Don't give up hoping

DEAN Richards admitted to having mixed emotions after helping to heighten Bradford City's relegation fears before pledging to do all he can to help Paul Jewell's side scramble to safety.

The former Bantams star was in superb form at the heart of the Saints defence to repel a City side who deserved at least a point for their battling efforts.

Richards stood tall and not only headed countless inviting crosses to safety, but also managed to marshal the rest of the Saints back-line to ensure Glenn Hoddle's men left with all three points.

The defeat leaves City six points adrift of both Derby and Wimbledon with just six games remaining, but Richards insists all is not lost.

He said: "It is a time of mixed emotions for me. The last thing I want to do is come back here and stick the boot in, but that is what I feel we have done.

"At the final whistle, the City players looked so deflated and down, but I hope they can go on and win quite a few games.

"We can also do them a favour because we have to play Derby away and Wimbledon at home in the next few weeks.

"City definitely have a chance. They have a good spirit and will battle to the end, which will hopefully earn them the results they need."

The defeat was a severe body-blow for City in the fight for survival because they enjoyed enough possession to have won such a vital encounter.

Instead, it was a deflected goal and a fine turn and strike by Marian Pahars which meant that Robbie Blake's second league strike of the season was just a consolation.

Thankfully for City, Derby's Stefan Schnoor missed a penalty in a goalless draw at bottom club Watford, while Wimbledon lost to a late goal at Sun-derland.

That means City still have hope with their two main rivals yet to visit Valley Parade. However, the simple fact is City must start winning. And fast.

City's inferior goal difference means that in the final six games they must grab seven more points than either Derby or Wimbledon to survive.

At least this much-improved display does offer hope for Jewell's men.

The decision to return Robbie Blake to the forward line was long overdue, and he showed just what City have been missing since his contract saga blew up last summer.

A fully-focused Blake is a huge asset and he was back to his best against a Saints defence who had to be on red alert throughout the afternoon.

The 24-year-old's ability to twist and turn in a small space mean he is a nightmare to defend against in the penalty area, and it is to be hoped he can maintain this form for the rest of the campaign.

Dean Saunders was ruled out through a hamstring strain and that gave another chance to Jorge Cadete.

However the Portuguese striker again failed to impress and I still maintain that his best role is as a substitute in the closing stages when the opposition have tired.

In fact, City looked much more threatening once Cadete had been replaced by Isaiah Rankin, who appeared to a huge reception from the Valley Parade crowd.

The former record signing looks to have regained his confidence while on loan at Birmingham and posed some real problems for Saints.

City started the game with a 4-4-2 formation and bossed the early stages with Lee Sharpe and Peter Beagrie both doing well out wide.

Unfortunately City again failed to turn this superiority into goals and gradually Saints forced their way back into the game.

Despite this, City's battling display meant Matt Clarke was rarely troubled and it took a huge slice of luck to gift Saints the opening goal after 56 minutes.

Chris Marsden collected the ball 30 yards from goal and hit what can only be described as a scuffed shot which Clarke had well covered.

However the ball struck Dean Windass on the way through and spun into the opposite side of the goal and City were behind.

The Bantams tried to hit back with Peter Beagrie, in particular, proving a real threat out wide only for saints to strike with the ultimate sucker-punch.

Substitute Marian Pahars had only been on the field 15 seconds when the ball was played forward but he expertly turned Andy O'Brien before drilling a low shot past Clarke.

City were well and truly on the ropes now but hit back within a minute through Blake whose persistence and skill was rewarded with only his second league goal of the term.

Jewell responded by switching to 4-3-3 with David Wetherall up front and City poured forward in search of what would be a vital equaliser.

Beagrie did well with ten minutes remaining to set up Sharpe but under heavy pressure, his volley passed inches wide of the target.

And with Richards leading the Saints back-line superbly it meant that City were heading for their fifth successive defeat in the Premiership.

However boss Jewell remains upbeat and issued a rallying call to his side.

He said: "We are very disappointed but we won't be giving up, that's for sure. We have six games left and if we show the same attitude as against Southampton, then I can't ask for any more.

"We have a mountain to climb but we will keep going."

The result was a cruel one for City and although they have not received a knockout blow just yet, there is no doubt they are on the ropes.

City's renowned battling spirit means Jewell's men will not give up until it is mathematically certain they can't get out of trouble.

But City must now take at least 11 points from their final six games or their adventure in the Premiership will be over after just one season.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.