Match Report 2001-2002

Saturday 24 November, 2001, Division One

West Brom Away

West Brom 1, Premiership 2

GR was tight lipped today. Passing "No Comment" on the story in the morning papers that City were one of six first division clubs ready to rip up the football league and set up a Phoenix League, or Premiership Two to you and me.

Should Richmond's silence be a thing other then him not knowing anything worth saying, and how often does Mr. Richmond refuse to comment, then GR has achieved one of the great aims of his stewardship at VP. "A Premiership Two is coming", Richmond said a number of years back, "And Bradford City want to be in it."

Now City seem like a natural choice to come above the fold in the Division One table of those who get in and those who do not, when the Premiership came about and Premiership Two's inevitability started, City would have been nowhere near.

Back then West Brom would have been more natural choices. Big club years ago, although not massive enough to be an automatic choice for elevation, and with a decent fan base they play tidy football, physical in extreme at times, Darren Moore is a good example of the team that Gary Megson has built.

Megson does well on his modest resources, far more modest than those Jim Jefferies complains about. Jefferies City team is in a state of flux at the moment. He has his eye on a team with two wide men, Juanjo and Eoin Jess once Etherington has returned to Spurs. A solid middle of McCall and Locke for now.

A back four with two overlapping full backs once Lewis Emmanuel takes the throne from Wayne Jacobs and the new right back that Jim would like is bedded in. A tricky forward and a big man. Sounds very much like the Paul Jewell team and has the potiental to do the same, although which division it could get promoted to the Prmeiership from is anyone's guess.

About half of the team for Jefferies is in place, the current side had trouble when those who he would keep fail and the others are forced to make the play. Robbie Blake, "on/off" as usual, was "off" today and the wings were not working leaving City with a single assult. A long ball up to Adny Tod but often snaffled by the Albion trio of impressive Clements, Larrus Siggarsson and one of the 14 Darren Moore.

Tod has a good chance in a poor first half but just before half time a move started down the Brom flank, ball in and for once Robert Molenaar was not there. Derek McInnes was and Albion got the lead.

Robert Molenaar had impressed for the opening 50 minutes until injury saw to his game, limping off soon to be followed by Gary Locke. West Brom's physical play would not be appreciated in the Premiership, nor Premiership Two.

Everything up towards the end as Claus Jorgensen came on for Stuart McCall and Andy Myers returned to the forward line following his retreat when Molenaar went off. Eoin Jess has a good chance saved by Russell Hoult as did Tod but it seemed like today was not going to be City's day.

Scott Dobie surged into the box and took a very unconvincing dive over Gunnar Halle's leg. McInnes missed the resulting penalty so justice of a sort was done.

City on the other hand had an eye on the larger result. West Bromich Albion 1, Bradford City Premiership 2.

Man of the Match

Andy Myers

Jim Jefferies is getting the best out of Andy Myers.

City Team:

Davison
Halle Molenaar Myers Jacobs
Jess McCall Locke Etherington
Tod Blake

Subs: Juanjo for Molenaar, Makel for Locke, Jorgensen for McCall