- Mobile site
- E-Newsletters
-
- News feed
- Find us on Twitter
@Bradford_TandA
All the latest news and views from the T&A
@tandasport
All the latest sport from the T&A
@TandABusiness
Latest business headlines from the T&A
- Find us on Facebook
The Telegraph & Argus
Like us on Facebook
Bradford City: Late Bray goal fails to spoil Parkinson's mood (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting TANEWS to 80360, or email
Bradford City: Late Bray goal fails to spoil Phil Parkinson's mood
6:50am Monday 30th July 2012 in Bantams
By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter
Will Atkinson muscles his way through two Bray players
Bray 1 Bradford City 2
Phil Parkinson isn’t usually one for glossing over little slip-ups.
But even he was prepared to cut City some slack after a late Bray goal provided the only minor blemish on an otherwise highly satisfactory afternoon in Ireland.
It was a quality finish from right back Ryan Dooney, who controlled a throw-in on his chest before half-volleying over Jon McLaughlin .
Usually the team could still expect a stern word or two from the gaffer for switching off five minutes from time.
On this occasion, though, there was only the merest hint of criticism. Parkinson felt his squad had put so much in to their week’s training camp that complaining about a late consolation would be “nit-picking.”
He said: “We got a bit scrappy towards the end but we’ll forgive the lads that on this particular occasion. The effort they have shown throughout the trip has been very good.
“It was disappointing to concede near the end but that’s a bit of nit-picking because we’d made a lot of subs .
“The lads we’d had to keep on for the full 90 minutes did look fatigued. But that was to be expected because we’ve trained really hard this week, right up to Saturday.”
Four outfield players lasted the whole game, including both centre halves as Andrew Davies was feeling under the weather.
Will Atkinson played from start to finish in midfield and claimed an assist for the first goal. Ritchie Jones, too, went the distance after missing Wexford.
Having begun with namesake Gary in City’s engine room, he switched to right back.
Stephen Darby’s first outing was restricted to half-time.
Alan Connell made his first start up front but he had to take a back seat in the goalscoring stakes.
The pre-season bragging rights remain as fierce as ever among the frontmen.
Ross Hannah and Nahki Wells kept up their record of scoring in every friendly. James Hanson fired his first blank but will be kicking himself for smashing over from close range after Atkinson’s knockdown.
Wells had the game’s first opening but was foiled by keeper Darren Quigley after Ritchie Jones put him through on the counter-attack.
But the Bermudian gave the large and boisterous away following the goal they were waiting for midway through the first half.
Atkinson slotted a neat ball through Bray’s left flank and Wells was on it in a flash to fire across the exposed Quigley.
A sudden torrential downpour sent the bulk of City’s support scurrying for the one covered stand as Gary Jones cut inside from his own corner to force a save at the near post. Then Atkinson seized on a mistake by defender Colm Tresson but over-cooked his pass for the unmarked Connell.
In a role reversal from usual, Bray made the wholesale changes at the interval. Ricky Ravenhill replaced Darby but the bulk of the switches came near the hour.
And Hannah had only been on five minutes when he received the ball with his back to goal and swivelled to drill into the corner.
It was a sharp finish from a player with the bit between his teeth – and he could have had a couple more.
Having won the race with Quigley for a through ball, he saw his goal-bound touch cleared away from in front of the line.
Then he somehow missed out on a second after forcing a spill from the keeper challenging for a corner. The ball popped off the striker’s shoulder and he reacted to the loose ball with an instinctive swing that smashed against the bar from no more than three yards.
Bray were clearly a step up from Wexford and managed a late show of defiance thanks to Dooney. But Parkinson’s week in the Emerald Isle had been well rewarded.
He said: “The discipline of the players on the trip, doing everything right, has been excellent.
“We couldn’t ask for any more from them and we’ve come back to England in good shape.”
CITY: McLaughlin, Darby (Ravenhill 46), McArdle, Oliver, Meredith (Bass 72), Baker (Reid 57), G Jones (Donnelly 72), R Jones, Atkinson, Wells (Hannah 57), Connell (Hanson 57). Sub (not used): Duke.
Comments(8)
1 bingley bantam
says...
6:18pm Mon 30 Jul 12
city down south wrote:Oh dear if Atkinson was that bad he Parky and the board best get used to it why the hell if my understanding is right was he offered a guaranteed 1 year contract before he even kicked a ball for us oh oh.
Thought overall the performance was good. The 2 goals were well taken but we could have had a couple more given the posession. McCardle and Oliver played very well together but the outstanding player was Jones, the ex Rochdale one, everything went through him, should be captain. To be honest was a bit disappointed with Connell who needs to hold the ball more. Atkinson - well I didn't understand why Parkinson bought him after last season and his display at Bray was just the same. Someone in the crowd made a loud comment about Atkinson and Parkinson turned to the crowd angrily asking who had said it. It was pointed out to him that whoever it was was within their rights to voice their opinion which was mirrored by most anyway, he is obviously very touchy on this.
dave-the-ref
says...
