Bradford City ace sees ability and wants pressure embraced

They were embarrassed by them 3-0 at home in March, part of a dreadful run of four defeats in 11 days which essentially cost the Bantams a play-off spot, while a pathetic first-half showing at Meadow Lane in November left Graham Alexander’s visitors 4-0 down at half-time in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

But the visitors ripped up their 4-2-2-2 formation at the break and came back out playing in an attacking 3-5-2 set-up, looking like a completely different team as they battered their hosts, leaving Nottingham with a 4-2 defeat having been unlucky not to score more.

Aden Baldwin lined up at centre-half for Notts that day, and asked what he made of that Bantams team he is now a part of, he told the T&A: “It’s hard for me to say, because I was a County player, but it felt like we dominated the first half and were in complete control.

“The gaffer must have said something to them at half-time and they came out a completely different team.

“I’m not sure if we got complacent, but they ruffled a few feathers and showed what they were about after the break.

“They changed their shape, had quite a few chances and it was definitely a game of two halves.”

Baldwin missed the reverse fixture, but that 3-0 home defeat for City felt typical of a side who crumble far too often in front of the home support at Valley Parade.

County are another historic club with a big fanbase, so having dealt with that, does Baldwin have any tips for his Bantams teammates about their approach to games in BD8?

He said: “Both teams have really good fanbases who turn out in their numbers, so it puts that added pressure on the players.

“We had that pressure on us in our (2022/23 National League) promotion season, and it comes from leaders and characters within the team, being able to deal with that.

“We had a really good coach (Luke Williams) in charge too, who was really strong mentally.

“He had us training to the maximum every day, all while he’d tell us about what the fans might be doing or saying.

“It meant we expected that noise and the pressure on our shoulders.

“In terms of tackling Bradford’s games, we’ve just got to embrace having that fanbase behind us and using that to gain momentum.

“It sounds really cliché but we have to make Valley Parade a fortress, make teams scared to come here and play against us.

“There’s no point going under and crumbling under the weight of that fanbase as otherwise you’ll always struggle.

“We want to be successful here and we have to use the fans to help us do that.”

Tyler Smith (left) looking crestfallen as Notts County score again in their 3-0 win at Valley Parade back in March. (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

Just looking at the raw statistics, City fans might have been a little alarmed by the signing of Baldwin, given he was part of a Notts defence who conceded more goals (86) than anyone else last season.

But the 14th-placed side also scored 89 times, more than anyone except automatically promoted trio Stockport, Wrexham and Mansfield, which Baldwin feels goes a long way to explaining that defensive record.

Asked what went wrong at the back for County last term, he reflected: “It’s difficult to say, but being in the middle of our back three, I was surrounded by players who, I wouldn’t say were inexperienced, but they haven’t had a load of games in their careers yet.

“They were brilliant, talented players though, and it was also to do with how we set up, as we were very attack-minded.

“We were open to any sort of counter-attack and because our numbers were so high going forward, that meant the load on the defence was ridiculous.

“It worked for us at the start of the season, but there was a transitional period after the manager (Williams) left for Swansea, which ruffled a few feathers.

“It was an okay season for us still, with it being our first back in the EFL.”

The middle of a back three is where Baldwin feels most comfortable, and when asked how City can get the best out of him, he said: “I’ve been in a back three system for quite a few seasons now.

“I am quite versatile, and I played in a back four with Notts last season a few times and it worked well in certain games.

“I do feel like you’ll get the best out of me in the middle or on the right of a back three though.

“But it’s whatever the gaffer finds is the best system with all the players he’s got at his disposal.”