Match Report 2001-2002

Wednesday 26 December, 2001, Division One

Sheffield United At Valley Parade

Jefferies gone, but his problems remain

Jim Jefferies was probably at home in Scotland when he saw this result. His team, the team he built, was very much in evidence at Valley Parade.

At times City were breathtaking with the speed of counter attacks, Jim Jefferies built a side that served attacking football, and at times they were extremely naive at the back. This was vintage Jim Jefferies.

Stuart McCall returned to the starting line up and City looked better for it. McCall clearly benefited from his two weeks off and bolstered the midfield/defence connection with Eoin Jess trying to do similar with the link between attack and midfield, but to a lesser effect.

Sheffield United were as Sheffield United always are. Physical and big. They hustled in midfield, they had power up front and they played to their strengths with every ball launched from the back. A set play set them on the way to victory after a free kick was launched into the box from the half way line, Andy Tod allowed his man to drift unmarked towards Wayne Jacobs who did well to get his head to the ball, but was unlucky to see Carl Asaba on it as it landed to strike past Gary Walsh. To say that Sheffield United were direct would be something of an understatement.

Nevertheless we are to believe that Neil Warnock is to be considered for the role of Bradford City manager. He worked with Geoffrey Richmond at Scarborough and was linked with the Bantams post when Frank Stapleton left the club.

It is said that City fans would not like Warnock, he had Town connections and favours kick and rush. I wonder about this sometimes. In my corner of the Kop City fans have little patience for build up play, every loose ball is greeted with a chorus of "Shoot", every attempt at a pass from a member of the back four receives groans. Far be it from me to criticise your money paying supporter but perhaps the City/passing football connection is more in the minds of those who write about the club rather than the majority of those who watch. Perhaps when we here at BfB talk about wanting to see the ball on the deck or when The City Gent castigate The Doc for his long ball tactics we are out of touch with what the man in the stands wants. If I were to judge the kind of manager City fans want on the calls from those behind me the names would not include Roy Evans and would Jack Charlton, Dave Bassett and of course Warnock.

Stan Collymore would be a breath of fresh air for the job. His application, we are told, will not be taken seriously. This is a damn shame. City are a good team, anyone who says anything else is simply wrong. The problem is that we give away far too many goals through individual defensive errors.

In evidence today was the disgraceful display by Andy Tod for Asaba's second goal. A ball came over the top Tod gave up on the chase for Gary Walsh only for the ball to bounce outside the box and unhandleble. Asaba connected with ball and Walsh and got a goal. Tod turned his back on the prone and winded Walsh, a disgraceful display of disloyalty to a team mate, especially one you have just sold short on a ball that should have been launched high into the Bradford sky.

City had roared at The Blades before and after that goal, getting one back when a Wayne Jacobs run to the touch line produced a cut back for Ashley Ward to get one back. City went close again and where livid when a keeperless chance was taken from Ward's toe by a back pass to the Blades stopper. Quite what the rule is for if not to stop defenders from killing attacks by moving the ball back to the keeper is anyone's guess.

Ashley Ward slid a low shot that inched wide. Robbie Blake got into gear. He was electric and deserved more nevertheless all came to naught and in a typically Jim Jefferies way City were left cursing bad luck and a referee that allowed the visitors to rough house their way through a game, George Santos being especially vicious in a lunge that saw Gary Locke leave on a stretcher.

City will have a new manager soon. He has a lot to work with. The team attacks well, and can survive the exit of Matthew Etherington should Juanjo be stepped up from the bench where he once again spent the entire game. Defensively City have the personnel, doubly true when David Wetherall returns to the side next month, but they need more cover from the midfield.

Whatever is said about Jim Jefferies time at Bradford City this one thing is true: He has left a lot to work with. Bradford City are not a rebuild job, we need tweaks, we need someone to give confidence and get a balance between attack and defence. Little changes that could make a big difference in the same way that Crystal Palace were able to go from 12 minutes off relegation to promotion challengers in the space of a summer.

Two mistakes at the back head City trying to catch up a game that we should have and would have won. If a new manager can cut those mistakes out, he will find that Valley Parade is not the poisoned challis that Jim Jefferies would have us believe.

Man of the Match

Robbie Blake

Getting back to his best form. However takes over could make much of Blake's talent.

City Team:

Walsh
Caldwell Molenaar Tod Jacobs
Locke McCall Jess Etherington
Ward Blake

Subs: Makel for Locke