10:30pm Mon 30 Jul 12
1 bingley bantam wrote:It was me that made the loud comment about Mr Atkinson,like you say I have a right to voice my opinion,after all it is the fans that help pay the players wages and the managers wages.Would love Mr Parkinson to watch back the video of the match if this is possible,apart from the through ball for Wells what did he do.Gives the ball away,runs at players never beats them,never puts in a tackle.Oh yes one thing he does,keeps the shape of the team??? a little like Fagen.Must be a HULL thing???.I was a little disappointed with Mr Parkinsons unprofessional response I just hope his team is more professional than him.I have been a supporter of City since 1960 and will continue to voice my opinions,lucky for Mr Parkinson I am in the Midland Road Stand so he shouldn't hear me,although I do have a loud voice.One more thing I would love Mr Atkinson to prove me wrong and become (Will I am and not Will I'm not).
city down south wrote:Oh dear if Atkinson was that bad he Parky and the board best get used to it why the hell if my understanding is right was he offered a guaranteed 1 year contract before he even kicked a ball for us oh oh.
Thought overall the performance was good. The 2 goals were well taken but we could have had a couple more given the posession. McCardle and Oliver played very well together but the outstanding player was Jones, the ex Rochdale one, everything went through him, should be captain. To be honest was a bit disappointed with Connell who needs to hold the ball more. Atkinson - well I didn't understand why Parkinson bought him after last season and his display at Bray was just the same. Someone in the crowd made a loud comment about Atkinson and Parkinson turned to the crowd angrily asking who had said it. It was pointed out to him that whoever it was was within their rights to voice their opinion which was mirrored by most anyway, he is obviously very touchy on this.
gary turner
says...
10:49pm Mon 30 Jul 12
city down south
says...
11:00pm Mon 30 Jul 12
gary turner wrote:gary - he only voiced what we were all thinking at the match and were saying but obviously not as loud. I was sat a couple of rows in front of Bingley and a couple of rows from Parky, his response to the shout as was said was unprofessional and friends who had come with me and weren't City supporters were surprised at such a reaction to a typical shout from the terraces. Either he needs to ignore this everyday comment or buy better!
well I hope he doesnt read your negative comments which are not helpful at all. Parky is not blind and must see something in the lad that he can improve, give him support and see where it takes us. we need all the players to put in and improve.
1 bingley bantam
says...
10:41am Tue 31 Jul 12
city down south wrote:If Parkys reaction was that bad its shocking,but sounds like hes under immense pressure to justify the signing which mystified most of us.
gary turner wrote: well I hope he doesnt read your negative comments which are not helpful at all. Parky is not blind and must see something in the lad that he can improve, give him support and see where it takes us. we need all the players to put in and improve.gary - he only voiced what we were all thinking at the match and were saying but obviously not as loud. I was sat a couple of rows in front of Bingley and a couple of rows from Parky, his response to the shout as was said was unprofessional and friends who had come with me and weren't City supporters were surprised at such a reaction to a typical shout from the terraces. Either he needs to ignore this everyday comment or buy better!
I want Will to do well i really do but gotta a lot to do.
gary turner
says...
1:51am Thu 2 Aug 12
1 bingley bantam wrote:thanks for your input lads, lets hope for all concerned that the lad improves cos if not its been a waste of money and time.
city down south wrote:If Parkys reaction was that bad its shocking,but sounds like hes under immense pressure to justify the signing which mystified most of us.
gary turner wrote: well I hope he doesnt read your negative comments which are not helpful at all. Parky is not blind and must see something in the lad that he can improve, give him support and see where it takes us. we need all the players to put in and improve.gary - he only voiced what we were all thinking at the match and were saying but obviously not as loud. I was sat a couple of rows in front of Bingley and a couple of rows from Parky, his response to the shout as was said was unprofessional and friends who had come with me and weren't City supporters were surprised at such a reaction to a typical shout from the terraces. Either he needs to ignore this everyday comment or buy better!
I want Will to do well i really do but gotta a lot to do.
gary turner
says...
1:54am Thu 2 Aug 12
gary turner wrote:by the way I am coming over from Oz in Oct and hopefully can see a few games, cant wait, I think there is a couple of home games around 13 and 20th and then again in Sept , nearly wetting meself.
1 bingley bantam wrote:thanks for your input lads, lets hope for all concerned that the lad improves cos if not its been a waste of money and time.
city down south wrote:If Parkys reaction was that bad its shocking,but sounds like hes under immense pressure to justify the signing which mystified most of us.
gary turner wrote: well I hope he doesnt read your negative comments which are not helpful at all. Parky is not blind and must see something in the lad that he can improve, give him support and see where it takes us. we need all the players to put in and improve.gary - he only voiced what we were all thinking at the match and were saying but obviously not as loud. I was sat a couple of rows in front of Bingley and a couple of rows from Parky, his response to the shout as was said was unprofessional and friends who had come with me and weren't City supporters were surprised at such a reaction to a typical shout from the terraces. Either he needs to ignore this everyday comment or buy better!
I want Will to do well i really do but gotta a lot to do.
city down south says...
1:40pm Mon 30 Jul 12