Bradford City v Sutton match thread

[oohaah]

What's going on at Oldham? 5-5??? WTF!

[oohaah]

Well I hope there's not too much disappointment with that result. 10 men or no, we would have taken 2-2 at kick off surely? Early days I know, but it would appear that our subs (apart from maybe Omar) were all tactical for a change? That's got to be good news in the run up to Crimbo.

[shaneaib]

Fully agree with the sentiment that we would have taken 2-2 at kick off. We also had players coming back from injury so staying the course to see it out for two two draw is good. However, their is a small part of me that is tinged with the 'what might have been?'. With them down to ten men towards the final ten minutes I felt we were going in for the win. To have won at Bradford would have been special but a draw is to be commended. Harrogate at home were we can rise to a home win.

[Andy K]

To have a goal not given when their nose uses his hands to push it out of the goal after it had crossed the line and for an opposition goal to be allowed to stand when 3 players were offside kind of sums up today.

I've watched thousands of matches in my lifetime. There has never been one with no offside decisions for either side in the entire game. Until today.

Again can't knock us at all today (aside from being shot shy for the first half hour).

But my god. Did those linesman get anything right today?

[Amber Aleman]

And I think we've had issues in the past with referee Peter Wright. 🙄

I imagine most of us would have taken a draw had it been offered before kick-off, but the manner in which this one was achieved did grate a little. To be ahead twice against ten men, and to end up only drawing, was disappointing. That's especially true as there are doubts about the legitimacy of both their goals.

Evenso, decent performance from the injury-hit team, and it was good to see Louis John and Ali Smith back in the starting XI. Bradford were solid enough but may themselves be disappointed not to have got more from this match.

Impressive stadium btw. It's still hard to believe that we're competing at the same level as clubs like Bradford City.😯

[nonsuch]

Dec 11, 2021 20:29:23 GMT Amber Aleman said:

And I think we've had issues in the past with referee Peter Wright. 🙄

I imagine most of us would have taken a draw had it been offered before kick-off, but the manner in which this one was achieved did grate a little. To be ahead twice against ten men, and to end up only drawing, was disappointing. That's especially true as there are doubts about the legitimacy of both their goals.

Evenso, decent performance from the injury-hit team, and it was good to see Louis John and Ali Smith back in the starting XI. Bradford were solid enough but may themselves be disappointed not to have got more from this match.

Impressive stadium btw. It's still hard to believe that we're competing at the same level as clubs like Bradford City.😯

Looking at the highlights, our end of first half goal should have been given, however their both goals seem also perfectly valid.

[amberchoc]

In my book, a decent point gained. Back in May 2015 there were 80 places between us and Bradford City. It’s amazing that we’ve just drawn at their place and yet we still feel a tinge of disappointment that it wasn't more.

[cheshire]

I echo the sentiment about taking a draw before the match; I was wondering after Tuesday evening if there would be 11 bodies available!
An enjoyable afternoon and that ground is something of a step up from the Isthmian days isn't it!!
I dared to hope after the red card and the penalty. Their 1st goal deffo looked offside (and let’s face it most of us were in line) but should give credit to the Bradford 10 as they defended well and kept a disciplined shape for the hour that they played a man down.
The only card we received was for Louis vocal protests after his "goal" was chalked off. Was it handball or cleared after the ball had crossed? Whilst we had no proper view from our vantage point (and I await the highlights), whilst walking back to my car, I overheard the conversation of 2 BCFC supporters. One said to the other (effects Yorkshire voice): "I suppose you know that ball were well over't'line, they were showing it ont'screens at H-T. We got real lucky there". So probably fair to say that we didn't get the decisions today.
Still after Tuesday evening (and goings on in Brisbane), nice to come away with something!

[Del]

Definite hand ball on the line or over. Should have at least been a penalty and Bradford would have had 9 players!

[is4]

Morning all.
What an experience yesterday to go to a stadium like that!!
Now down to the nitty gritty.
Have looked at the high lights several times. The position of the high light camera clearly indicates that the ball was over the line and the Bradford player scoops the ball out.If V A R was in use it would clearly show what we and Bradford fans have said ( see earlier post ) it was a goal.
As Matt has said in his interview. A point was good.How the team performed yesterday after the past weeks games was magnificent. A week off to recover will be good.looking forward to next Saturday for a home game.
Lastly J P and myself would like to thank the medical staff and ground staff for caring to Tony after his fall.

[markf]

Integrity is essential for any sport to retain earned popularity whether that be as exhibited by the competitors or those charged with running the sport off or on the "pitch". This afternoon I think I witnessed a sport with the opportunity to grow its audience shoot itself in the foot with a decision that many argue broke its own rules. I don't know if that is the case but I doubt I will be following F1 that closely for a while. It was the same when Scumacher turned his steering wheel to take Hill out all those years ago and still take the title. A lack of integrity in F1.

Similarly yesterday, U's had a clear case of being cheated by those who if not make the laws, apply them although Bradford could rightly contest the initial award of a corner was highly debatable, not least because the lino surely could not have seen where the ball was. Even so, from my high vantage point Louis J looked to have forced the ball over the line and if not Paul L's excellent photography picked up the handball. The outcome of all that, Louis getting a yellow card for his protests. What does a ref expect when he makes such a cock up? A glowing reference? Perhaps he was poorly positioned. He certainly was for the f-k that led to Cit'y first goal. The ball clearly hit their guys arm when he was on the deck thus giving him possession he wouldn't have had to win said f-k in the first place. But the ref had got himself in a bad position - a case of not being constantly on the move - so he couldn't see and from evidence so far this season there is little point in expecting an EFL lino to get involved.



