This was a typical local Roses derby game. This fixture often produces goals and last minute twists, and this game was to be no exception.
Stan opted to open with Dimi and Taylor as our twin strikers, leaving returning old boy Blake and Ian Moore on the bench. The rest of the line-up was as to be expected given the current injured.
We started fairly brightly and had several chances in the opening 15 minutes, but the final effort was always off target. However we looked as if we would get something from the game. We looked reasonably comfortable at the back against a none too stretching attack force, and McGregor at left back caught the eye as being in control. We were playing with involvement from everybody but with nobody in particular standing out.
On 15 minutes, Bantam Bower slid in from behind on Dimi, who spun very dramatically in mid-air, and the referee gave Bower a yellow card for this foul. The resultant free kick was wasted, as had been several others, as there appeared to be no plan of execution. Bradford were having chances too but also had minimal cutting edge.
However in the 17th minute we were a goal down. A slick passing pattern down their left wing gave Myers a chance to pull the ball back from the by-line to Cadamarteri. He muffed his shot, but it went straight to Andy Gray to slot it home from close range. Our defending on this occasion can best be described as naïve; plenty of cover in the area but no telling interceptions.
Still, all was not lost. As we all know, this season our two wins have come from being a goal down, and we certainly had a goodish spell after their goal but again without troubling their keeper. The tackling and niggling cranked up a pace, and Dimi was booked following a clash and brilliant turn away from his marker Bower. Glen was not getting the freedom he enjoyed in this fixture last year: lessons had been learnt.
On the half hour Cook put Dimi through, but Molenaar's recovery was good and he denied him a shooting chance. Taylor was trying as usual but was not impressing, and started to get stick from the Burnley (un)faithful.
The game suddenly sparked the whole crowd into tremendous animation in the 37th minute. The already-booked Bower challenged Dimi as he threatened to break through again. Dimi spun around and down to the ground for Bower to earn a second yellow and a walk to the dressing room in front of the baying Claret hordes. Dimi was thereafter roundly booed by the Bantams, whom I suspect will not be booking a Greek destination for their sojourns next year. The half drew to a close with Bradford forcing Marlon to push the ball round his post.
Stan made two changes at half time, bringing on Robbie Blake (to a good reception from the home crowd), and Alan Moore. They replaced Dimi and McGregor. Cook lost his cool and received a booking. From the free kick the game temperature shot up to a higher level. Cadamarteri was adjudged to have elbowed Dean West, and became the second Bantam to be sent off. Bantam fans felt injustice and we scented victory. Sure enough on 57 minutes Blake was fed by West, and his shot from close to was deflected in past the keeper. Probably our very first effort that was on target!
Blake was looking good and was a real handful for Bradford, and it looked a question of how many we would help ourselves to before taking pity on them. Cook won a good corner for us but we failed to press it in. Our chances were coming thick and fast, and it was just a matter of time before we would win the game. These included many simple chances that were scorned. TLC's King Arthur made way for Steve Davis to enjoy a run out for match fitness. Bradford were still creating the odd chances themselves, but mainly it was us pressing them. Alan Moore took up good positions and made some good passes, but his final ball in the box was consistently disappointing. So it took a cross from the right by Super Glen to find the head of Taylor, who fired it downwards and home.
We made one or two more attempts on their goal, but with 15 minutes left decided that we would not go for the kill but settle for a 2-1 away win. So we started a passing extravaganza, across the park, backwards, forwards into their half (but not too far forward to endanger their goal, even though some good positions were taken up by Glen, Blake and Taylor). We nearly got caught in possession once, but escaped without punishment and continued this ridiculous scenario. The home fans were cheering every pass we made from side to side, back and forth. The embarrassment was just due to finish when disaster struck, as Steve “Leg end” Davis surrendered the ball to Bradford who tore forward and fired at goal. Marlon made a great save from this effort, pushing the ball onto the post. It returned to Jorgensen, who either re-shot or passed across to Proctor for a tap-in.
The Bantams went wild with ecstasy, and in extra time we tried unconvincingly to restore our lead. The whistle went and a very large section of the Clarets supporters vented their wrath, frustration and incredulity at the final result on Stan and the team as they trudged off. This felt like a loss not a gained away point, another of the somewhat strange tactics we use and an insult to the fans of both teams. With our dismal goal difference, minus seven, surely we should have made this spare man advantage count time and time again? I have to say on the evidence shown we would have lost again had the opposition not lost two men. A chance thrown away to warm the supporters to the team, and Stan following a less than convincing start to the season. The Bantams outside the ground were jubilant and jeering of any Claret seen, and who can blame them?
Seven bookings (3 for us and 4 for them) could have been matched by the number of goals, but small thinking mindsets instead equalled just one point, leaving us still close to the danger zone. If the worst happens and we go down by inferior goal difference or the odd point, will we learn from this?
Scorers: (Bradford) Gray (17), Proctor (90) / (Burnley) Blake (57), Taylor (76).
Attendance: 14,561.
Referee: M L Dean (Wirral).
Phil's man of the match: Paul Cook (Phil comments: Some may be surprised at my choice, but he worked for the full 90 minutes and, after his debacle in the previous game, won my vote for effort rather than sustained skill).
