VERDICT: Sharp back to hurt Bantams as Doncaster win derby

MAYBE Phil Parkinson had the right idea of how to deal with Billy Sharp.

The former City boss once famously grabbed him by the throat in a touchline confrontation in the striker’s Leeds days.

That must have worked because it was a rare occasion when Sharp didn’t score at Valley Parade as the Bantams chalked up that memorable League Cup success.

Any other time and you can guarantee his name on the opposing scoresheet.

It’s just over 18 years since Sharp got his first goal at City – a winner for Scunthorpe.

Now just over three months before his 39th birthday, his love for playing against the Bantams clearly hasn’t waned.

It had been a while since City last saw Sharp banging them in for Sheffield United, putting five past them in two seasons in League One.

His journey since has taken him to LA Galaxy and back to the Championship with Hull before returning to one of his earliest clubs Donny in the summer.

And nothing had changed when City renewed acquaintances with him in the heat of another Yorkshire derby.

Sharp scored what proved to be the decisive second goal for Doncaster and also played a part in the first.

Graham Alexander must have been tempted to pin his players against the wall with the way they conceded the breakthrough early in the second half.

At that stage City, second best for most of the first 45 minutes, were starting to flex their muscles.

Andy Cook had flashed a header close and the home crowd, subdued earlier by Doncaster’s increasing threat, were increasing in volume.

City had bodies forward as Richie Smallwood swung a cross in the direction of Neill Byrne.

He got a head on it but lost his bearings as the ball dropped behind him on the edge of the box.

There was Sharp to hoof it out of harm’s way – and suddenly turn desperate defence into deadly counter-attack.

Cheick Diabate and Tyreik Wright were the deepest cover and should have dealt with it. But the centre half fatally allowed the ball to drop and a loose touch was gobbled up by Kyle Hurst.

Andy Cook's header gave City late hope of salvaging something (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Luke Molyneux peeled off unmarked to receive his pass and drove past a despairing lunge from the back-tracking Smallwood and beyond Sam Walker.

Ten minutes later and the inevitable happened.

Hurst was allowed to carry the ball from just inside his own half all the way to the City box and Sharp ambled through a gap down the middle to convert the low cross.

His fifth goal of the season, 259th in all league football – and eighth in nine meetings with those in claret and amber.

Most significantly, he had blown a hole in City’s previous invincibility on home turf.

The nine-match unbeaten run in BD8, stretching back to that horror week in mid-March, had met a sticky end at familiar hands.

Andy Cook’s header in response did make it interesting. But Doncaster survived City’s late rally to secure the three points that their performance warranted.

There could be no argument that they were comfortably the better team. City were certainly not at full throttle.

Tactically, Rovers got it spot on. They were too clever for the hosts in the most part and showed that clinical touch when hitting them on the break.

In truth, the game should have been out of sight before Cook’s 10th goal of the season set up some late excitement that few had anticipated.

The Bantams were better for their subs – as Alexander threw on all five changes at once.

It was the ultimate roll of the dice, something usually only seen in pre-season work-outs, but did provide that late impetus that had seeped away.

You wonder what might have happened had he gone all-in slightly earlier rather than waiting until the final 15 minutes.

Vadaine Oliver added a bit of punch, Corry Evans some control in a midfield battle where they had struggled and Lewis Richards delivered the juicy cross that Cook deposited in the top corner.

Those cameo displays will give Alexander some food for thought, especially with an FA Cup tie against National League Aldershot next on the list. It seems as good a chance as any to shuffle things round.

Graham Alexander made a five-man substitution late in the game (Image: Thomas Gadd)

The City boss had done that with three changes from the Cheltenham starting line-up.

Two of the absentees, Tyreik Wright and Jay Benn, were back and there was a surprise call-up for Tyler Smith.

He had not started a game since Easter Monday at Grimsby and had been limited to just 44 minutes of substitute appearances this season.

But Alexander decided it was Smith’s turn on the merry-go-round to see who partners Cook.

Calum Kavanagh couldn’t say he hadn’t been given the opportunity to get his stuttering campaign going as he made way.

He was on the bench – unlike Olly Sanderson who dropped out again having been recalled to the 18 in midweek.

But Smith failed to demonstrate that he can be the long-term answer for that “other” forward position.

He did have one shot on the turn, cleverly set up by Benn, that went fairly close. But he does not press defenders like Kavanagh – something that his manager is so hot on.

Not that Cook got much more joy alongside him against some physical marking until that header late on.

Where Doncaster attacked with precision and menace, City could not turn promising build-up into a genuine threat. Wright, in particular, was too loose with his final ball.

Doncaster comfortably won the battle in midfield where Smallwood found himself exposed by the lack of support offered from Bobby Pointon and Jamie Walker.

That only improved with the late addition of the less flashy Evans to work alongside the skipper.

City could have done with Clarke Oduor’s control on the ball as they gave it up cheaply at times, encouraging the visitors to counter at speed.

Billy Sharp points towards the away fans after scoring (Image: @drfc_official)

Doncaster’s shot count was mounting as the first half wore on. City did well to reach the interval on level terms as the excellent Hurst and Molyneux prodded and probed the inviting gaps.

When the goals did finally come, the contest looked over. Hurst, McGrath and Molyneux all threatened to make the scoreline ugly.

But the shake-up from the bench inspired a late home hurrah as Valley Parade rediscovered its voice.

It was an admirable effort in the closing stages with the Kop at maximum volume. Oliver nodded across goal and Neill Byrne went agonisingly close.

But an equaliser eluded them and fans were reminded of that disappointment of a home defeat that they had not felt in seven months. What a choker.