Match Report 2002-2003

Saturday 22 March, 2003, Division One

Reading at Valley Parade

City face up to inconstancy

Once more City proved the most consistent thing about this season is it's inconstancy. The Bantams were brilliant at Derby, brittle by Wednesday and bloody awful today.

Positive things first. Robbed of Ashley Ward City looked clueless up front. Reading came for a point and posted two lines of four in their own half meaning that whenever Danny Forrest or Andy Gray got the ball they had men in close proximity in front and behind them and when midfielders got the back they were running at other midfielders and not full backs. We missed Ashley's ability to take the ball down, stay central and to overload areas, which at least shows that we get something for our £18,000 a week.

Simon Francis was a posertive too. He filled in for Mark Bower, who moved to left back to cover injuries, and looked quality. It is the humble opinion of this reporter that Francis will spend the majority of his career as a ball playing centreback and in that role he performed well today.

On the negative side came the Reading goal, a clanger by Aidan Davison who failed to get enough air on a clearance leaving the Royals two on one and Nicky Forster to get lucky. Luck like that will get them promoted. Best not make too much of Davison's error though, everyone makes one from time to time and although BfB has never been impressed with the former Sheffield United sticksman we have only got him for another two months before Alan Combe joins.

Negative too was the lack of creativity coming from the midfield. Jamie Lawrence and Peter Atherton did not have the battle they faced and won in recent weeks, instead they found Reading's back line deep and were afforded time on the ball that neither of them really knew what to do with. This was the kind of game that you could have played lightweight Michael Standing in the midfield. Claus Jorgensen was frustrated on the left wing and failed to give width.

On the other wing was the returning Paul Reid who frankly most seemed to have forgotten with good reason. Reid was off the pace and was often forced to turn to his own goal under not excessive pressure and he seemed to play his wide right role as a central midfielder drifting in an annoying number of times leaving the Bantams without anyone wide right. Most lost patience with Reid but I will admit an admiration for the way that the Aussie spent the game looking to take he ball off his team mates. Reid always made an option when often others did not and for that I praise his display. His trick, the shove ball to a striker and run through, was frustrated by the Reading deep defence but on another day against a team that played a more open game away from home he might have had something.

However with both Reid and Jorgensen lacking the natural width that a Peter Beagrie, a Matthew Etherington or another Paul Reid gave City were forced to play a compacted game in the middle 60% of the field. Reading packed firm and took the chance when it came. Good luck to them.

But they will not make a dent in the Premiership without a bit more of an attacking idea, or an Ashley Ward.

Man of the Match

Simon Francis

Looked good in the position that he may spend most of his career in.

Bradford City Team

See also:

• The Jonathan Jackson column: Done by the Butler (again)