Now we can enjoy our big night against Arsenal, says Bantams boss Parkinson (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Now we can enjoy our big night against Arsenal, says Bradford City boss Phil Parkinson
7:00am Monday 10th December 2012 in Sport
By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter
Alan Connell shows his delight after hitting the match-winning strike against Torquay
Phil Parkinson watched City strengthen their position among the promotion front-runners and then declared: Bring on the Arsenal!
The Bantams will go into tomorrow’s Capital One Cup quarter-final with Arsene Wenger’s men in buoyant mood after beating ten-man Torquay 1-0.
Substitute Alan Connell struck a brilliant 85th-minute winner to finally end the visitors’ stubborn resistance and send City up to fourth.
Martin Ling’s side lost skipper Brian Saah to a red card in the 35th minute but they kept City at bay until Connell produced a superb strike within five minutes of his introduction.
Parkinson said: “There has been so much talk about the Arsenal game and from family members wanting tickets.
“But we’ve kept the lads focused really well and they’ve been outstanding. Now we can enjoy the Arsenal game – it’s going to be a great night for the club.
“It’s a reward for the players and staff and everyone who works so hard at the ground as well.
“We’re looking forward to it and we’ll certainly enjoy it so much more now that we got the three points.
“I think everybody in the country was looking at this game and thinking ‘it’ll be interesting to see how Bradford do with the Arsenal match looming’.
“It didn’t affect us and I didn’t really doubt that it would.”
Parkinson recalled eight first-choice players on Saturday and City were largely dominant throughout. They enjoyed a numerical advantage for 55 minutes after Saah was sent off for elbowing James Meredith off the ball before their patience was rewarded through Connell’s late strike.
Parkinson added: “It was a very good display but you wonder when the goal was going to come. But the lads were so patient and disciplined with the way they went about their job.
“We made positive substitutions to try and get the win and it came in the end.
“We said at half-time we had to keep passing it, stay patient and keep cool.
“I thought the crowd helped us because they understood what was going on and didn’t get frustrated that we hadn’t scored.
“They stayed right with us and I really felt they played their part.”
Torquay looked set to escape with a point after twice being saved by the woodwork and goalkeeper Michael Poke’s string of fine saves.
But Connell replaced Carl McHugh with five minutes remaining and hit a brilliant rising shot which flew into the top corner from 20 yards.
“Alan needed that,” said Parkinson, who reported no new injury concerns ahead of tomorrow’s clash.
“If you go back to Port Vale on Tuesday night he was absolutely tremendous.
“But strikers need to score and what a great finish that was.”
City’s appeal against being kicked out of the FA Cup will be heard today.
Meanwhile, the Bantams will travel to Crewe in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy northern semi-finals.
The tie will be played at Gresty Road in the week commencing January 7.
Comments(18)
Peter300
says...
10:23am Mon 10 Dec 12
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
10:30am Mon 10 Dec 12
Peter300 wrote:They sit behind me in the kop too.
There were some ignorant loudmouths at the back of the Midland Road stand who did not understand what was going on during the game on Saturday. They just bawl out 'boot it forward'. Who are these people? They are hopeless!
Change it Parky, and get it forward why we passing it back were some of the shouts I heard.
We did all we could to score on Saturday and it took a top quality strike to get past that keeper who seemed to be playing out of his skin.
I thought we were very good on Saturday and we should have won by 3 or 4, but realistically it doesn't matter 3 points is 3 points. We have the best home record in the division and have conceeded only 6 goals in the league at home. What more are people wanting, this is a 10 fold improvement on anything in the last 15 years.
TBS
says...
10:50am Mon 10 Dec 12
Bantams v Gunners
•Arsenal have not won at Valley Parade for 90 years
•The teams have never met in the League Cup
•In three FA Cup games, the home side has always won (Bradford once, Arsenal twice)
•The away team has failed to score in each of those previous cup games
•Bradford beat Arsenal 2-1 at home in their first season in the Premier League
•Arsenal won both Premier League games at Highbury 2-0.
Cannot wait for tomorrow! Up the city!!! Great performance at the weekend too.
bazzathetyke
says...
11:00am Mon 10 Dec 12
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
11:18am Mon 10 Dec 12
We would win a corner and the pace of that side would have them bearing down on goal within seconds.
Away from home though Arsenal have been known to struggle. Only 4 wins in 12 away in league and cup this year.
Ok Ok,I'm grasping onto anything to help believe for tomorrow.
total90
says...
