The good, the bad and the ugly

20/04/2024 20:50

By Adam Raj

Well, this one had everything. Win, lose or draw, there's nothing straightforward about Bradford City. Two down, three two up, a man down and eventually…three points.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but City’s play off hopes are somehow still mathematically alive.

16 minutes in however and it was a very different picture. The Bantams found themselves two goals down against a rampant Walsall side who themselves were chasing that last spot in the top seven. It looked every inch a case of damage limitation, even at that early stage.

The hosts had flown out of the traps and deservedly took the lead on seven minutes with a ruthless counter attack. Isaac Hutchinson ran 50 yards unchallenged as Matty Platt and Ciaran Kelly backed off before playing in Ryan Stirk. The midfielder took one touch before striking past Sam Walker.

Things then went from bad to worse as Walsall doubled their lead. Calamitous defending from Walker, Platt and Daniel Oyegoke saw Mo Faal head into an empty net. Platt initially let the long ball bounce whilst Oyegoke then tried to shepherd the ball back to Walker who was too hesitant in coming off his line. Faal, to his credit, kept chasing and got his reward as he managed to nip in past Oyegoke and nod over Walker.

It was all a bit grim. City had barely touched the ball by this point and history suggested that it was most likely game over, even with 74 minutes still to play.

But out of nothing, City had a lifeline. Three minutes after going two down, Jamie Walker's cross to the back post was expertly headed in by Andy Cook for his customary goal against the Saddlers. It was a terrific header, outmuscling Joe Foulkes at the back post and heading back across goal, leaving the keeper stranded.

The Bantams could quite easily have been two behind again as Hutchinson slammed against the foot of the post with a fantastic strike before Donervon Daniels' header looped over the crossbar.

Walsall were cutting through City quite easily, the press seemed disjointed and Richie Smallwood was being overrun by a very energetic Saddlers midfield. In identical fashion to the opening goal, Stirk carried the ball into the City half and drove at a fragile looking back line before electing to shoot when a pass was the better option, letting City off the hook.

But five minutes before the break, up stepped Cook yet again. This time, scorer turned provider. Smallwood's free kick was headed back across goal by City's number nine and there was Jamie Walker at the back post to nod in from a few yards out.

Yes, that really is goals in successive games from set pieces.

For a team that is often wasteful in front of goal, that was a very efficient Bradford City attacking performance. They went forward twice and scored twice. Aside from a Bobby Pointon effort close to the break, the only time Walsall had to defend, they failed badly. For a change, it was the opposition who were wasteful – they'll be kicking themselves that they didn't score three or four.

City started the second half where they left off in the first. Eight minutes in and Cook and Walker were involved again. Pointon's under-lapping run and cross to the back post saw Cook's header blocked on the line, only for Walker to slam home the rebound in front a jubilant away end.

Some turnaround. City scoring three goals in itself is enough to raise some eyebrows but from 2-0 down? That's definitely not very Bradford City-like and I'm not sure any of us saw it coming.

But the drama wasn't done there. Walker would go from hero to zero after picking up two yellow cards in nine second half minutes. The first, for a stupid tug on Walsall keeper Jackson Smith to stop the counter attack and the second for a cynical foul on Ross Tierney.

It meant the remaining half hour had to be a slog. City had to time waste and scrap themselves to three points. It wasn't pretty but a necessity in the circumstances. City were still indebted to Sam Walker's heroics as he cleared a certain goal off the line and made a terrific save to deny Tom Knowles.

Today's results have given a glimmer of hope of finishing in the top seven. Despite the dreadful season to date, City still have a chance of achieving their objectives. A win away at Barrow on Tuesday will really set it up for the final day – and whether or not it happens, it's nice to have something to play for in the final few games of a season that's mostly been miserable.