes to press his case for a contract so it is a shame that he did not grasp this game but his replacement – James O’Brien – floated a corner into the middle which good running by Rehman and a ducked header by Flynn which levelled the game.
Flynn had moved to the forward line to replace Michael Boulding – brought off for Chris Brandon – to give the attack more sticking power against a Vale side who looked to up their muscle with West Yorkshireman Anthony Griffith coming on.
Griffith seems to be a player born without any footballing talent. He can – however – tackle and battle which he does to various degrees giving away a free kick for a foul on James Hanson. Luke O’Brien middled the free kick for Hanson who rose to head in.
Football is sometimes very complex but most other times it is utterly simple. Good delivery to players who are good at heading it. Two goals and that seemed to be that until Robert Taylor his a choice shot across Simon Eastwood and into the the far post to set up another round of penalties after ninety minutes.
Penalties – taken at the Kop end to the eternal credit of someone – started with Marc Richards and Michael Flynn scoring Simon Eastwood saved Louis Dodds, Vale keeper Chris Martin saved from James O’Brien. Eastwood’s on line bouncing gave him the edge over Kris Taylor but Chris Brandon became the only player of sixteen to miss the target.
Lewis Haldane, James Hanson, Tommy Fraser, Luke O’Brien, Robert Taylor and Zesh Rehman scored. Eastwood saved from Adam Yates and Steve Williams won the game.
The credit, the songs, the mobbing of his team mates went to Simon Eastwood who had saved three of eight stop kicks and once again had put the Bantams a step closer to Wembley. Eastwood is the new Barry Conlon. Some get on his back but on nights like tonight – just as Barry would get match winners – he was the difference.
At least we have found something he is good at: saving penalties.
Awesome.
So glad we are taking this cup seriously. Another great progression for City and Im happy that they again managed to show how resolute they are this season. In seasons before we would have gone out last night.
What does concern me is the goals we keep conceding. Very few clean sheets are kept by City these days and its a wonder as to how this is so. Bullock being out obviously leaves our midfield looking less than defensive, but where else do you look?
Eastwoods uncertainty in goal is still a concern, but I dont think the blame lies all at his door. Surely with Wethers and Jakes, City have defenders who have been there and done it and can coach better defending across the side.
Is it a concentration thing? A mistake thing? Or should we just become accustomed to the fact that this is what happens at this level of football? Wycombe conceded 33 goals in last seasons League 2, the least of any team, yet in League 1 the top 6 as finished all conceded more than 40 goals, except Leicester with 39. Birmingham showed last season you can score just over a goal a game and still go into the Premiership, yet their defence conceded less than a goal a game compared to Wolves, who scored more and conceded more.
Its a difficult predicament for City. Do we block it up at the back, or go for scoring one more than the opposition, whatever the score line? Which brings more success?
Is it not more a question of the playing squad you have and how you make the best out of them? Or is it how you mould your squad to play the way you want? The former over the latter when budgets come into it more than likely.
Im not saying City have a major issue here – I actually think that we are more effective and will be more successful with the squad we have currently than we could and have been over the past 2 seasons under McCalls tenure. The tenacity and desire is there and we still have Thorne and Daley to add into that mix after Xmas.
Maybe it is City’s season for a late charge. We have drawn more games than anyone in the top half of the table so far, and there are at least 2 games where we could have picked up wins over draws, which would leave us on 25 points and really on the cusp of the play off spots.
I still think we will be in the mix at the end of the season, but these draws need to become wins and we either need to put away more chances or see more games out.
Saturday will be a big test of where we are.
There were many important lessons to be learnt yesterday.
1. I think Matt Clarke did a good job alongside Williams which bodes well should Rehman be unavailable.
2. Sharry is a good combative midfielder, not an attacking force that can cope with being in an outnumbered midfield.
3. J O’Brien should start every game as he is our only set-piece taker and the best we have had in a while.
4. More teams should offer free travel as PV did. The atmosphere from the away end made for a very entertaining spectacle.
5. What are the chances of England needing a 3rd choice keeper in South Africa. Eastwood a 119th min sub for penalties methinks.