Sunday 31st January, 20106 months ago
Out of a clear blue sky
Torquay United 1 Bradford City 2 At Plainmoor in League Two, 2009/2010
As the sun shone into the breakfast room, all you could see outside was the sort of transparent and uniformly bright blue sky that you never spot on an away trip to Morecambe. It was only at the other side of the building, where the light dusting of snow was still frozen to the parked cars, that there was a clue as to just how cold it had been overnight, even in Torquay.
A walk down to the marina showed that the temperature was rising, without quite reaching Riviera standards. It had been much warmer in Bournemouth last March and we know how that game went. City were woeful and, as those of us at the game learnt much later, Stuart McCall’s post-match interview had included a promise to resign if City did not finish in the top seven.
But Torquay in January was different – and it wasn’t just the physical temperature that was lower. Everything was lower, not least City’s league position and all the reputations that hang on such matters. This time round, the question of how much longer the City manager might remain the City manager looked increasingly out of his control.
One of the great beauties of going to these ‘smaller’ grounds is that the stewards will generally talk with you, rather than at you. You get bits of information, tips about who to watch out for and even a tale that, when last Saturday’s game went from a 2-0 home lead to a 3-2 away win, the stewards had to prepare themselves for a possible pitch invasion as a protest against the manager. Hm. Sounded a bit like two of them on a knife edge, then.
The man to look out for, according to the friendly steward, was the midfielder who could be mistaken for the mascot – his words, not mine. Danny Stevens is 5’ 10”, according to the club website. Club websites, unlike BfB, are not to be relied upon. He must be nearer to 4’ 10”. And he is so fresh faced that I bet he isn’t allowed to play in night games. But he certainly played in the bright spells of this game.
City started with the eleven that finished at Lincoln. Bateson, Rehman and Evans all started on the bench, alongside the returning Thorne and O’Leary. The second half display at Sincil Bank had clearly convinced the manager that this was his best ‘formation’. By half time he was equally clearly unconvinced.
I would dearly love to tell those who were not among the 300 or so travelling fans just what the ‘formation’ at kick-off was, but I am struggling. There was an obvious back four, with captain Ramsden returned to right back. Michael Boulding was naturally playing up front, but for much of the first half he might have fallen out with the rest of the team, so rarely did a claret shirt get anywhere near him. Daley and Neilson stayed wide, which brought them near to my seat and thus into my focus. Otherwise the midfield was largely anonymous.
One of the main reasons for that anonymity was the persistent long high ball up the middle to, yes, Michael Boulding. Once again the opposition centre backs must have thought it was their birthdays. Torquay, on the other hand, who must be used to playing on a narrow, but otherwise splendid, surface, kept the ball on that surface much more often, not least when feeding it to the aforementioned Stevens.
If I was a proper sports journalist, I would be able get away with phrases like ‘tormented the City defence’ and ‘ran them ragged’. Instead, I shall just settle for saying that almost every note I made of a Torquay attack in that first half – and there were plenty – featured the number 19. After 15 minutes it was his run and shot that forced Matt Glennon into probably his best save of the game, as he tipped it round his left hand post. Sadly, Glennon was unrewarded. The resulting corner was not dealt with and one huge centre back really did think his birthday had come, when his shot from around the penalty spot went through the crowd of players and low into the net.
One the rare occasions City did keep the ball on the floor, Michael Boulding had a shot that went narrowly over and Chris Brandon also put his one effort some way off target. At half time the sun was beginning to set over Plainmoor.
The City manager, having changed the team at half time at Sincil Bank, went two thirds of the way toward changing it back again at half time at Plainmoor. Off went Williams, on a yellow card and looking like a sending off waiting to happen, and on came the second of City’s captains, Zesh Rehman. Ramsden kept the armband. And Gareth Evans started in place of – oh, yes, that would be Brandon. This time I really can report a 4-4-2. Better still, I can report energy, enthusiasm and, for the first time in this game, a team that looked capable of troubling the home goalkeeper.
A shot from Evans was pushed away by the keeper, before the Torquay leading scorer, Scott Rendell, who had already risen from the dead (or a collision with Matt Clarke) once, had to leave the game with a broken arm. Not that this stopped the home team continuing to pressurise and force City into last second blocks and conceding corners.
And then, with the sun having set over his left shoulder, out of the old wooden stand came the old wooden gunslinger. No, that’s not fair, is it? Far from it. But up stepped captain number three (Ramsden still retaining the armband) Peter Thorne, last seen in a JPT game two centuries ago. And maybe my pre-match chat with the stewards had got back to the Torquay team. ‘If he gets on, he’ll be our best bet for a goal’, I’d said. OK, so you won’t find his name on the score sheet. But you ask their defenders about him. And ask the keeper who had to make two stops from close range within the first few minutes of the poacher’s arrival.
The second of those saves, following an Omar Daley run, brought the corner that was to replicate Torquay’s first half goal. This time it was Gareth Evans who poked it home (sorry, keeper – terrible pun!) through the melee that hadn’t cleared it. Under ten minutes left, but for the first time in years City were back level in the late stages of a game and still had eleven men on the pitch.
