Hanson benefits from addition of McCammon as Taylor’s men break home hoodoo (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Hanson benefits from addition of McCammon as Taylor’s men break home hoodoo

6:40am Monday 1st March 2010 in

By Simon Parker »

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City 1, Darlington 0

Mark McCammon was oblivious to the significance of the achievement.

As far as he was concerned, the on-loan striker had just done his bit to help pocket three points against the worst team in the division.

McCammon knew nothing of how much a win at Valley Parade meant to City.

“I’m really surprised at that,” admitted the Gillingham targetman when informed of the four-month home hoodoo. “I didn’t realise they’d had a run like that.

“But maybe that’s a good sign that I didn’t know. From what I’ve seen, there’s a good togetherness in the camp and everyone’s a bit more confident now.”

So maybe, as Peter Taylor has been stressing, winning at home isn’t such a big deal. McCammon’s ignorance to the statistics showed that City’s awful run of form in front of their own fans was not a major motivational tool of the manager’s in the build-up.

The feelgood factor engendered by the eye-catching victory at Rochdale had overcome any fears of struggling to put their own house in order again.

All right, there were some nervy moments when we all wanted to look away – the split-second when the ball bounced up against Matt Clarke’s hand in the penalty area being one of them.

But referee Karl Evans, a stickler for fussiness with most other decisions, gave nothing. That luck which Stuart McCall had wished for with ever-increasing desperation was there for all to see – all, except, Mr Evans and his assistants.

City did enough to win – and collect their second double of the season – though nobody was hanging out the celebration bunting. But given the previous eight Valley Parade results, a win’s a win however ordinary.

And Taylor’s decision to field a large-and-large front pair by pitting McCammon alongside James Hanson looked a good one.

Most expected McCammon’s arrival at Apperley Bridge the day before would give Hanson the breather he has been needing in recent weeks.

Instead the new guy, admittedly rusty after three months without a start, shared the load with City’s top scorer, who looked a lot brighter for it. For once, not everything in the air had to go through Hanson.

One training session and an hour’s game-play is hardly the basis of a long-standing relationship. But McCammon, who had also denied any knowledge of Rotherham’s reported interest, can see positive early signs ahead of the rush of matches this month.

He said: “I wasn’t aware of how good Hanson was in the air. He’s very strong and can hold the ball up well.

“No defender will like to play against us with our physical presence and hopefully we’ll work on getting a bit more understanding as the games go on.”

Taylor had praised Hanson’s refusal to let his head drop when things go wrong. In the last two games, the big man has fluffed superb scoring chances – but still bounced back to have an assist in Gareth Evans’ cracking result-sealer at Spotland.

Again on Saturday, Hanson rode early adversity to display a mental toughness that is admirable for someone who has been in the professional game for less than a season.

McCammon had already gone close with two ricochets as City made a fast start.

Richie Byrne slipped over trying to deal with a cross which took the striker by surprise in front of goal. Then he almost managed to divert a ball inside the near post with his right knee.

As the visitors wobbled, Michael Flynn sent Hanson bursting clear after ten minutes. It was a three-on-three break and a goal was surely on the cards this time; instead his touch was far too heavy and Darlo frantically slammed the door back shut.

Others might have drifted out of play after such a setback but Hanson showed again that he is made of sterner stuff and set about creating and finishing the game’s decisive moment.

It was his well-guided pass that released Evans on the right wing – and his head that met the perfect cross and bulleted it beyond Shane Redmond.

A well-executed goal – even more so considering the heavy state of the pitch, which gets boggier week on week.

City still tried to play the ball around, with Flynn and Lee Bullock the fulcrum in midfield and Evans clearly relishing the freedom of his new role out wide.

The goal was not the only decent cross he whipped in during a first half which should have seen City home and hosed. Left back Robbie Threlfall, too, repeated the quality of set-piece delivery from his Rochdale debut and Clarke should have buried his free-kick just before the break.

Instead the scoreline remained close enough to keep Darlington interested and their own belief grew as City dropped off.

Matt Glennon denied Josh Gray and needed a couple of grabs at Gary Dempsey’s 25-yard volley, while the defence had to be on their guard to negotiate a couple of awkward crosses in the six-yard box.

On came Michael Boulding and Omar Daley as City finally wrestled back control. McCammon’s hour of hard toil finished with a fat lip from a whack by centre half Alan White.

“He looked like he’d taken a right-hander from Sonny Liston,” laughed Taylor afterwards, “but that’s showing my age there!”

City could have extended their advantage. Evans was denied by a double block – the second an outstanding save from Redmond – and Boulding twice missed chances, including a gilt-edged one in stoppage time.

But that first home win since the clocks went back had been secured. Now to start moving forward again and making up for lost time. Attendance: 11,532

Comments(38)

Helen Highwater says...
6:55am Mon 1 Mar 10

Rumour has it that Chris Brandon has left the club, having had his contract paid up.