Keeping it clean lifts Bradford City play-off hopes (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Keeping it clean lifts Bradford City play-off hopes
7:30am Thursday 7th March 2013 in Sport
By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter
Rory McArdle gets in a defensive header during the 0-0 midweek draw at Port Vale
Rory McArdle is backing City’s miserly methods to keep pushing them towards the play-off race.
The Bantams return to Valley Parade against Aldershot on Saturday after clocking up back-to-back clean sheets on their travels.
McArdle felt his side did enough to follow up the win over York with the same at second-placed Port Vale in midweek. But the biggest plus for the defender from the 0-0 stalemate was the way they had shut out another opponent.
City had kept only two clean sheets in the previous 11 league games before last weekend’s Yorkshire derby. But after two in a week – taking their overall tally to 13 – the Northern Ireland international can see the foundations being laid down for the strong run-in that will be needed.
McArdle said: “You don’t tend to win games unless you keep clean sheets. Getting them back to back will give everyone confidence.
“You all get a boost if we can keep playing and defending like that more often. You know that if we can score one, you’ll more often than not go on to win 1-0.
“That’s been the difference throughout the season between us and the likes of Gillingham and Port Vale. The number of times they’ve both done that – that’s why they are right up there.
“You look at the way Gillingham beat us at our place. There was nothing in the game but they went home with three points and for them, that was the perfect away performance.
“It’s so important that you grind out those wins and it’s easier if you defend well. York were quite direct and the lads handled them and then I thought we nullified Port Vale.”
City left Vale Park frustrated not to have turned their second-half domination into victory. Among the flurry of chances, McArdle had a shot kicked off the line from a Gary Jones corner.
He admitted: “Gaz’s delivery is always spot on and I managed to hook it in but didn’t see what happened after that. I was told it was cleared off the line, then somebody else just missed it and it was cleared again.
“If that had gone in, Vale would have had to come out and with the pace we’ve got with Kyel Reid and Nahki Wells coming on, everything would have played into our hands.
“On another night, it could have been 2-0 or 3-0. But as a whole, you take a lot of positives from a point and performance like that.”
City host the 19th-placed Shots before hitting the road once more for a Devon double-header at Plymouth and Exeter. A first home league win in 2013 is crucial to set that up.
McArdle said: “Aldershot are fighting for their lives and it’s important we start well. Get an early goal and that will settle everyone down.
“It’s so important we win going into a long week ahead, because there’s a lot of travelling which affects people in different ways.”
Comments(16)
Michael Clayton
says...
9:18am Thu 7 Mar 13
Keep the defence tight, poach the odd goal and a play-off spot (at very least) will follow.
Dannyp1892
says...
10:37am Thu 7 Mar 13
If we could get 7 points from our next 3, that would be a VERY good 2 weeks of football.
But with 7 games in 24 days, Parkinson's tinkering could be the key to success or failure, keeping everyone fresh would be an achievement in itself!
Rambo
says...
11:30am Thu 7 Mar 13
Michael Clayton wrote:Nope sorry, don't agree. We aren't the sort of team that can nick clinical 1-0s or grind out 1-0s. Always feel we have to score at least 2 home and away.
In the short term, it will be a huge boost if City can get back up the table from 10th to 8th.
Keep the defence tight, poach the odd goal and a play-off spot (at very least) will follow.
How many 1-0s have we had this season? I recall 3, and they were all at home.
Its been the problem all season, like I said not clinical enough in front of goal when the opposition has been, and the defence still lets in preventable goals.
lawsonio123
says...
11:33am Thu 7 Mar 13
Michael Clayton
says...
12:06pm Thu 7 Mar 13
Rambo wrote:City will get the better of most opponents in low-scoring games over the rest of the season.
Michael Clayton wrote: In the short term, it will be a huge boost if City can get back up the table from 10th to 8th. Keep the defence tight, poach the odd goal and a play-off spot (at very least) will follow.Nope sorry, don't agree. We aren't the sort of team that can nick clinical 1-0s or grind out 1-0s. Always feel we have to score at least 2 home and away. How many 1-0s have we had this season? I recall 3, and they were all at home. Its been the problem all season, like I said not clinical enough in front of goal when the opposition has been, and the defence still lets in preventable goals.
In defence, McLaughlin and Davies are restored. This means fewer goals. In attack, there has hardly been an abundance of goals but there is enough ability to get the job done.
"Poach" was the wrong choice of word as City are capable of stamping authority on the game without having to steal one on the break.
Michael Clayton
says...
12:07pm Thu 7 Mar 13
Rambo wrote:City will get the better of most opponents in low-scoring games over the rest of the season.
Michael Clayton wrote: In the short term, it will be a huge boost if City can get back up the table from 10th to 8th. Keep the defence tight, poach the odd goal and a play-off spot (at very least) will follow.Nope sorry, don't agree. We aren't the sort of team that can nick clinical 1-0s or grind out 1-0s. Always feel we have to score at least 2 home and away. How many 1-0s have we had this season? I recall 3, and they were all at home. Its been the problem all season, like I said not clinical enough in front of goal when the opposition has been, and the defence still lets in preventable goals.
In defence, McLaughlin and Davies are restored. This means fewer goals. In attack, there has hardly been an abundance of goals but there is enough ability to get the job done.
"Poach" was the wrong choice of word as City are capable of stamping authority on the game without having to steal one on the break.
Victor Clayton
says...
1:33pm Thu 7 Mar 13
bcfcincheshire
says...
7:10pm Thu 7 Mar 13
Stevie-C
says...
9:00pm Thu 7 Mar 13
bullsforever
says...
10:14pm Thu 7 Mar 13
rio8uk
says...
10:54pm Thu 7 Mar 13
Stevie-C
says...
10:56pm Thu 7 Mar 13
bullsforever wrote:Get lost you loser. What a clown
Another full house of 33,000 expected at Walley Parade on Saturday.
Rambo
says...
12:49am Fri 8 Mar 13
bullsforever wrote:lol like odsal is ever full these days
Another full house of 33,000 expected at Walley Parade on Saturday.
Dannyp1892
says...
9:43am Fri 8 Mar 13
Massive that one
Wrose bantam
says...
9:03pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Have you got a clue or have you been inside for the past 50 years, will the 33000 be sat on top of the "old" midland Rd stand.
Are you frustrated as your ground is never full?
In any case , is Ellery Hanley playing this Saturday? T@ss@r
gspot01 says...
9:02am Thu 7 Mar 13
.
2 massive games comng up!!!!! COME ON BOYS