We're in fourth place in the league, gone seven unbeaten (eight in all competitions) having scored in each of those games, yet Ian Hendon is not happy. Listening to his post match comments, it is a massive breath of fresh air to hear our manager speak so frankly about the last two performances which have been largely below par. To coin a phrase, it makes such a refreshing change!
Hendon was not afraid to make changes at the right time and by risking Adomah at the end gave us just that little extra push where we needed and we probably ended up the stronger side. Indeed, if Hughes hadn't scuffed that sitter from about six yards out, we could have been celebrating some serious daylight robbery. It would be unfair to criticise Hughes though, of course it was he who got the equaliser to top another imposing central midfield performance.
Bradford were a good team and deserved to win, of that I am certain. In the first half they could have been out of sight with more composure in the final third. The manager's perfectly blunt assessment of the game shows he is fully aware of the problems that are arising and they will be 'dealt with' this week. Whereas before we may have 'worked on it in training', you get the feeling that these creases will be ironed out emphatically by the time we set off to third place Rotherham next week. Let's hope so, because it's looking like our biggest test yet.
You just get the feeling that there is no bullshit, no nonsense in this team. Ian Hendon just will not allow it. The Official Site states that he is 'threatening changes' for the next game and it's encouraging to see that when things aren't going right that our manager is willing to make big decisions to affect a big change.
The defence were cut open too often in the first half. None of the defenders can say they had their best game for the club, that's for sure. As I say, if Bradford had more composure in front of goal and hadn't fluffed a decent number of chances, they'd have sent our unbeaten record packing with a bump.
But they didn't, and we showed some good battling qualities to get back into the game twice so it certainly isn't all doom and gloom. John O'Flynn got another goal, followed by a comical celebration and the build up to the second equaliser was very good. Adomah's flick over the hapless midfielder and ensuing run that seemed to go on and on and on, before neat play between the front two lead to a nice, powerful header from Hughes. It was the best move of the game and well worth a goal. And we still could have nicked it late on, some miss from Hughes, that!
Let's face it, we're still doing very well in the league, better than we'd dared hope at the beginning of the season. Remember this time last year? The season was pretty much over already! Next week is a big old game, but such is the nature of the season so far, it wouldn't surprise me to see us go and turn them over.
Anything like the last game at Don Valley and it'll be a thriller, probably one of the most exciting and entertaining games that this writer has ever seen. It had everything. The weekend wasn't half bad either to be fair, we'll be out in Sheffield for the evening afterwards. It should all make for a good write up I'd have thought!
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