A few fans after were disappointed that U's hadn't beaten ten men but a few facts need to be considered. After Tuesday's match we had 9 of the 27 players named in the squad injured or in Craig E's case suspended. Two others are 'keepers while two others are on loan (Kylian Koussi netting twice and getting the MotM for Chesham yesterday). That left 11 outfield players available. U's were able to patch two up (Louis and Alistair S) and it was obvious that the former was nowhere near fit enough but what a sterling job he did to last the 90. Apparently a few others weren't 100% and both Omar B and David A hobbled off towards the end. So, I think it was a great point in front of what must be the biggest crowd ever to witness a league match involving U's. Then there is the week's travelling. Can't be far off a 1,000 miles in nine days. I know how I felt when I got back past midnight and I just watch (and offer the occasional bit of wisdom of course).

An all round hard working team performance with for me. The back four were breached twice but did well to hold off a vigorous attack for whom Gillead did many good things. The midfield two played very well both on and off the ball while up front Donovan W was a handful and Omar oustanding. He won the pen and his brilliant work allowed Ricky K to set up our second goal.

And what a venue. God knows how many tonnes of aggregate, soil etc was used to produce a flat surface as the stadium is actually built on a very steep hill. Two sets of steps rise from the entrances to get spectators not many feet above the playing surface. I sat high up in row W and what a view. From their it was a lot easier to get a true perspective of distances between players, the accuracy of passing and the physical endeavour of the players. I think that's the highest viewpoint I have experienced since being in the top tier at Old Trafford to watch England v Poland back in the early noughties. The downside was a few of the home support, one in particular lost his marbles over Jon B's lace issue in the first half. Upsetting the Bradford fans not a difficult task it would seem. The main stand is a huge structure as is the home end, the corner of which a few flag waving ultras with drum tried to keep the noise going throughout. You have to ask that with a ground like that, a home attendance of that size, what the hell are The Bantams doing in EFL2? The same question we asked about Wrexham, Tranmere, Chesterfield etc.

As stated elsewhere the officials were not of the highest order but the red card was correct as there was no attempt for the ball and the ref ignored a lot of the home player's theatrics as they did tend to chuck themselves around a bit with the home fans roaring disapproval when they didn't get the f-k. He certainly wasn't the worst but oh boy, that handball miss was huge.

A week off, of actual match play anyway. A chance, hopefully, for the walking wounded to shake off their ills and for Matt G to assess the state of the squad as we head into another busy period. There is no let up

[hobart]

In fact the referee's decision to allow play to continue after the clearly accidental handball was 100% correct. A lot of fans are not privy to updates to the laws of the game. You'd be wise to seek them out at the beginning of each season to ensure you get matters correct. Here is the relevant section in the IFAB 2020/21 update:

Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct - Handball:
• ‘accidental’ handball by an attacking player (or team-mate) is only penalized if it occurs ‘immediately’ before a goal or clear goal-scoring opportunity

Indeed there has actually been further clarification in March 2021 such that quote: "Accidental handball in the build-up to a goal or goal scoring opportunity will “no longer be considered an offence".

(Plus for those claiming offside for the 1st goal. Yes, looks like there were players in an offside position. But they did not touch the ball and did not interfere with an opponent - hence they cannot be flagged for offside.)

[bucks]

Nice Post chap... Interesting read. I must say I've never been to Valley Parade, and I've never really thought about going, having been to a few of the Yorkshire grounds over the years.

The ground is huge for L2 but was it particularly busy? I imagine having a behemoth like that, so low down the pyramid must say away at a clubs finances something chronic.

The squad needs a rest, and hopefully no knocks in the week as Harrogate is definitely winnable. The worst part though is the team have about 27 games in 4 days over Christmas and New Year, so the squad could well again take a battering. 😳 I'm surprised so far there haven't been a few of the youngsters at least getting a place om the bench... I don't know what the youth team is like bit having witnessed Palace go into administration twice and youth teamers be thrown into the fray at a moments notice, it's not always necessarily as bad as many might think.

[markf]

Dec 12, 2021 20:03:31 GMT hobart said:

In fact the referee's decision to allow play to continue after the clearly accidental handball was 100% correct. A lot of fans are not privy to updates to the laws of the game. You'd be wise to seek them out at the beginning of each season to ensure you get matters correct. Here is the relevant section in the IFAB 2020/21 update:


Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct - Handball:
• ‘accidental’ handball by an attacking player (or team-mate) is only penalized if it occurs ‘immediately’ before a goal or clear goal-scoring opportunity

Indeed there has actually been further clarification in March 2021 such that quote: "Accidental handball in the build-up to a goal or goal scoring opportunity will “no longer be considered an offence".

(Plus for those claiming offside for the 1st goal. Yes, looks like there were players in an offside position. But they did not touch the ball and did not interfere with an opponent - hence they cannot be flagged for offside.)

Thanks but I am aware of the law changes. I have seen free kicks given for accidental handball since the change though.

Irrelevant anyway because the ref didn't see it and he missed a far more important one later. A common theme yesterday

[shaneaib]

Just back from Bradford, something about a points failure delaying the train. Gave me time to write up my blog post about the game with nods to Little Germany and another case of trouser failure.  The blog post is called 'We could have had it all' not because I was disappointed with the draw, far from it, just had that feeling that we could have taken the three points.  Here is a link to the blog post which is published on Medium shanepdillon.medium.com/we-could-have-had-it-all-cd6e727a146e