Match Reports

Nationwide League Division 1

17 Aug 2002: Stoke City 2 Bradford City 1 Att: 12,424

BANTAMS COCK-UP HELPS STOKE TO FIRST THREE POINTS by AndyP

The journey to Stoke was a real graft, and at times the Stoke display matched this as they made hard work of seeing off a fairly ordinary Bradford side, despite two gifts by the visitors. Sitting in a queue on the M62 on one of the hottest days of the year is not my idea of fun, but we found ourselves taking an hour to travel 5 miles, just trying to get on to the M6. In the end we gave up and headed for Warrington, and after an age trying to get out of there, we took the A50 until we could next find a free flowing piece of the M6. It wasn't helped by my Bradford friend's (and driver for the day) son doing the classic "are we there yet Dad" at frequent intervals along the route! We left Leeds at 9.45am and rolled into May Bank at 1:35pm to pick up the tickets from my folks' place. Easily my worst journey to a Stoke home game ever!

Any road, (no pun intended) on to the game... We had a bit of a surprise to discover that Handyside was out (with tonsilitis according to the lady next to me in the Sentinel Stand), Gudjonsson was on the bench, and Marteinsson was filling in alongside Shtaniuk. This meant that Henry was playing on the right of midfield, Wilson was entrusted with right back, and Gunnarsson was thankfully back in central midfield. Iwelumo must have shaken off his thigh strain as he partnered Cooke up front instead of Goodfellow.

The front pairing made an immediate impact in the first minute as Iwelumo flicked on a ball for Cooke who finished with a weak shot straight at the keeper. However we didn't have to wait long for the next piece of action when an incredible act of charity gifted Stoke their opening goal. The Bradford keeper Walsh received a backpass on the edge of the box near the goal line under pressure from Cooke. Instead of just humping it clear he headed back into his six yard box with Cooke in hot pursuit. Cooke is not the fastest of players but his perseverance paid off as he was able to thrust out a foot and poke the ball into the net just as the keeper was about to kick it clear. A suicidal start for Bradford, and while we had been wondering where a goal for either side would come from, during our banter down the motorway, we had one after 3 minutes!

This gave Stoke some confidence and we began to boss the early exchanges. After 13 minutes Gunnarsson picked the ball in midfield, stormed forward then produced a great ball to Henry on the wing. He charged on with it before sending a low cross into the box. Cooke hit it first time, but his shot was blocked by a good defensive challenge. Five minutes later Iwelumo won Stoke's first corner, which Shtaniuk headed wide from Commons' ball in.

Bradford had their first real chance on 23 minutes, when Clarke gave his man too much room, allowing a cross to be put in, which was thankfully headed wide by an unmarked Andy Tod from 8 yards when it looked easier to score. Two minutes later Tod got behind the defence but produced another woeful finish, looping a soft effort into the arms of a grateful Cutler. This was a good spell for Bradford, as they next forced a corner which was brilliantly headed clear by Shtaniuk, only to be wildly blasted into the crowd by a Bradford forward.

Just after the half hour mark Stoke doubled their tally. Shtaniuk played a decent ball to Henry out wide, who then fed Wilson on a darting overlap. He was felled out wide level with the edge of the area, and Stoke were awarded a free kick. Commons crossed it in, a Bradford defender kindly nodded it on and Marteinsson stole in at the back unmarked to head in from around the six yard box. Two-nil to the Potters!

Ten minutes later we nearly made it three, when another Wilson run down the right resulted in him stumbling as he looked to cut it back. Another Stoke player managed to hook it into the fray, and Cooke hit a weak shot from close range that appeared to trundle wide. However a corner was awarded so some block must have been made. From the corner we won another, but it come to nothing. Three minutes before halftime, Bradford had 2 players booked in the space of minute, and Commons went into the book for a perceived dive in the last move of the half.

So a fairly pleasing first half where Stoke had dominated play and deserved to be in front. Would the second half be the same? In the first minute Commons picked up the ball and ran down to the left putting a cross that was heading towards Iwelumo until cleared. However after that Bradford began to come into the game more. On 48 minutes Sthaniuk hacked down a man on the edge of the area, and was booked. The free kick was taken quickly and Ward managed to put a free header over the bar and wide from a few yards out! Five minutes later Bradford won a corner off Wilson, which was ultimately fruitless, but five minutes after that a Molenaar (on for the injured Lawrence) ball got a striker behind our defence, and it took a fine close range save from Culter to prevent what looked a certain goal.

Cooke may have doubled his tally on 63 minutes when he missed a free header from about ten yards, after a great Commons' cross from the right. Two minutes later a fine Bradford move resulted in what looked a decent goal, but it was disallowed for off-side. On 69 minutes a Bradford freekick led to a corner. Culter punched the cross to the edge of the area where a dipping shot just cleared the bar with him stranded off his line. O'Connor was next in the book for what appeared to be dissent, and about 3 minutes later Clarke joined him for the same offence. In between these incidents, Gunnarsson made an excellent last ditch challenge, giving away a corner, but preventing a clear close range shot on goal.

