Match Report 2002-2003
Saturday 01 February, 2003, Division One
Ipswich Town At Valley Parade
The local boy in the photograph
Bantam fan's faces beamed after this two goal win over Ipswich Town and none more so than that of Danny Forrest. Fan and now goalscorer.
Forrest took his first goal in his first game in claret and amber superbly. He had missed a chance or two but kept going regardless. Ipswich had left him unmarked and as soon as the ball came to him he had dispatched it and was away to celebrate with his brother at the start of the Kop Stand.
Forrest's goal sealed the win for City that was richly deserved and came from a knock down from Mark Bower. City looked like a team with purpose, a team with a point. Bower, like Forrest, was a City fan growing up. Who would have thought that picking players who cared about the club would result in performances with passion? It seems so logical now.
Forrest partnered Ashley Ward after Adrian Littlejohn turned down £350 just to turn up for matches. They looked like a good pairing with the hold up man bringing the younger player in, looking for his lively runs. City's midfield was a worry with Claus Jorgensen and Michael Standing seeming too light weight in the middle. Ipswich gave City the advantage. Premiership quality dynamo Matt Holland was left in the back three and Standing and Jorgi were able to take the midfield without much problem. Lewis Emanuel and Simon Francis prevented the Joe Royle wing backs from doing any damage and for all the huff and puff of Darren Bent up front the visitors never looked like getting in front.
This was, on the whole, because of a storming display by Mark Bower who seems to he benefited form his time out of the side and looks like he has made real progress. He partnered Robert Molenaar and combined well with Wayne Jacobs at the back. He gave eight years to his nearest in age in the back four but looked like an experienced veteran. Bower got us to half time with a clean sheet and the game was there for City's taking.
Perhaps City would have taken the game in the second half. We shall never know. Hermann Hreidarsson, he of the towering header in the Premiership when Ipswich blazed a trail past us, had been putting himself about to be generous. He was given a straight red for putting his arm into the face of Simon Francis. It seemed harsh but to be honest at the rate Hreidarsson was going he seemed keen to get first use of the soap and so if he had not been sent off for that, he would have been for something else.
Ipswich boss Joe Royle then gave up the game. He pushed to a three man striker force, kept a tight three in the middle and his standard three at the back creating a tube down the centre of the field and nothing on the flanks. City, with only full backs on the wings, made hay.
Another Bradford born player, Lewis Emanuel, had a storming game making full use of the lack of cover on the left. Some think that Emanuel has found his place in midfield and should no longer be considered a full back. He went a long way to repositioning himself with this display. He provided an outlet for passes when required but came inside to win the ball when the blue three outnumbered our two. Harpal Singh please note. This is how a left sided midfielder should play.
It was Emanuel who's tasty low cross picked out Danny Forrest in the box. Forrest at this point had sliced one, flashed one wide and seen a header cleared off the line. Unselfishly he tucked the ball back and cheered as the ball was rifled in by five in five man Claus Jorgensen. I'm getting bored of saying it but now we are out of administration we need to get Jorgensen signed to a new deal.
This team has potential. Ipswich arrived in good form and look no mugs but Nicky Law's charged dispatched them with professionalism and pride. Jorgensen's attitude is the template. Add to him the likes of Mark Bower, Tom Kearney, Danny Forrest, Lewis Emanuel, Michael Standing, Simon Francis and potentially Robert Morgan, Daniel Ekoku, Craig Fishlock and Kevin Sansey then the future at City is pretty bright. Remember Dean Saunders and Dad's Army?
Forrest got his goal and despite some Ipswich pressure Bower's line claimed a clean sheet. It was a good display. Not as good at the 2-1 win at Portman Road but some how more fair. That was smash and grab on a club looking to bounce back. This was us besting them
Ipswich do not look like a team about to bounce back. They looked like they will have to rework themselves to rid themselves of Premiership wages and give their promising kids a chance. They will do well, the likes of Darren Ambrose and Darren Bent are impressive, but they have a corner of realisation in front of them.
As Danny Forrest hit home from close range, our own fan as our own player scoring and meaning it, it looked very much like City have turned that corner.
Man of the Match
Mark Bower
Edging out make one score one Danny Forrest it was Bower's first half display that gave City the foundations of the win and his header back that gave Forrest his goal.