City 1 Port Vale 1 (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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City 1 Port Vale 1
9:50pm Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Bantams By Simon Parker
Andrew Davies was City's late, late hero with a dramatic equaliser.
The on-loan centre half nodded home Deane Smalley's corner deep into stoppage time to rescue a point.
A belting goal from Port Vale's Louis Dodds looked to have settled matters in a stodgy match.
James Hanson had the first chance of the night with a close-range header which Stuart Tomlinson superbly turned away.
But the striker left the field after just 14 minutes with an injury.
Ross Hannah curled over the bar but there were few chances to entertain a disappointing crowd.
New signing Matt Fry bravely denied the towering Clayton McDonald and was clattered into the goal post as he cleared.
Vale took the lead in the 39th minute with a fine volley from Dodds, smashing home Sean Rigg's early cross with the visitors' first shot on target.
City never really looked like finding an equaliser against resolute opponents. Sub Nahki Wells came closest with some neat skill in the box but his shot was blocked in front of goal by Sam Morsy.
But then Tomlinson gave away a needless corner and allowed Davies' header to slither through his legs for an unexpected late bonus for the Bantams.
Comments(30)
bahamianbantam
says...
10:01pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Maybe late equaliser will galvanise something - here's hoping!
Trip to Torquay looks ominous.
Rambo
says...
10:39pm Tue 14 Feb 12
The total lack of urgency in the second half, particularly with 30mins to go was shocking. It was obvious we were being outmuscled in attack and were utterly toothless so why we didn't just go for it? For example sticking Oliver on their big guy if we were going to persist with long balls.
And the ref.... Jesus. First league game and he totally bottled the incident when Fry was slammed into the post. And giving the foul for when their guy slipped on the touchine was hilariously bad.....
Farsley Bantam
says...
10:48pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Referee was also very poor. I heard someone say it was his first professional game and it showed. I think Lawns out burst last week has not helped our cause. It is not just a coincidence that we are given a rookie ref in the game immediately following his criticism of them.
Having said that, the ref didn't have to make any big decisions and the performance was so weak that the ref cannot be used as an excuse
340stopper
says...
10:49pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Danstarr69
says...
10:52pm Tue 14 Feb 12
om
Jacko
says...
10:55pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Davies signing for us,as much chance as bellenders making play-offs.
Mr Lawn put off your season ticket offers back another month?
bwwb
says...
10:55pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Rambo wrote:Not to mention when he pulled Vale back in the first minute to give them a free kick when their guy was through one on one.
Of course we got away with that, and it was great. But..... The total lack of urgency in the second half, particularly with 30mins to go was shocking. It was obvious we were being outmuscled in attack and were utterly toothless so why we didn't just go for it? For example sticking Oliver on their big guy if we were going to persist with long balls. And the ref.... Jesus. First league game and he totally bottled the incident when Fry was slammed into the post. And giving the foul for when their guy slipped on the touchine was hilariously bad.....
Or in the last seconds when he gave us a corner from which we scored when the goalkeeper had caught it after it had gone dead.
The refs in this division maybe poor - but so are the teams - and we are very poor.
macca1969
says...
11:20pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Bantam mitch
says...
11:29pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Danstarr69
says...
11:31pm Tue 14 Feb 12
bwwb wrote:Just watched the video on my camera and paused it as their keeper caught the ball on the line then went out of play.Definately was a corner.
Rambo wrote: Of course we got away with that, and it was great. But..... The total lack of urgency in the second half, particularly with 30mins to go was shocking. It was obvious we were being outmuscled in attack and were utterly toothless so why we didn't just go for it? For example sticking Oliver on their big guy if we were going to persist with long balls. And the ref.... Jesus. First league game and he totally bottled the incident when Fry was slammed into the post. And giving the foul for when their guy slipped on the touchine was hilariously bad.....Not to mention when he pulled Vale back in the first minute to give them a free kick when their guy was through one on one. Or in the last seconds when he gave us a corner from which we scored when the goalkeeper had caught it after it had gone dead. The refs in this division maybe poor - but so are the teams - and we are very poor.
citygent71
says...
11:33pm Tue 14 Feb 12
cullboy
says...
11:36pm Tue 14 Feb 12
We never won the 2nd ball and backed off a lot with no closing down.Then as the game went on we resorted back to hoof ball.Reid was rubbish today,where was the pace he was talking about? And Seip was bad again,is anyone going to agree with me that's he's no good for once? Atkinson and Fry did ok for their 1st game. And you can watch the goal from our worst display of the season,tomorrow or Thursday. Danstarr69@YouTube.c
om”
we were very poor tonight, but were you at the same game Atkinson was rubbish
Quote »| Report this post
Danstarr69
says...
11:44pm Tue 14 Feb 12
citygent71 wrote:Exactly! I think it was about the 80th minute and a header was heading towards their corner flag but no way was it going out,who was closest? Reid was only a few metres away and could've crossed it in again,but no which direction was he going before the ball even landed? Backwards! Their left back managed to get from the 18 yard box to clear by the corner flag even though Reid was about 2-3 metres away. Chase everything like Wells and we might win games. Give up early,like Reid and the rest of the team and we'll go nowhere!
well well well, I don't often comment, but, this was total shi7e, not one of them players played with any heart, smalley, total joke, may as well of been playing netball, what a pu55y, Atkinson??? Hannah??? there must be better players about, the ref??? sadly a draw was a fair result and if city would have walked out and played like they did against the shrews it would of been game over and 3 points, never with city though, depressing myself now, dont give them players a day off until they sweat Claret and Amber Blood!!!
