Outfought and outplayed

Bradford City made a humiliating exit from the FA Cup at Second Division Gillingham.

No one suggested this was going to be anything but a difficult match for the Premiership side even though Gillingham are two divisions below them.

But they disappointed the 400 faithful supporters who made the 500 mile-plus round trip after they were not only beaten, but outfought and outplayed by their lower grade opponents.

Apart from the first 15 minutes, there was nothing to suggest there were two divisions between the sides as City threw away their chance of a place in the last 16 of the cup and an attractive home draw against Sheffield Wednesday or Wolves in the next round.

Of course, Premiership survival is City's main objective in this important season in the club's history, but as manager Paul Jewell was quick to point out last night there will have to be a massive improvement on this sorry performance if City are to gain anything from Saturday's vital match at one of their main survival rivals, Sheffield Wednesday.

Watching City struggle at Gillingham, it was difficult to believe that this was virtually the same side that performed so creditably against Chelsea in one of the finest matches seen at Valley Parade only four days earlier.

Having seen what City are capable of against Chelsea and other leading Premiership teams, it was difficult to understand and even more difficult to accept this performance.

Consistency is required in the second half of the season if City are to survive in the Premiership and it is recent performances against Chelsea, Newcastle, Everton and even in defeat at Manchester United on Boxing Day that they must emulate as they battle for survival not the nightmare at Priestfield Stadium last night.

Jewell, who admitted he was embarrassed by the performance, will spend the next three days trying to make sure the players learn the lessons from this defeat, but he was at a loss to explain why his side had performed so badly.

In most Premiership matches, City have been the underdogs and have earned their points by 100 per cent commitment and sheer hard work.

These qualities were lacking for much of last night's game despite all the warnings of this tie being a potential 'banana skin' and the need for City to work just as hard as they have done in Premiership matches.

Sadly, they failed to heed the warning and paid the price.

Not that anyone should take anything away from Gillingham who deserved their win.

Striker Alan Thomson, who scored the winner against Walsall in extra time in the previous round set them on the road to an even more famous victory after 39 minutes when he took advantage of hesitancy from City defender Ashley Westwood as he chased a long through pass down the inside left channel.

Goalkeeper Matt Clarke came off his line, apparently expecting to receive a back pass from Westwood, but Thomson managed to flick the ball over the goalkeeper's head and into the unguarded net.

The goal came at a time when City were under pressure down the left from left wing back Nicky Southall.

Only eight minutes earlier, Southall had seen his fierce drive strike Gunnar Halle after Thomson had headed the ball back to him and go behind for a corner.

City, who played without one of their most consistent players, defender David Wetherall who missed the match through suspension, then had the misfortune to lose their target man, striker Lee Mills with a twisted ankle two minutes before half time.

Stuart McCall, who Jewell had decided to rest, came on to replace him with Dean Windass moving up front, but City certainly missed Mills' physical presence in the second half as they began to chase the game.

After trailing 1-0 at half time, City needed a positive start to the second half, but they found themselves 2-0 down seven minutes after the interval after two brilliant saves from Clarke had prevented Gillingham from going further in front.

This time, it was City's right defensive flank that came under most pressure mainly through the enterprise of John Hodge who laid on the winner against Walsall.

Clarke turned a 25-yard shot from Paul Smith and from the subsequent corner Gillingham scored their second goal. Hodge's corner found Barry Ashby at the far post and he scored with a header.

Jewell brought on Jamie Lawrence and Isaiah Rankin as City desperately tried to get back in the game, but they made little impression on Gilling-ham's three man central defence of Guy Butters, Matt Bryant and Ashby and the home side were often first to the ball and won most of the vital tackles.

In fact, goalkeeper Vince Bartram hardly had a serious save to make so few clear cut chances did City create.

They had some reward 14 minutes from the end when unmarked Dean Saunders scored with a ten yard shot after Peter Beagrie's cross was deflected into his path.

At that stage, City harboured hopes of forcing a replay, but the home side put paid to those ideas two minutes later with their third goal.

Hodge's 25-yard shot caught Westwood and the ball spun over the head of Clarke and into the net to put the result beyond doubt.

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