Stoke were beginning to look tired and had been resorting to hoofing it long for temporary respite, but this had only resulted in it coming straight back at them. Iwelumo kept holding his thigh, and he and Cooke looked knackered as they ran around up front chasing the hopeful punts. On around 78 minutes Cotterill made a tactical switch, using a double substitution to replace Iwelumo and Wilson with Goodfellow and Gudjonsson. Henry dropped to right-back, Bjarni moved wide right, and Goodfellow added some pace next to Cooke's graft. I'm not sure the reason for Bjarni staring on the bench, but if it was a "kick up the arse" it appeared to work. His first touch was to run with the ball and unleash a 20 yard shot wide.

Stoke seemed to have gained the upper hand with this astute tactical switch, and four minutes after the substitution Goodfellow and Commons combined in a good move that produced a cross that had to be cleared for a Stoke corner. There was still a few wobbles at the other end when Shtaniuk sliced a clearance for a corner under no pressure whatsoever, the only mistake in an excellent display. Still, this resulted in a Stoke freekick for a push, and the action switched to the other end. Gudjonsson picked up the ball near halfway and went on a run leaving defenders chasing in his wake. He ran into the box, and put in a low cross/shot which just eluded Goodfellow as he arrived in the six yard box.

Stoke looked to be cruising to victory, but in time honoured tradition they had to make us sweat at the end. A Bradford corner appeared to be cleared, but a looped hopeful ball back in from the edge of the box fell kindly to an unmarked Gray, who had time to swivel and fire into the corner from about 7 yards leaving Cutler no chance. With 5 minutes stoppage time being shown we thought it might have been a desperate effort to hang on, but Bradford seemed incapable of throwing much more at us, and we hung on to take three welcome points.

Team Marks:

GK Cutler (7) Didn't have a great deal to do, but made one excellent save in a one-on-one incident.

RB Wilson (7) A good effort from the young lad. Got up front on a few good runs.

LB Clarke (7) Reasonable enough, but he tends to wander away from his man at times leaving them too much space to cross.

CB Shtaniuk (8) Very good display from “Shtanner”. A rock at the back winning everything. Would have got a higher mark, but let down by rash tackle and booking.(STARMAN)

CB Marteinsson (7) Fitted in well alongside Shtaniuk, and won most duelsl. Nice to pop up with a goal too!

RM Henry (7) Showed his versatility by playing on the right. Didn't look out of place and was involved with some of our decent moves. Looked equally comfortable when he dropped to right back.

CM O’Connor (7) Captain for the day, he put in his usual tigerish efforts.

CM Gunnarsson (7) Nice to see him back in this position. Perhaps not completely 100% fit but getting there. Fine last ditch tackle to save certain goal chance. Some nice little "charges" forward too. Added a bit more creativity in midfield.

LM Commons (7) Another hard working display from Commons. He had a hand in both goals, and when he ran at Bradford they looked worried.

CF Iwelumo (6) Shaved his head, and played better for it! Huffed and puffed up front, but didn't look entirely fit. Chased the hopeful balls all day with Cooke, but didn't receive the kind of service he likes - crosses into the box.

CF Cooke (8) A very hardworking display, even when he looked knackered at the end. He willingness to chase every lost cause paid off with the early goal. Should have had at least another one though, so loses the Star Man award to Shtanner! I'm sure Mr Cotterill will be chuffed with his work rate.

SUBS

Gudjonsson (7) Livened up a tiring Stoke when he came on, and showed one piece of individual magic. Added a few ideas on the creative front, and reduced the pressure on an increasingly pressurised defence!

Goodfellow (7) His pace gave the Bradford defence something to think about. Nearly on the end of a Bjarni cross. Lively.

Conclusion

So a deserved three points, but at times we made hard work of collecting them off a Bradford side who look like they will struggle this season. It was disappointing to concede a sloppy late goal, and to pick up some bookings. I'm sure Mr Cotterill will have a few choice words to say to the lads about that! However, in fairness it was not Cotterill's ideal line-up, and we were without Handyside, so we can be pleased with 2 goals and a win. Once again the young lads acquitted themselves well, and it was good to see Gunnarsson back in midfield, and Cooke getting a reward for his hard work. Also Gudjonsson learnt that he doesn't have a guaranteed place in the starting eleven, and he looked better for it when he came on. Both sides were guilty of poor finishing at times, and charity had a hand in the Stoke goals. That said I think we certainly were the better team for most of the game, and deserved the goals for our efforts. That was also the opinion of the Bradford lads we travelled back to Leeds with. The display was good enough for Paddy and I to fork out some money for Preston North End tickets!

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