Strikers struggling to out-Fox Bradford City double act (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

League Two strikers struggling to out-Fox Bradford City double act

7:50am Saturday 6th October 2012 in Sport By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter

The Rochdale fox may have found a way past Andrew Davies but few opposing forwards have.

City’s centre half was caught on camera looking particularly uncomfortable when Tuesday’s unexpected visitor darted past him at Spotland.

Davies has been far more in control against rival strikers as his long-term partnership with Luke Oliver goes from strength to strength.

Having played regularly together for over a year now, the pair are very much on the same wavelength.

Davies said: “I’m enjoying playing with Olly and fingers crossed it can carry on.

“It’s the longest I’ve ever played with one person through my career. When I was at Middlesbrough, you had Chris Riggott, Gareth Southgate, Colin Cooper and me and it was constantly being rotated.

“It’s nice to get a partnership going because I feel I understand his game and he knows mine.”

Oliver was named player of the year for last term and has carried on where he left off.

Davies added: “He doesn’t lose a lot of headers but I’m always on the cover just in case.

“I think he’s a very good defender and come on leaps and bounds since the first game we played together against Wimbledon last season.

“He’s doing really well and if I can contribute to that in any sort of way, then I will.”

Davies thought he had cashed in with a fourth goal of the season at Rochdale but, like so many other City attempts, his close-range effort from a late corner was kept out.

“It was disappointing to see the lad stop it on the line but I think we’re starting to be much more of a threat off set-plays.

“I’ve looked at this season before I came here and said it was all or nothing. I want to get this club out the division whatever it takes.

“If it means us putting our bodies on the line at set-plays then we’re happy to do it.

“Nobody is outstanding in this league. The ones who are prepared to work hard than the opposition will win the game.

“If you look at our game, we can be quite direct with the way we play sometimes. The other team have got their hands full as well.”

But there is one opponent Davies is keen not to brush with again. He hopes the intervention of a fox is strictly one off.

“I get a bit frightened with that sort of thing. I was a little bit scared when the fox came my way but thank God it ran past me and kept running!”