Sustained City pressure actually made it look, incredible as it seemed at that moment, as though we could win this one. The home keeper was being reminded by the ref that another exercise in time-wasting would not be tolerated. And then up popped the fourth official’s board with a bright red 4 on it. And then up popped Captain Ramsden, now corner taker extraordinaire. This time it was a curling free kick on to Rehman’s head, down into the same melee and, via Evans’ toe poke (sorry, keeper, done it again!), into the net in front to the ecstatic visiting fans.
Could City hang on for the remaining three minutes of stoppage time? Of course they could! Only some petty argument between Matt Clarke and Elliot Benyon, which brought a pair of yellow cards, would interrupt the oh so smooth progress to three away points.
Over the last umpteen weeks, we have bemoaned our luck. We have pointed to refereeing decisions that have changed the course of the game. We have examined statistics that showed every week how we had more shots at goal, more shots on target, more corners – and fewer goals than the opposition. All of that changed yesterday. City have not come away with a more blatant theft of three points since a Dean Windass belter of a free kick at Yeovil, where even Mr Singh didn’t manage to ruin our day.
Maybe the tide has turned. Maybe Gareth Evans’ confidence will now return. Maybe Peter Thorne’s battered body will hold up for another three months. On such fragile building blocks will the remainder of City’s season rest. Until Thorney’s arrival, it looked remarkably like the sun had set forever. Now the future is that touch brighter. But how dark might it be at Valley Parade next time out?
I can understand the travelling fans delight at seeing a victory such a long way from home – but I can’t recall a time when I have celebrated a win with less enthusiasm.
There are still big questions to be asked of the home form – these two home games are crucial for the manager and team, but were we to improve through to May and finish outside the play offs – would that be acceptable progress?
The medium to longer term view must be clearly on the minds of the joint chairmen.
Oddly enough I find it hard to recall a time when I was not at a game that I celebrated a victory with more enthusiasm. Indeed when the day comes that late two goal salvos that turn games around no longer excite then I think I would be able to declare myself finally bored of football.
Excellent article, great head down from Thorney for Evans to knock in the winner.Its funny how things change so quickly in football and winning a game we didnt deserve to feels much better than losing a game we deserved to win. Roll on next Saturday and lets hope we get 4-4-2 with wingers.
Seriously Mark?!
Whilst I accept that a 2-1 away win at Torquay is hardly going to make the history books, come on! Even the most pessimistic of fans surely cannot fail to see the positives to come out of this result. Gareth “could’t finish a cheese toastie” Evans bags a brace, Captain Fantastic gets in on the action, Stuart makes effective substitutions and most importantly of all we go behind and end up winning the game!
The time for discussing the managers future is, in my opinion, at the end of the season. The best thing we can do now is get behind the team and hope that this result sparks some kind of turnaround in fortunes.
At the end of the day we came away with three welcome points so lets hope we cam emulate that on Saturday against Bury, who have a tough game against Rochdale tomorrow night.
I actually nearly put my fist through the ceiling when Evans scored the winner,my wife wasn’t pleased.
I’d like to say a big well done to the city fans who made the long trip who turned up in force and who seemed to be going equally mad when we scored the winner.
Another three points against Bury and who knows,it could be the start of a decent run of results.
Ditto here – jumped out of the chair, big yes, scared the kids – roll on next week!
Michael and Chris – maybe other things cloud my enthusiasm at this time which may have had a bearing on what i said earlier – my son was jumping about the room and hugging all – maybe i am falling out of love with the beautiful game!!! – I think I’ll watch some old city videos/dvd’s tonight to try and get that old feeling back again.
Alternatively it’s because i dread the day i hear Stuart has got the sack, I’d rather he walked of his own accord than suffer that awful scenario.
I scared the granny in front when I heard the final result on radio. Didnt catch the goal update so had to listen to sports report and when the tone of voice changed after Torquay one to Bradford two I peeped my horn etc. Another boy racer she must have thought after she quickly pulled over. Oops.
Being some interesting signings today. Wouldnt have minded Boshell or Rundle. Whaley has been released. If we signed a ball playing centre back then I would be more confident.
As Whalley has been released I think he is free to sign for anyone regardless of the transfer window.
If you believe what is written in the T&A by Simon Parker (who is usually reasonably well informed)a defeat last sat. would have been Stuarts last game in charge.Whilst it will be a sad day when this eventually happens stuarts loyalty to certain players will have helped in his downfall. Since the opening day defeat to Notts County it was apparent that apart from Ramsden the defenders were not good enough to mount a serious title challenge.We have battled on in many games this season only to be let down by a defensive slip up and the manager has not sorted it out. I would have thought the signing of a dominent centre half would have been a priority to stop the rot and get us back on track and hopefully keep Stuart in a job for years to come.
Isn’t it so amazing that when we finally do pick up 3 points we don’t actually deserve it – after all the times we do and get zilch! Football is an odd game at times (though specifically it seems for City).
On the players front would add that Rehman being dropped but then brought back on is an interesting one. Perhaps if Stuart had shown more of these sort of decisions we would have done more – managers need to use subs and team choices effectively and I’ve long felt this is one thing that Stuart could have been more decisive over. We have quite a few ‘backup’ players that can come on and influence games – we must use them against tired opposition.