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Chesterfield 0 Bradford City 1 and Sheffield United 3 Bradford City 1 At Proact Stadium Chesterfield and Bramall Lane Sheffield in League One, 2015/2016 Read widthofapost.com Report

Bradford City beat Chesterfield 1-0 in Derbyshire with a vintage Phil Parkinson team performance that kept the game tight and capitalised on the chance to win the game when it came but lost 3-1 at Sheffield United in a display of much different character. To appreciate how a manager can have a "vintage" performance, and what the concept of a team having a character is one has to be able to watch a lot of football and with pricing such as the £27 admission to Bramall Lane and other expensive prices including those at Bradford City fewer and fewer supporters will be able to do that.

Bradford City 2 Sheffield United 2 At Valley Parade in League One, 2014/2015

Bradford City will reflect that they should have held on to the two goal lead to claim victory against Sheffield United but there was much to admire in the performance and much to suggest the season will just get better.

As the season starts on Saturday City fan's are excused a moment of fantasy safari believing it might be obvious that the club will be promoted but recalling the collapse of the end of last season is sobering. However in Phil Parkinson the club have the manager that everyone wants and he could be key to returning to the top two divisions of English football for the first time since 2004.

We all know the reasons why Phil Parkinson should stay at Bradford City after Sheffield United made an approach for the manager and we keep that list close to our hearts but there is another list - the darker list - of reasons he might leave.

Bradford City 2 Oldham Athletic 0 At Valley Parade in League One, 2014/2015

In an even game Bradford City beat Oldham Athletic 2-0 with late goals from Billy Clarke. The end of the season push for play-off places between a group of teams that seem very equal in ability has created a test of character for Phil Parkinson and his City team where the winners are the teams that work hardest.

Reading 3 Bradford City 0 At The Madejski Stadium in The FA Cup Sixth Round, 2014/2015

The 3-0 defeat at Reading in the sixth round of the FA Cup was rendered hardly a contest at all as Bradford City undertook a six day, three game odyssey of matches against Notts Country and Coventry City and the Berkshire club leaving one with the conclusion that the further a team gets in the FA Cup and the harder the games get, the more handicapped clubs become.

When we look at a footballer our first impressions are often as accurate as our considered judgements. The more we watch football the more we are able to refine these first impressions and so we can make assessments of players and how they will play in the long term. When we look at Christopher Routis what do those judgements tell us?

Sheffield United 2 Bradford City 2 At Bramall Lane in League One, 2013/2014

Bradford City play Port Vale At Vale Park in League Two, 2011/12

In which Michael talks about how City - a week into the season - are doing as expected.

In which Michael looks at the differing fortunes of Bradford City and their rivals in the last two weeks.