Duke insists Bradford City still have eyes on promotion prize (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Matt Duke insists Bradford City still have eyes on promotion prize
7:30am Monday 7th January 2013 in Sport
By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter
City skipper Gary Jones in action during Saturday’s defeat at Barnet
Matt Duke today denied that City’s promotion form has been struck down by Capital One Cup fever.
The Bantams have slipped out of League Two’s play-off zone for the first time since mid-October after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Barnet.
It was their second loss in three games and means City have picked up just five points from a possible 15 since their sensational quarter-final win over Arsenal.
But as all thoughts turn to tomorrow’s Valley Parade showdown with Aston Villa, Duke was adamant the squad had not already become distracted.
The experienced keeper said: “There’s going to be a lot of talk that the Villa game has been on our minds but that hasn’t been the case. We’ve put it to one side.
“You could say the same about the last round when we played against Arsenal but we won the game before that.
“I don’t think it’s anything to do with Villa. There was nothing further on my mind Saturday than playing well and trying to get the result for the team and I’m sure that’s true of all the lads.”
City peppered Edgar Davids’ Barnet with shots but fired a second successive blank and have not scored a goal in open play since Boxing Day.
Duke admitted: “I don’t think there was any problem with the way we played. It was just the same against Morecambe.
“Barnet have had three shots on target and scored twice. We’ve had 21 attempts on goal and not got one. It’s disappointing we create that many chances and don’t score.
“There’s still a long way to go this season and it’s so tight up there – a couple of wins and you’re looking at third.
“We need to be a bit tougher at the back and more ruthless up front. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about just yet.”
Phil Parkinson had hoped to bring in a new face – thought to be another striker – in time to play at Underhill. The deal could still be resurrected after being held up at the other end.
Parkinson said: “We need a lift and need the players in to give us that lift.
“Sometimes you can complain about effort when you get beaten. But I can’t moan about the lads and the way they’ve applied themselves.
“It was a game we completely dominated. We just lacked calmness in the final third – 21 shots have got to produce a goal.”
Villa came from behind to beat Ipswich in the FA Cup – their first win in five matches. Duke reckons the Premier League side’s wretched recent run, including an 8-0 thumping at Chelsea, makes them more dangerous opponents.
“Villa are going to be well up for it because it’s a chance for them to get some silverware,” he said.
“I don’t think any of their previous performances is anything to go by. They’ll want to prove a point.
“Everyone is talking about what we’ve done before and said it’s a potential banana skin for Villa. I think that will make them more up for it, so it makes it more difficult for us.”
Comments(20)
irish bantam
says...
8:55am Mon 7 Jan 13
i hope its dynamo.We need some magic from somewhere.
Saturday was dire!!!!!!!!
cookie_brighton
says...
9:18am Mon 7 Jan 13
It said last week he was a winger but just looked him up.........he is a midfielder.
cookie_brighton
says...
9:19am Mon 7 Jan 13
shoatsy
says...
9:33am Mon 7 Jan 13
cookie_brighton wrote:Peterborough
The only player I have seen mentioned is Daniel Kearns at portsmouth, last week.
It said last week he was a winger but just looked him up.........he is a midfielder.
tyker2
says...
9:52am Mon 7 Jan 13
tyker2
says...
9:52am Mon 7 Jan 13
Freddy
says...
10:20am Mon 7 Jan 13
Why do I feel that the sooner these Cup matches are played, and resolved. The quicker City will be able to get back on track --concentrating wholly on achieving
win results in the League-- with no more distractions.!..
*
As to a back up signing striker --to replace Hanson. I feel it would be unfair to play new player--unless brought on from the bench etc..
*
Any signing, must not be Cup-Tied--and any Administration needed for registration, should be sent by Fast Courier Motor-Bike to the FA--with Baldwin riding pillion !!!. Concrete registration IN TIME AND CORRECTLY SUBMITTED -being the priority of the day!!!
*
*
*
tyker2
says...
10:28am Mon 7 Jan 13
Freddy wrote:why does it matter much about being cup tied: the deadline for registration of any new player or tomorrow is fast aproaching
*
Why do I feel that the sooner these Cup matches are played, and resolved. The quicker City will be able to get back on track --concentrating wholly on achieving
win results in the League-- with no more distractions.!..
*
As to a back up signing striker --to replace Hanson. I feel it would be unfair to play new player--unless brought on from the bench etc..
*
Any signing, must not be Cup-Tied--and any Administration needed for registration, should be sent by Fast Courier Motor-Bike to the FA--with Baldwin riding pillion !!!. Concrete registration IN TIME AND CORRECTLY SUBMITTED -being the priority of the day!!!
*
*
*
Cityboy78
says...
10:32am Mon 7 Jan 13
Well, here's to a sneaky one niller tomorrow. Has anyone heard how ticket sales are going for both legs?
cookie_brighton
says...
10:55am Mon 7 Jan 13
.was early on in the morning I made my post.....yep it is Peterborough and not Portsmouth.
Making a mistake shows I am human lol.
CTID
bcfc1903
says...
11:54am Mon 7 Jan 13
**
We shout with pride...we'll never hide...Claret and Amber!!!!!!
Waynus1971
says...
4:33pm Mon 7 Jan 13
Cityboy78 wrote:To be fair, even one of their fans tweeted that we should have scored 8/9 and that our shooting was the worst they had seen.
Lets be clear, 21 shots peppering the Barnet goal is not as encouraging as it sounds. More like 21 erratic miskicks, wayward slashes, aimless toe bungs, and weak pea rollers. Obviously barring the disallowed goal and Nahkis late clip of the post, it was a 'head in hands' performance best forgot. I honestly thought we'd turn it around after going in one down at half time as we were better than a very poor Barnet, but it went downhill, literally, from there. Well, here's to a sneaky one niller tomorrow. Has anyone heard how ticket sales are going for both legs?
