FL2: Bradford City v Torquay Utd 8/12/12

Nice one Chris - look forward to reading your thoughts on the game!

That's a commentary on our truly appalling record at Saltergate as much as your relative longevity.



That may depend on whether I'm set loose in the Gothic surrounds of Undercliffe cemetery.

Weather update: I write from Headingley. It's positively balmy compared to recent days.

And, no, I'm not here because I got my India v England venues muddled.

Hello is there anybody there?
Not much to say about this one it seems.
Bradford on a resurgent run get the only goal of the game, through our ex player Alan Connell whilst having 31 shots to our 4 with 13 on target to our 0. Would have been an injustice if they hadn't won with us down to ten it had that air of inevitability about it. Once we lost Saah, from what sounded like a dubious decision the game was up for us and it was all about trying to survive the onslaught. We failed of course so its on to the next game and for Ling to try and perform a minor miracle with our small squad.
Points in the bag we do have at least unlike our rivals Bristol Rovers who, once again are calling for the managers head. Looks like they could have the best new ground in the Conference. What there position does emphasise though is just how easy it is to spiral down the slippery slope and when your down there its even harder to get out of the rut you have created.
Our away scoring ratio is as any bad as any mind you which is becoming a bit of a concern though fortunately we haven't been shipping to many either but I am starting to wonder when Rene will score again seems he's been sussed by defenders and poor Billy continues to struggle and is now injured. Maybe the break will do him some good.
Ill be more than relieved when we reach 50 points, perhaps then we can plan on investing in a stronger squad for next season.

Well, we came within a few minutes of pulling off what would have been the grittiest 0-0 draw imaginable. Torquay were always at a big disadvantage after the sending off, which changed the game entirely and looked to me like a travesty although maybe it might seem different on the TV tonight.

From what I recall Brian Saah won the ball with a typically fine tackle and was fouled as he did so, and Meredith's momentum meant that the two collided with each other. Brian tried to shrug the smaller man away and I suppose it is possible his arm might have touched Meredith's head and knocked him over but the little cheating bastard certainly made a huge drama out of it. The ref was quite prepared, it seemed, to ignore these theatrics, only for a linesman to stick his oar in, after which the red card came out and off went the Gulls captain for an undeserved early bath.

Soon after this injustice Niall Thompson turned beautifully and shot past the goalkeeper but against the post, but after that the game was a total siege. City hit the bar, hit the post, shot high, wide and against heroic blocking defenders, and also found Pokey in excellent form. Just as it looked as if we had pulled it off, though, Alan Connell hit an unstoppable peach of a shot which was heading for the top corner as soon as he struck it, and all our brave effort was in vain.

This was a very one sided game in truth but the sending off was definitely the turning point. No disgrace is attached to Torquay's performance though. City are a very good side at this level, with far more talent in their XI than we could possibly muster and they were also able to bring on a couple of substitutes who would walk into the United team any day of the week. Torquay don't have any brilliant genius in the squad but they do have great team spirit which will no doubt continue to bring points against sides who, on paper, should be beating us easily and whose players will certainly be getting higher wages.

A couple of additional observations: City's theme tune, consisting of "Claret & Amber" being repeated ad nauseam,must be one of the most embarrassing in the League while Torquay's away strip is possibly the ugliest I have ever seen. The players looked as if they were wearing chorister's cassocks with yellow paint smeared down the sides. I hope I never see it again; in fact I'd rather see them in green and black, that's how vile it is.

Still proud of the team, though!

Thanks for the account of the sending off wildebeeste, I did wonder if there was any amateur dramatics involved on the part of the 'injured party', I am sure it was embarrassing to see, as is usually the case with footballers going for an Oscar in the attempt to convince the officials. No doubt he was up and running like a spring lamb upon seeing the red card produced?

Did Lingy mention in his post match interview that he would try and get the red card looked at. We could do with Bri over Christmas!