The Voice - Match preview #30: Bradford City vs Peterborough United Saturday 14th February 2026 3:00pm

We pressed hard and well as has been said but the tactic that caused Posh the most trouble was the long ball.
Not the long ball hoof to a midget or immobile centre forward but into space for runners and out to the wingbacks.
It was exciting to watch and I thought it caused them lots of problems.

 

That is very true, especially in the second half when he was moving the ball from his right to his left, back to his right then running into the box.....after his last few shaky games too.

 

I am a bit baffled by how bad Peterborough were. I don't think their management team have watched the video. Their tactics were the way to lose to City.
Having said that City didn't let them play at all. Nobody had a bad game. I thought Metcalfe played out of his skin.
Only disappointment is that the scoreline didn't reflect the dominance.

 

Grant was another , Williams was the same at Swansea/MkD. It’s really really madness, on the audio commentary , said he changed it a bit at half time, they were getting even more battered ( Looks like they can only play one way?) so he changed it back to get even more battered ?

“At both clubs, Williams assisted Martin in coaching a possession-based style of play.[21] Their MK Dons side set a new British record at the time, scoring after a 56-pass move.[21] ! “

Looks good when it pays off and like today if they get pressed…awful!

 

Totally agree its been a while since we put that sort of dominating performance on for the whole 90+ minutes, listening to Mark Bower on my way home and hearing an ex-footballer/manager take on the game was brilliant, at times when we win we fans can get either OTT with our opinions of the game and vice versa when we lose, Bower gave a really good summary of the game, as both a Bradford City fan, player, and ex-manager.
The West Yorkshire Daily phone in started with someone suggesting were we so dominant because the opposition were dire which I thought was an insult to what we had just seen, we made them dire by the way we set about how we'd control the game and it worked brilliantly, in all honesty can anyone find a negative in today performance apart from the win should have been by a far bigger margin, another team who for some reason believed they could play out from the back from the first minute until the last when it was obvious to those at the game our high press didn't allow that way to play, Wigan must have been really poor for Posh to stick 6 past them, I also thought the playing area stood up well considering the weather we've had recently, Tuesday night should be a great game because Stockport will bring their attacking game I'd expect/hope, a win Tuesday night and were right back in the mix with games in hand over a few clubs around us.

 

Quite the performance that, makes the last six weeks even more baffling.

There is absolutely no reason why we couldn't have played like that against Luton, Lincoln and town etc even with humphrys up front.

Was definitely so tactical switch from Alexander for some reason

 

Reminded me of another youngster who could dominate in midfield but I've forgotten his name ?.

 

Fitness can be a concern but I'm pleased we played today given that performance and the three points. It will give the players a boost for Tuesday.

 

I dont think you can underestimate the difference Sarc makes to this team and the way we play. No excuse for the total no shows at Hudds & Lincoln but we just dont have anyone else who can give us what he can.
Sadly at this stage of his career losing him periodically through injury is inevitable.

 

I've not spoken to anyone who attended todays game who differed from Metcalfe being MOTM, there were a few pushing him for MOTM, what about Clint "Beckenbauer" Tilt winning the ball and playing one twos with his team mates in the final third.
Can Evan's take the Max Power role in midfield and put that kind of performance in Tuesday night.

 

Agree Metcalfe was outstanding today.

Top was really hard to pick a MOTM today but for me it was him.

Also thought it was Bobby’s best game of the season also. It’s a shame he lacks pace.

 

Really enjoyed that today, back to what makes us a good side, relentless pressure, but also helped by a poor side who, for some baffling reason, refused to change approach despite it just not working for them. I anticipated a tough game today but it proved anything but.

I have read a lot about why have we not done this for the last few weeks or even in extreme cases that GA does not know what he is doing anymore but that is just too simplistic for me and hopefully today has calmed some down a little . We have come through a tough section of games against sides in the higher part of the league and have struggled at times. Everyone has periods like this in a season, although it would be something to look at if we made the play offs. Stockport on Tuesday will be another test and after that we hopefully have some 'easier' games, if these are a thing.

As for today great performances all over but in particular Jackson was excellent, Baldwin excellent, Power showed more drive and more leadership (I also don't buy in to the he has been shit for weeks view) and Metcalfe was superb. Bobby looked more like himself and Curtis Tilt somehow looked like a Brazilian fullback at some points (maybe getting slightly carried away here!).

Enjoy Saturday night for the first time in a couple of weeks!

 

It seemed to take Evans a while to get up to the pace today, so hopefully he is at it from start if indeed he is Power's replacement on Tuesday. Shame about Power's silly booking, he was excellent today and will be badly missed on Tuesday.

 

Yes he looked well p1ssed off with his yellow, maybe the plan was to get Posh out of the way and get his 10th yellow against Stockport ?.

 

A bit pedantic but McGoldrick scored an equaliser not a winner, it just felt like it.

 

So thinking about Metcalfe looking like a one season wonder for us, the only other one I can remember having made such an impact in such a short spell would probably be Schwarzer. Enjoy him while we can.

 

That was a complete performance from City, at them from the start should have been 3-0 up by half time. Tremendous attacking football against a team that have been in great form. 10 shots on target plus hitting the post.

 

Brilliant game great to see a performance more like the beginning of the season.

They were horrendously bad at the back like a group of strangers! Should've scored a hatful but a win and a clean sheet is great!

 

Maybe true, but we havent pressed for at least 3 months? Valid point over a time if we WERE the "pep" side.... but we've played every kind of odds and sorts of team and tactic since Burton and always ended up playing like a Phil Parkinson wet dream hoof upur life away team from 15 year ago since mid November.

Suppose it's down to Tues if this was a one off or back to what actually worked

 

Exactly what me and my mate thought. Metcalfe all day long