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Still it was a night when the officials gave no end of curious decisions and the linesmen were ably led by Colin Webster, in who odd decisions are a speciality. The antics of the officials should not though detract from an improved second half display, where the Clarets dominated, but could not get that vital goal. The less said about another abject first half display the better. When Stan said this was "half a derby" we weren't quite thinking in terms of how short in terms of time the players would perform.
Once again Stan saw fit to retain Marlon between t' sticks, his changes seeing Arthur back on the bench, Branch preferred at left back, with Taylor back from suspension and getting the nod ahead of Blake, who could only watch as a sub against his former buddies, much to the amusement of the visiting fans, who were to deride the little striker throughout.
The changes in the selection made no difference to the tactics and once again a lacklustre Clarets side were slow out of the blocks, plodding aimlessly through a dreadful first half performance. By contrast, Bradford the current away form team in the division, showed why in the early stages. 17, 19, 24, 34, 38 & 43, no not tomorrow's winning lottery numbers but visiting first team squad numbers. Bright, quick and first to the ball, Nicky Laws blend of youth and experience, was by the far the better of the two sides on view and there was little surprise that it was they who took the lead.
Uhlenbeek combined well down Clarets left sided tackle free zone and sent over a deep far post cross that was headed superbly back and angled over Marlon, where it was acrobatically headed out from under his own cross bar by Diallo, only for the linesman to judge the ball over the line and delayed celebrations could begin in the visiting section.
The goal served only to subdue the home side even further, Cook was injured in a chase for a loose ball, the passing was awful with numerous players missing in supposed action. Particularly dire was the midfield, where Weller was third to 50:50 balls in a half performance he and Briscoe will want to forget, their indecision and lack of confidence on the ball all too evident.
In a hurry to clear a loose ball from defence, Branch caught Diallo, who despite lengthy treatment was unable to continue and Arthur came on after half an hour. Shortly before that, Cook limped off to be replaced by Grant as Clarets struggled to find any rhythm whatsoever, the predictable pattern of play to Taylor seeing many a poor quality move broken up all too easily by the well organised visiting defence. Trooping off to the now customary boos, there could be little objection to those voicing their disapproval at another sorry display.
After the bright spot of the night, the cheerleaders, Blake immediately replaced Briscoe and Clarets set about the Bantams as though there was something to play for. The pattern of play was different, in that passes into Blake enabled his skills to be made use of and his willingness to make up for forty five minutes of seat warming brought Little and West into much more forward and threatening positions.
It was the little striker who, after only seven minutes, superbly turned into the area, beating Wetherall with ease, before his left footed shot was only parried by Davison into the path of Moore who tapped home from six yards. It was too good to be true and amidst the celebrations the linesman adjudged Moore offside, this a curious decision considering where Moore had run in from. It wasn't given, so it can't have been a goal - can it?
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With Clarets on top, the final quality ball was proving elusive and it was Bradford who nearly added to their lead on the hour, Marlon left very grateful when, out of position from Jorgensen's clever header, it was thankfully wide of both keeper and far post.
Grant never looked for goal, when put through by West's delicate pass and his cross was a waste of the good position he had found, twenty minutes in. The Clarets were now pressing forwards and making good use of both wings, Bradford were content to waste time whenever possible and Mr Webster bless him, was always ready to blow giving decisions that would dumbfound most watchers of the game, you sensed it was another one of those nights.
Davis was booked for a petty foul as frustrations began to show, Little became over elaborate in his quest to walk the ball home, yet it was his fine cross that almost set Davis up for a far post header, but that man Wetherall came to Bradford's rescue once again.
Arthur was booked for a silly foul ten minutes from time, then Jorgensen followed suit, his crime merely to kick the ball away. With time ticking away and Clarets efforts looking in vain, Arthur managed another silly tackle on Forrest two minutes from time leaving Mr Webster little option than to locate his red card in his back pocket and Clarets night was all but over.
With a minute to go, Moore conceded possession, yet the simple ball over the top for Gray should have been easily cut out. It wasn't and Gray's waltz around Marlon allowed him to stroke the ball into the unguarded net and Bradford were home and dry. If that fat lady wasn't singing before, she most certainly is now - loud and clear.
Att:- 14,104 (78%, most of whom are thoroughly fed up after eight days of Turf Moor dross).
Star Gazer
Mr Webster. On a night when there was little action, he did amazingly well to keep stopping the game whenever physical contact was deemed to have been made. Couldn't spot or control time wasting, or most of the professional things going on and managed to judge most fouls in the opposite direction to those in the stands. A blot on another forgettable performance as Clarets crashed to their seventh home defeat of the season.
Glass Half Empty
With a first half performance as dire as this one, it really makes you wonder why you rush home from work to get down to the match. Forty five minutes of more head shakingly poor play. The use of the long ball was predictable and inaccurate, the midfield a barren area for competitors and creators alike.
Star Geezer
Robbie Blake. Whether it was that he was playing against his former club, whether it was to prove a point after being relegated to sub, who knows, who cares. Once free of his tracksuit, he transformed the Clarets going forwards, his neat footwork and ability to find his team mates a most welcome change to all that had gone before. Can we have more of the same please from the remaining nine outfield players?
Glass Half Full
Had Clarets played with the tempo, desire and creativity shown in the second half, then surely a greater return than one point from the last nine would have been the result. One more win from the remaining fixtures should see Clarets safe for another season.