12:17pm Mon 10 Dec 12
parkofl
says...
12:17pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Harrogate Bantam
says...
12:33pm Mon 10 Dec 12
TBS wrote:Thanks TBS. I have a tad of confidence for tomorrow. Parkie has a squad who are all committed. So it’s irrelevant who plays. They will all be giving a 110%. I can remember the end of last season wondering where we will be, come December 2012. I did not imagine in my wildest dreams that we would have been fourth in the league and still in 2 or 3 Cups depending on the appeal. Bring the Arse-Nal match. C’mon City.
Quotes from the bbc website: Bantams v Gunners •Arsenal have not won at Valley Parade for 90 years •The teams have never met in the League Cup •In three FA Cup games, the home side has always won (Bradford once, Arsenal twice) •The away team has failed to score in each of those previous cup games •Bradford beat Arsenal 2-1 at home in their first season in the Premier League •Arsenal won both Premier League games at Highbury 2-0. Cannot wait for tomorrow! Up the city!!! Great performance at the weekend too.
nowt fresh
says...
12:42pm Mon 10 Dec 12
parkofl wrote:Agree parkofl winning promotion is the goal at the end of the season, as long as we put on a decent performance Tuesday night (baring in mine Arsenal are one of the better teams in Europe) for the viewing public be that those who attend the game or the thousands who watch it on Sky, the players will learn a lot from Tuesdays game win,lose, or draw ? and possibly the monies raised from the tie may allow us to bring a couple of players in for the final promotion push.
Great to see the MIGHTY BANTAMS flying this season the outcome of Tuesday night doesn't matter either way climbing the league table with promotion its fantastic what is happening this season after years of gloom ONWARD AN UPWARD
shoesmaker4
says...
1:01pm Mon 10 Dec 12
shoesmaker4
says...
1:01pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Bantam76
says...
1:09pm Mon 10 Dec 12
The huge crowd will be a massive boost too - an extra player! Can't wait to get in my seat!
Come on City - we can do this!! CTID
bettyswollocks
says...
1:57pm Mon 10 Dec 12
I don't think I've ever been buzzing about a game a much as I am about this one. Nobody has to fear that the team will give anything less than 100%. The spirit and commitment of the whole squad is as good as it's ever been.
With a bit of luck, I can see us causing an upset. Whether we do or we don't, the pride I have for my team will not waver.
Prisoner Cell Block A
says...
3:15pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Anyway, I'm still dying for us to win it and I know by tomorrow tea time I will be flying.
2-1 City AET.
1 bingley bantam
says...
6:00pm Mon 10 Dec 12
What we do need as much as anything though is a bloody good ref for a change capable of standing up to the guaranteed cheeting diving and play acting.
The Hump
says...
11:07pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Waynus1971
says...
12:54pm Tue 11 Dec 12
Thee Voice of Reason wrote:Sorry fella, but I can't agree with you this time.
Peter300 wrote: There were some ignorant loudmouths at the back of the Midland Road stand who did not understand what was going on during the game on Saturday. They just bawl out 'boot it forward'. Who are these people? They are hopeless!They sit behind me in the kop too. Change it Parky, and get it forward why we passing it back were some of the shouts I heard. We did all we could to score on Saturday and it took a top quality strike to get past that keeper who seemed to be playing out of his skin. I thought we were very good on Saturday and we should have won by 3 or 4, but realistically it doesn't matter 3 points is 3 points. We have the best home record in the division and have conceeded only 6 goals in the league at home. What more are people wanting, this is a 10 fold improvement on anything in the last 15 years.
You say the keeper played out of his skin. I can only remember 2 good saves, albeit, they were excellent ones. How many times did we have Darby & Meredith supporting the attacks, yet only one or two players in their box? I recall mentioning this on at least half dozen occasions.
Of course PP needed to make a change. I'm with those supporters you heard. They were defending with 9 men behind the ball. Did we really need to keep on 2 centre-backs, both full-backs and a defensive minded midfielder? PP made the correct change, taking off a centre-back for another forward, but this change was 20mins too late for me.
Had we pushed another forward into the box sooner, we may not have had to see out the last 5 mins, with nails bitten..!
We had all of the ball, but some of that was down to the fact they played with 10men for the majority and adopted tactics that allowed us to have the ball, without really hurting them. Or are you disagreeing that we didn't hurt them until Connell's wonder strike???
Harrogate Bantam says...
9:16am Mon 10 Dec 12
C'mon City