Bradford lock de gates, Clarets unlock defence

Last updated : 29 March 2004 By David Clark

Star Geezer - Brian Jensen
Bradford struggled to cope with the hoards of Clarets aiming to cheer their team on to an away victory, the first to be gained at the seventeenth time of asking. This was a crucial three points and today's league table looks much rosier with Clarets moving above that haunting dotted line, the three points gained from Ian Moore's late late goal could prove so important come the end of season totting up process.

The win though was also gained after some heroics from the gloved one Jensen. Often maligned for poor decision making, this was not one of those days and few would disagree with Bryan Robson's post match comparisons with two Beast saves in the Gordon Banks class.

It may be a little disconcerting that Bradford were able to create those chances, but this was a day when only the result mattered and in returning back to red rose land with all three points, fans of Derby, Walsall, Gillingham, Rotherham, Watford and Forest will each be scrutinising forthcoming fixtures, desperate to work out the third team going down with Bratfer and Wimblekeynes.

In what was to prove a scrappy first half, the only two moments of quality saw the two goals scored. First blood almost went to Bratfer but Wetherall could only aim his header straight at the Beast five minutes

from an unmarked position.

Clarets rallied and Little's good cross deserved better than a fresh air header, which was all Moore could muster when throwing himself at the ball.

The disappointment was short-lived and Clarets took the lead on eight minutes, Blake somewhat inevitably getting the goal, his twentieth of the season to date. Grant played a neat ball in to Little who, from centre midfield, fed a ball into Blake just outside the area. Taking the ball in his stride his first touch was excellent and the shot from twelve yards that followed was equally so, 'keeper Combe left on his backside as the ball ended high into the net.

Cue mass celebrations from the Clarets hoards who were occupying gangways, steps and any possible vantage point, the large cheer relaying the good news to those Clarets unfortunately still outside the ground.

The Clarets midfield was to have a largely off day and this was a primary factor in allowing Bratfer time and space to control their forays into Clarets territory. Summerbee and Cadamarteri were the main benefactors from this and they combined well to create the Bratfer equaliser only ten minutes after Clarets had taken the lead.

Summerbee, not for the first time, was not closed down by Wood and swept a great diagonal ball cross field that exposed the out of position West. West scurried back and failed to get in a challenge on the advancing Cadamarteri, who was allowed to take the ball into the area and finish low past a helpless Beast with West and May failing to deal with the little strikers advance, claiming only his second goal of the season.

This was the last piece of quality in an otherwise poor first half, the significance of the game all too evident when a minor challenge on Blake caused a melee in the middle of the field with many players in an exchange of handbags, the shocking officials struggling to deal with the incident.

Ten minutes from the break and following a foul on West, Blake's curled free kick was only just wide of Combe's right hand post, the locals on too happy to remind their former favourite of his error.

Jacobs was booked for a shirt pull on Blake as Clarets briefly threatened a quick counter attack, before Little and Atherton were lucky to avoid serious punishment after lashing out at one another in an off the ball incident. Tempers were therefore running high as the teams left the field, the fans to be entertained by City's Slickers, Bratfer's strange mix of cheerleaders and dancers - the half time cheer for many a letching Claret. HT 1-1.

Star Gazer - Richard Chaplow
Neither manager made any changes for the second half which was to prove a more entertaining period than the first with Bratfer having the better of the chances created in the half.

Clarets problems in front of goal were highlighted once again as Camara's great cross flashed across the six yard area with no one in grey remotely nearby.

Approaching the hour mark and the Beast good afternoon's work began with a superb reflex save tipping over Cadamarteri's near post header.

A very disappointing Chaplow was replaced by Adebola as Stan introduced a target man, the move immediately offering options for Clarets when going forwards. Edds replaced Jacobs as Robson looked to swiftly counter Clarets formational shuffle.

Twenty minutes from time and following a poor headed clearance, Summerbee's half volleyed drive from twenty yards was acrobatically tipped away be a flying Beast, Clarets by now looking edgy and a little nervy whenever put under pressure.

With quarter of an hour remaining Summerbee turned Camara in the area and his neat squared pass looked to create a certain goal, but West got back superbly to clear off the line and once again Bratfer's fans were back in their seats with heads in hands.

But the best was yet to come from Clarets defensively speaking, after Weller had replaced Blake in an exchange that caused concern amongst many a Claret, puzzled at Stan's apparent settlement for the solitary point.

Cadamarteri skipped past Weller's half challenge with ease and set himself up for glory with a powerful, swerving shot from twenty yards, but the Beast was having a great day and a full stretch Jensen intercepted the ball, parrying the ball away for a corner. It was a magnificent save and equal to the one he performed late on at Sunderland.

Within a minute, the Clarets went in front, or so thought the Claret hoards. But Mr Rawcliffe, a ninety minute pain, flagged May's toe poke from Wood's inviting cross offside and the goal was chalked off, Stan all too eager to have a word in Mr R's ear next time he passed the technical area.

The frustration was all too obvious and May was booked for comments made to Mr R. The caution, his tenth, will now see him miss vital games against Watford and Walsall in Clarets dog fight.

Another good free kick from Wood just eluded Moore, but by now the presence of Adebola was beginning to threaten Bratfer and surprisingly the big man elected to play wide on the left, leaving Moore as the target man, a tactic which should surely be reversed in the coming weeks training sessions.

The final ten minutes were to prove a tense affair and a silly free kick conceded by Branch didn't help matters. Summerbee's free kick was wide, though only just and Clarets could breathe again.

With five minutes to go, Wood was tackled from behind when entering the area, it looked a foul but unsurprisingly Mr Laws and the inept Rawcliffe failed to give a decision much to the disbelief of all in Claret.

A loose Grant header conceded possession in the final minute of normal time, but thankfully the resulting shot was just over, before the final drama unfolded as Clarets broke up field.

Grant's deep cross was missed on the way in to the area by Moore, but collected by Little before it could pass out of play and his hook back in to the six yard box was headed home by Moore who got there just in front of Adebola to send everyone in claret or grey absolutely wild and everyone in claret and amber into despair.

Mr Laws duly obliged and blew a minute later, allowing he and Rawcliffe to scamper away unnoticed whilst the visiting ranks and euphoric players celebrated in style. It was a largely forgettable game, but a memorable result and the celebratory scenes at the end will surely act as a massive tonic to all who follow the Clarets. FT 1-2.

Att:- 13,677

Star Gazer

Richard Chaplow. Sadly not on planet earth for this one and a very subdued performance was put in by Clarets rising star. With so much happening to the youngster this season it is not unsurprising that once in a while he has an off day.

Beer Money

That Bratfer created numerous good chances in the second half was a cause for concern. The Clarets struggled to deal with Bratfer's appetite for the scrap and desire to win every ball, not a good sign with so many like minded matches in the coming few weeks, where the loss of May through suspension adds another twist to the saga.

Star Geezer

Brian Jensen. Another performance where only superlatives apply. Two of his second half saves were simply magnificent in an otherwise confident display of good decision making and competent handling.

Champagne Tastes

Some days you wonder why you bother, some days you don't. This was most definitely one of the latter and it was not difficult to tell Clarets from Bantams in the walks from the ground. Some were skipping gleefully away with mobiles clamped to the sides of heads, whilst others were carrying very large weights, the highs and the lows for football fans very evident indeed.