Smiles better: City bounce back after a week of sales

Match Comment, by Richard Sutcliffe.

The smiles all around Valley Parade at the final whistle told their own story.

The afternoon had started with many fans still stunned by the midweek dealings which saw three first-choice players head out of the club.

Many supporters were still asking why Eddie Youds, Peter Beagrie and Chris Wilder had been allowed to leave the club and the predictions for the visit of Manchester City before kick-off were pessimistic to say the least.

The opening 45 minutes also suggested that the players had been affected by the muted atmosphere as they allowed the Blues to take a one-goal lead through Jeff Whitley.

However, as if to illustrate the tremendous spirit within this group of players, a glorious second half performance saw the Bantams destroy Manchester City and put the smiles back on the faces of players and fans alike.

Bradford re-discovered the forceful football which had served them so well earlier in the season as the midfield clicked into gear in fine style.

Nigel Pepper was the key to this major turnaround as, after bringing the Bantams level with a superbly executed goal after 49 minutes, he proceeded to boss the midfield to such an extent that there was only ever going to be one winner.

His tough-tackling approach was married with some intelligent running to join the attack at vital times and his lobbed goal was a just reward for such an industrious performance.

However Pepper was not the only player to hit top form in that second half with several of his team-mates showing much more belief in themselves. Craig Ramage was also outstanding in the centre of the field with his prompting and ability to pick out a team-mate with a measured pass giving Bradford that valuable extra dimension when going forward.

The decisive strike after 66 minutes again owed much to Pepper's brilliance as he slipped a beautiful pass behind the defence for Edinho to race on to before rounding goalkeeper Martyn Margetson and rolling the ball into an empty net.

It was no more than the Bantams deserved after such high quality football had destroyed a Manchester side which had no answer.

And the most pleasing aspect of this victory was that it came about because they had dominated the midfield - an area in which a lack of physical presence in recent weeks has allowed opposing sides to take control.

It was all quite a contrast from the first half in which Bradford's play had been disappointing with few players emerging with much credit.

Going forward only Lawrence offered any hope of breaking down a Blues defence who had been bolstered by the signing of former Leeds man Richard Jobson.

In fact Bradford's first half tendency to start promisingly before wasting a good opportunity was summed up when Lawrence stylishly beat four Blues' tacklers to race into the visitors' half after 41 minutes before releasing a clever pass out wide for Rob Steiner.

Unfortunately the Swede then promptly hit his cross straight into the jeering away fans behind the goal much to the annoyance of another sizeable Valley Parade crowd.

There were, however, signs as the half came to a close that Bradford were starting to grow in confidence and looked to have a clear penalty turned down when Jobson hauled Steiner to the ground only for referee Wolstenholme to wave play on.

Pepper and Ramage both had shots which went just wide but it was clear that as City trudged off the field at the break that Paul Jewell had a big job to try and lift his side.

However whatever was said in the dressing room certainly did the trick as Bradford were transformed. Along with Pepper and Edinho's strikes, substitute Lawrence Davies went close late in the game while Blake must still be wondering how he failed to grab a goal after unluckily hitting the post twice in five seconds.

Much of the pre-match talk around Valley Parade had been how loan signings Lee Sinnott and Steve McAnespie would slot into a defence which had lost Youds and Wilder during the week.

However despite the Blues creating a number of chances in the opening half-hour, both players acquitted themselves well to bridge the huge step up in pace from reserve team football.

And McAnespie also showed his value in attack with his intelligent use of the ball starting many promising attacks down the right.

Andy O'Brien was a colossus at the back for the Bantams in the absence of Youds and it is hard to believe that he broke into the first team only last season.

Comfortable on the ball, O'Brien also matches any striker physically and his level-headed attitude must make him the ideal footballer for any manager.

Goalkeeper Gary Walsh also played his part pulling off two excellent saves to deny Jamie Pollock and Jim Whitley in the final minutes.

City have conceded four late goals since Jewell took charge in January so it was reassuring to see them intelligently take the ball into the corners to wind the clock down.

This tactic frustrates the opposition - as Jim Whitley proved in stoppage time by getting himself sent off - and spared the home fans an anxious finale as they sealed a valuable three points.

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