Looking back at pre-Christmas highs and lows for Bantams

Covid and the weather mean that it’s been three years since the Bantams last played on the pre-festive weekend.

And it’s even longer since the fans were there.

As we prepare for tonight's trip to Doncaster, here is a look back at the last decade of City's eve of Christmas encounters.

Successive postponements have followed the 2-1 win behind closed doors at Grimsby in December 2020 – a night when Lee Novak lit up every TV screen and monitor watching on iFollow with a worldy of an overhead kick.

Levi Sutton also scored that day, although the Scunthorpe native’s enthusiasm at beating his local rivals was tempered by the absence of anyone in the stands to see it.

Levi Sutton enjoys his goal at Grimsby with his teammates (Image: Thomas Gadd)

City have generally picked up positive results in the build-up to the big day – when they do get to play.

There was a crowd of 14,642 at Valley Parade for the pre-Christmas clash with Salford under Gary Bowyer.

They saw the home side miss a host of chances, hitting the woodwork twice, before Harry Pritchard finally broke the deadlock.

But Salford played the Grinch by levelling against the run of play late on through Adam Rooney for a 1-1 draw.

In 2018, Stuart McCall had been visibly moved by the reception he received on his Valley Parade return.

But first-half goals from Jack Payne and Eoin Doyle ensured he left empty-handed as his Scunthorpe side suffered a 2-0 setback.

It was the second win in a mid-season burst of four in five for David Hopkin – and took the Bantams out of the League One relegation zone for Christmas.

And if you think they went on to stay up that season, you still believe in Santa Claus …

Talking of Bad Santas, don’t mention the name Rouven Sattelmaier.

The German’s howler at Wimbledon two days before Christmas in 2017 began the descent that would see McCall harshly sacked six weeks later.

Rouven Sattelmaier has a shocker against Wimbledon (Image: Simon Davies)

The Bantams had headed to south London with a ninth away win in their sights – the best road record in the entire EFL.

But it all went wrong as Sattelmaier, deputising for the crocked Colin Doyle, handed out two gifts in a 2-1 loss.

A mix-up between the keeper and Adam Thompson allowed Cody McDonald to nip in for the opener, before Paul Taylor’s equaliser straight after the break put City on course to come from behind.

But it was Wimbledon celebrating only a third home win as Lyle Taylor left fly with a speculative 35-yarder.

Nobody expected it to trouble Sattelmaier – but he allowed the ball to slither through his grasp as City’s hopes went with it.

Twelve months earlier, McCall’s men had salvaged a point from behind when Jordy Hiwula equalised in a 1-1 draw at Walsall – although it was another case of chances being snatched at like a kid with his presents.

City had a win on the road in December 2015 as Phil Parkinson celebrated his 200th game at the helm by beating Chesterfield.

Billy Clarke, who used to love scoring against the Spireites, this time turned provider for Tony McMahon to drill home the decisive goal for the visitors. A ninth clean sheet in 10 games saw the job through.

Phil Parkinson hugs match-winner Tony McMahon at Chesterfield (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Rory McArdle had conjured up a magic moment for this special time of year in 2014, scoring against Scunthorpe with a left-foot curler from the edge of the box.

But the club he would later join fought back despite the defiance of future England stopper Jordan Pickford.

The young Sunderland loanee was in stunning form but Iron substitute Hakeeb Adelakun finally burst his bubble after a one-sided second half.

Another unexpected goal from a defender was on show in City's pre-Christmas defeat at Peterborough in December 2013.

Posh full back Kgosi Nthle used a gusting wind to devastating effect with an ambitious attempt from no more than 10 yards inside the City half that flew beyond Jon McLaughlin.

Britt Assombalonga doubled Posh’s lead and Andy Gray’s only goal in his injury-hit second spell with City could not rescue them.