Danstarr69
says...
11:48pm Tue 14 Feb 12
cullboy wrote:Atkinson started off good then went a bit quiet as the game went on.That's why I put OK and not GOOD
: We never won the 2nd ball and backed off a lot with no closing down.Then as the game went on we resorted back to hoof ball.Reid was rubbish today,where was the pace he was talking about? And Seip was bad again,is anyone going to agree with me that's he's no good for once? Atkinson and Fry did ok for their 1st game. And you can watch the goal from our worst display of the season,tomorrow or Thursday. Danstarr69@YouTube.c om” we were very poor tonight, but were you at the same game Atkinson was rubbish Quote »| Report this post
Pak-Bantam
says...
11:50pm Tue 14 Feb 12
And really, does everyone still think 'Parkie' is fit for purpose ??.
340stopper
says...
11:52pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Bantam mitch wrote:I would have liked to have seen Harrad - who scored again whilst on loan to Rotherham - as back up to Hanson.
I see another bad performance from city I think we will be very lucky to stay in this division this season,also Paul benson the player who didn't pass his medical has scored again for Swindon mmmm boy could we have done with him up front
Bradford1903
says...
12:19am Wed 15 Feb 12
Too much long ball tonight, we never got the ball down and had the courage to play.
Thought it was a strange decision not to start with Wells, as he always offers that threat in behind the defence.
I think though, it shows how important it is at this level, to have someone that can hold the ball up and win it in the air, which Smalley was largely incapable of doing tonight.
We've got to pray that Hanson is fit on Saturday, and if not I would play Fagan up there.
Danstarr69
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12:34am Wed 15 Feb 12
citygent71
says...
12:51am Wed 15 Feb 12
lonniejockstrap
says...
12:58am Wed 15 Feb 12
I obviously watched a different game to those who say the City players didn't close down or work hard enough. It's a good point when considering conceding a goal first against a team like PV.
I struggle to believe some of you lot can actually recognise when a decent team turns up and plays City. I wonder if you are the same lot that booed the win against Stevenage last season because we didn't play like Brazil? The same Stevenage that went on and got promoted and are doing so well in the league above us. Maybe you would much prefer we lose against a decent side.
Poor entertainment but a good point in an even game against a decent Team.
JamesRobertshaw
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1:50am Wed 15 Feb 12
ricky76
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7:19am Wed 15 Feb 12
Down South
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8:16am Wed 15 Feb 12
Victor Clayton
says...
12:56pm Wed 15 Feb 12
ricky76 wrote:I don't think Hanson is any good but you are right that we looked worse without him. did we bring Smalley is as cover?
I hate to say this without Hanson upfront we look toothless he might not the best player in the world but we looked lost without him. Hannah is another Speight football league is a step too far but could probably do a good a job in Bsp as for Smalley and Atkinson are they really any better than we already have having said that Fry looks promising and certainley get more stuck than Thlerfall and Obrien did.
tyker2
says...
1:07pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Why was Smalley taking all the corners ,or the majority of them?
a point is a point but those poitns are fast being inadequate given the fact that other teams are finding some form
Prisoner Cell Block A
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4:43pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Wells should not have been dropped.
Atkinson either needs to pick up his game 100% or go back to Hull because currently he is a liability, doesn't retain the ball, doesn't cross the ball, doesn't beat a man and is lightweight.
The ref's display made us look adequate and we were far from that but at least we are consistently inadequate. We have not had any consistency in refereeing displays this season, one will send a player off for using too much force, another allows kung fu kicks at head height to go unpunished.
I can take poor football and accept we are a woeful 4th division team, we have been most of my life but I will not be renewing my ST to watch the people controlling games turning them into guessing game farces.
Prisoner Cell Block A
says...
4:52pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Danstarr69
says...
5:03pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:Reid can't have taken the rest because I have Atkinson on film taking one in the second half lol
Smalley took 2 of our 7 corners, Reid took the rest. Wells should not have been dropped. Atkinson either needs to pick up his game 100% or go back to Hull because currently he is a liability, doesn't retain the ball, doesn't cross the ball, doesn't beat a man and is lightweight. The ref's display made us look adequate and we were far from that but at least we are consistently inadequate. We have not had any consistency in refereeing displays this season, one will send a player off for using too much force, another allows kung fu kicks at head height to go unpunished. I can take poor football and accept we are a woeful 4th division team, we have been most of my life but I will not be renewing my ST to watch the people controlling games turning them into guessing game farces.
Danstarr69
says...
6:33pm Wed 15 Feb 12
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Vym8_oHt1T_RwGo6g Andrew Davies Goal
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fatbloke says...
9:55pm Tue 14 Feb 12
If I sat on the board I would be asking PP why o why o why are we so negative, not only at home but when 1-0 down at home, pathetic.
On 3 seperate occasions we had Reid marking on the edge of our box during open play, and 2 defenders spare!! Crap, f'ing crap...release Reid defenders and mark someone, you lazy tw&ts!!