Match Report 2001-2002

Tuesday 23 October, 2001, Division One

Millwall Away

It's all decided on Thursday

Jim Jefferies future as Bradford City manager will be decided at Valley Parade on Thursday when he and Geoffrey Richmond meet with Hearts' Juanjo.

If Jefferies can field Juanjo on Saturday City can be reborn in the spirit of the side that played the last 25 minutes against Millwall and terrorised the home side.

Matthew Etherington entered play with a quarter of the match left, City went to 442 and converted the possession that has stayed with the team during the recent dark days, and added an attacking thrust. Etherington ripped into the Millwall side that had pulled off a striker to defend a 2-0 lead that they had unjustly got.

First five minutes aside City controlled the game against the Londoners. Robbie Blake, looking sharper but still not sharp, blasted over on ten minutes setting the tone. City have the ball, City labour out a chance that is frittered away by wasteful forwards. Ashley Ward was missing, replaced by Andy Tod who missed a number of golden opportunities.

Gary Locke and Gareth Whalley combined to get a two on one with the Loins keeper Tony Warner but an offside flag ruled out the goal as Locke pushed it to an obviously offside Whalley. It was going to be that sort of night.

Richard Sadlier got the goal, a fine strike on the half hour that represented Millwall's efforts at goal to that date. The next time they pushed forward, on the stroke of half time David Wetherall gave away a penalty. Steve Claridge shot, Gary Walsh saved and Jim Jefferies breathed again.

Of course City should have had another on the possession before Millwall got a second through but possession is not chances which in turn are not goals. City need the attacking thrust. Enter Etherington.

City tore into Millwall, Etherington tormenting them on the left and within minutes Gary Locke got a head onto an Etherington cross and gave City a first goal in a long time.

City on top of the game and Andy Tod criminally missed twice after beating Warner to the ball on the second occasion and having one come back off the post on the first.

City pushed on and were punished, getting a third. Jim Jefferies was reported to have four games to turn the season around. He lost them all. Should he be sacked? Not at all but perhaps if there was a single name in waiting that suggested itself one would think different.

So on to Thursday. Jefferies needs to sign Juanjo, a player he has put much store in when he allowed Benito Carbone to leave, the two events are not unconnected. If he can get the Spaniard his City team can be reborn as an attacking 442 with Etherington and Juanjo as the Peter Beagrie and Jamie Lawrence of three years back. Certainly Geoffrey Richmond sees the importance of the signing claiming that Jefferies had "spent 12 months talking about him."

If not, and if City emerge from the next Saturday/Tuesday set with anything less than four points then it would be hard to see the situations vacant sign go in at Valley Parade. Without Juanjo to add much needed creativity to turn possession into proper chances then more wasted games like this are inevitable.

And a couple more games like this and Jim Jefferies will be sacked.

Man of the Match

None

Come back when you have won a bloody game players.

City Team:

Walsh
Halle Wetherall Molenaar Myers
Locke McCall Whalley
Jess
Tod Blake

Subs: Etherington for Jess.