Admittedly, most of the 21 efforts weren't really chances, but we still created enough to win 2 games of football. Hanson missed a very easy chance just before they scored the opener. How that could have changed things. After that, GJones missed a couple of easy chances as did Connell and Wells. Wasteful by all.
In relation to the striker, my understanding is that it is the Egyptian striker Mido. He is contracted to Barnsley and Keith Hill had agreeed for him to join us before his sacking. As such, the move was held back until their new manager assessed whether he wanted to keep him or not. I believe he has been seen training at City this morning.
istanbull-bantam
says...
4:36pm Mon 7 Jan 13
Ladies/Gentlemen, our city has been attacked in an article on Yahoo, "12 pcs of wages spent on work expenses", and is even said to be in the North East, by some ignoramus.
Please raise your voices against this bigoted fool whoever he/she may be.
Happy New Year to all.
A Bradfordian in China.
KnightMcCall
says...
4:53pm Mon 7 Jan 13
Waynus1971 wrote:Think Mido was released a few weks ago so doesnt add up. According to Barnsley fan I know he was too unfit to get a game so hope you are wrong.
Cityboy78 wrote:To be fair, even one of their fans tweeted that we should have scored 8/9 and that our shooting was the worst they had seen.
Lets be clear, 21 shots peppering the Barnet goal is not as encouraging as it sounds. More like 21 erratic miskicks, wayward slashes, aimless toe bungs, and weak pea rollers. Obviously barring the disallowed goal and Nahkis late clip of the post, it was a 'head in hands' performance best forgot. I honestly thought we'd turn it around after going in one down at half time as we were better than a very poor Barnet, but it went downhill, literally, from there. Well, here's to a sneaky one niller tomorrow. Has anyone heard how ticket sales are going for both legs?
Admittedly, most of the 21 efforts weren't really chances, but we still created enough to win 2 games of football. Hanson missed a very easy chance just before they scored the opener. How that could have changed things. After that, GJones missed a couple of easy chances as did Connell and Wells. Wasteful by all.
In relation to the striker, my understanding is that it is the Egyptian striker Mido. He is contracted to Barnsley and Keith Hill had agreeed for him to join us before his sacking. As such, the move was held back until their new manager assessed whether he wanted to keep him or not. I believe he has been seen training at City this morning.
Waynus1971
says...
5:02pm Mon 7 Jan 13
KnightMcCall wrote:I also hope this rumour is untrue, but a couple claim to have seen him in training this morning and tweeted as much.
Waynus1971 wrote:Think Mido was released a few weks ago so doesnt add up. According to Barnsley fan I know he was too unfit to get a game so hope you are wrong.Cityboy78 wrote: Lets be clear, 21 shots peppering the Barnet goal is not as encouraging as it sounds. More like 21 erratic miskicks, wayward slashes, aimless toe bungs, and weak pea rollers. Obviously barring the disallowed goal and Nahkis late clip of the post, it was a 'head in hands' performance best forgot. I honestly thought we'd turn it around after going in one down at half time as we were better than a very poor Barnet, but it went downhill, literally, from there. Well, here's to a sneaky one niller tomorrow. Has anyone heard how ticket sales are going for both legs?To be fair, even one of their fans tweeted that we should have scored 8/9 and that our shooting was the worst they had seen. Admittedly, most of the 21 efforts weren't really chances, but we still created enough to win 2 games of football. Hanson missed a very easy chance just before they scored the opener. How that could have changed things. After that, GJones missed a couple of easy chances as did Connell and Wells. Wasteful by all. In relation to the striker, my understanding is that it is the Egyptian striker Mido. He is contracted to Barnsley and Keith Hill had agreeed for him to join us before his sacking. As such, the move was held back until their new manager assessed whether he wanted to keep him or not. I believe he has been seen training at City this morning.
In relation to his current position, the only news I can find is that Barnsley were trying to offload him in December and were hopeful of a deal being completed. However, he was still contracted to them as recently as 22 December. Sadly, I can find nothing of him since, including his departure.
cookie_brighton
says...
8:22pm Mon 7 Jan 13
CTID
mikey1979
says...
8:34pm Mon 7 Jan 13
KnightMcCall
says...
11:39pm Mon 7 Jan 13
mikey1979 wrote:I would not watch a City team with this murderer in the side.
Oh what i'd give to see peter thorne in this team. We need a player of his ilk and a goalscoring midfielder. Lee Hughes, the player everyone loves to hate linked with port vale. Don't like the guy but I'd have him in my team as he knows where the goal is. Hanson as much as I appreciate his effort, has had his chance and needs competition. If only Luke Oliver was fit, he also wins headers :)
tyker2
says...
1:22am Tue 8 Jan 13
KnightMcCall wrote:why not;you probably have done so in the past. grant had been acquitted when we signed him( dodgy decision maybe). He was convicted on another shooting later Another one of Peter Taylor's gems!!
mikey1979 wrote:I would not watch a City team with this murderer in the side.
Oh what i'd give to see peter thorne in this team. We need a player of his ilk and a goalscoring midfielder. Lee Hughes, the player everyone loves to hate linked with port vale. Don't like the guy but I'd have him in my team as he knows where the goal is. Hanson as much as I appreciate his effort, has had his chance and needs competition. If only Luke Oliver was fit, he also wins headers :)
MIDO is not fit to tie my grandson's boots who happens to score far more goals than ever fat guy Mido did/does.
Why not consider Shefi Kuqi? knew where the goal was.?
we need younger players:the sort Arsenal have available in their under 21 teams.
Lee Hughes released by mutual consent could mean he is facing some more problems in life.
Dancinfeet says...
8:23am Mon 7 Jan 13