City crumble

Match report by Richard Sutcliffe.

Home is most definitely where the heart is for Bradford City at the moment.

In recent months, the Bantams have turned their Valley Parade base into a ground that few teams look forward to visiting as they have built a 10 game unbeaten run.

But once City go on their travels it is a vastly different story. Since drawing 0-0 at Birmingham in November, the Bantams have picked up just five points from 13 away games.

Of course they have been unfortunate in several games this season - particularly at Wolves, West Brom and Sheffield United - but even allowing for these slip-ups their current record is a wretched one.

Only two clubs - Reading (14) and QPR (12) - have a lower number of away points than City's 15 in the First Division this season.

And against relegation-threatened Tranmere, their second half capitulation merely served to underline their shortcomings.

The Bantams had deservedly gone ahead after Eddie Youds' first goal of the season had capped a fine opening 45 minutes. They had clearly been the better side with some crisp football being matched allied to tenacious tackling and the Rovers fans in the main stand were predicting another defeat for their side.

City should have been two goals in front after Rob Steiner was denied while trying to set up Craig Ramage five minutes before the break but there was certainly no inkling of what was to come.

The Bantams' travelling fans had good reason to expect more of the same after the break.

Instead they witnessed one of City's poorest 45 minutes of the season.

They meekly surrendered their advantage against a Rovers side keen to avoid relegation.

Tranmere had obviously had a roasting from manager John Aldridge and with a subtle change of tactics which included defender Gary Jones joining the attack, they bombarded the Bantams defence from the first whistle.

City crucially lost control of midfield where Liam O'Brien began to exert a telling influence.

Rovers scored three goals and could have had at least a couple more as Bradford crumbled.

It was the first time the Bantams had conceded three goals for the first time since the 4-1 defeat at Charlton in September.

As Rovers exerted their authority, one disgruntled Bantams fan in the main stand shouted 'Come on City, they are facing relegation and yet you are making them look like Brazil'.

City were woefully slack and made Tranmere look as if they were in a different class.

And they also had goalkeeper Mark Prudhoe to thank for keeping the score down with some fine saves, including a brilliant effort to deny David Kelly two minutes before Tranmere drew level.

He was also unlucky with two of the Rovers goals. Despite pulling off superb saves, his defence did not give him enough protection to prevent the rebounds being put into the net by Kenny Irons and Kelly in the 56th and 80th minutes respectively.

City had started the game with a three man defence which worked well for 45 minutes despite John Morrissey causing problems down the left.

Chris Wilder had slotted in well between Youds and Andy O'Brien but in the face of almost constant second half pressure the City defence crumbled.

Against a side fighting for their life in the First Division, City's performance simply wasn't good enough and short-changed the supporters who made the trip to Birkenhead..

One player who does deserve to escape much of this criticism is central defender Youds.

Scoring on the return to his native Merseyside, he turned in a typically industrious performance at the back.

Youds made many vital interceptions, including a clearance off the line after Liam O'Brien had capitalised on a gaffe by Prudhoe in the 36th minute.

Youds' season has been nothing short of sensational bearing in mind he missed 14 months with a career-threatening injury and it would be a major surprise if anyone pips him in the end of season Player of the Year competition.

Unfortunately his team-mates could not follow his example in that second half as they allowed Tranmere to walk all over them and chalk up their second highest victory of the season.

The Bantams have just seven games left and are now 13th - their lowest placing since the 1-0 defeat at Manchester City in November and their season is petering out in disappointing style.

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