Match Report 2001-2002

Tuesday 20 November, 2001, Division One

Preston North End Away

The more things change the more they stay the same

Jim Jefferies has been at Bradford City for 365 days. In that time he was got rid of Stan Collymore, Dean Windass, Andy O'Brien, Benito Carbone, Dan Petrescu (Not all bad then) and Matt Clarke. He has relegated the club to division one from the Premiership where we are mid table and lost at home to Stockport County and brought us the 6-1 humiliation at Leeds.

Tonight's 1-1 draw at Preston streched City's undefeated run to five games, five games since it looked like Jim would not get to his first year birthday.

When City signed up Jim BfB headed north, Internet wise, and asked a few Hearts fans what we could expect from our new boss. Most comments were good, but one stuck in the mind. Jim, they said, would stick with tactics until they had been sussed, then try everything before chaging to what was obvious in the first place. That is pretty much happened at City.

Jim's 442 is solid and capable of performing even when robbed of players. Witness Claus Jorgensen at right back tonight. Not brilliant, but not that bad. Jorgensen's place in the team was a head scratcher before kick off but it's logic seems clear. Gary Locke in central midfield is fast becoming key to City's play, Locke did very well, testing the Preston keeper early on.

Robbie Blake made the breakthrough. Keeping his place despite Juanjo heroics on Saturday Blake was sharp as his four in four suggests when he took a pass from Jorgensen into his feet, turned and let fly left footed from distance.

Stuart McCall hit the bar a minute later after good work, Eoin Jess saw his shot turned over later. City impressing, Jefferies must have wondered about how the job at a Premiership club turned into a place at a team that is happy to out perform Preston, and how he faught to keep it.

Preston, in the former of Hutchings target David Healy, got a way back into the game when the former Man U striker was felled by Robert Molenaar in the box. Graham Alexander gave Preston parity that they did not lose despite chances at both ends, Andy Tod going close with his head at one point, Preston's Cresswell shooting wide when he should have scored.

Robert Molenaar was lucky to get away with a second yellow card offence and was replaced with Juanjo with Andy Tod dropping back. Gary Locke picked up another yellow card and Matthew Etherington had a shout for a penalty turned down before the whistle called time on Jim Jefferies first year as a Bantam.

One year that saw the club change, revert perhaps, to what it was in 1999 and 2000. A big numb fella up front (No offence Andy), Blake or Juanjo being tricky and a back four that always looks like it will crack. The more things change, Jefferies may muse, the more they stay the same.

Man of the Match

Gary Locke

What will be do after Stuart McCall? Gary Locke is the answer.

City Team:

Davison
Jorgensen Molenaar Myers Jacobs
Jess McCall Locke Etherington
Tod Blake

Subs: Juanjo for Molenaar, Makel for Jess