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

They hadn’t played the second match of the 8-2 aggregate when you said it.

 

What most surprised me about Peterborough today was just how insistent they were on MASSIVE hoofballs from Alex Bass.

Like, yeah, it can sometimes work, but when Tilt had pretty much singlehandedly dealt with their fourth or fifth attempt at a FaSt CoUnTeR (ie, lump up field), I thought they might start playing.

But today wasn't their day, I'm sure they aren't as poor as they looked normally because they'd still be scrapping at the foot of the table if they played like that week in, week out.

 

If you get the chance listen to his pre match interview on BBC Radio Peterborough . He sounds like a reincarnation of Grant . It’s a cult !

 

But he was superb in turning defence into attack in an instance, with at least four superbly pinged longed balls. That gave their dangerous attack no time to settle.

I thought it was deserved. Our defence playing well from an attacking point of view is vital to us winning - as we saw today. Him, Tarore and even Tilt never seemed to give the ball away.

 

Perfect storm for us, which is why I was surprised at the negativity before the game.

They had a very tough match at Mansfield, that I think had tons of extra time on a bog of a pitch. They've already got loads out and have to rely on talented, but naive, kids. Hence their win or lose record (just two draws all season)

And Lees pulled up injured in the warm up. He's as important to them as Smallwood was to us last season.

Also have to praise GA, because he knew that Jackson's pace centrally would be a nightmare for them.

 

Not certain they could. He did make subs. They've a lot of players out (Garbutt etc) and lost Lees, who's their leader, just before kickoff.

In fairness we've beaten a decent side and it's us who've made them look bad today. In fairness we've done that at home, to all the teams 'queing' up behind us. Reading are easily the worst I've seen.

Renewed optimism. That was some bench today.

 

Arguably our best home performance, this century in terms of dominance.

I can't think of any that lasted 90 minutes (but by all means correct me if you can!!)

Colchester last year was good.

Wimbledon in the glory season of 2012/13 was another - but we switched off after an hour.

Gillingham just after the 911 disaster (ours was the first game in the FL) was another back in 2001.

But seriously hard to find a minute 1 to 90+ performance that dominant.

Someone mentioned the 5-0 against Bristol City in the 98/99 Premiership promotion season, i.e. last century!!

 

They are a very good team. Even the verdict on here expected them to win and we made them look silly.

As we have now done, at home, to all the teams just behind us, that we've played.

However, nothing as dominant as this - we haven't done this to anyone (minute 1 to 90) for literally decades

 

I think some underestimate the importance of what Baldwin did today. He basically gave them no time to get comfy in attack, because he kept getting the ball forward with skill time and time again - particularly in the first half.

 

He's vital to them, in the same way Smallwood was to us last season.

It's a young team with Lees and Garbutt been the experienced 'older' heads. Neither were fit.

 

They were the form team of the past three months taking two points per game. We can't keep dismissing teams as poor just because we beat them.

We've been found wanting against the big budget teams, because they've tactically had a plan to combat us and they've got better players and can make that work.

Against the others we are the best of the rest at home at least.

 

As difficult as it has been recently,that was a throwback to September.
An Absolute hammering. Metcalfe was exceptional as they all were.
Hopefully repeatable. Credit to all. Men vs boys.

 

Oh and pleased Khela got warmly applauded off.

 

My view from the back of lower kop at that end was it was a stonewaller. He took the man a split second before the ball. If it had been the other way, we would have been up in arms if not given.

If it had been given and they had scored, I wonder how much that would have changed the match and outcome?

 

Walsall home last season , they didn’t get a sniff all game .

 

Only seen it real time as it wasn't included in the short Sky clip, so only got my initial view to go on. As I said, thought it was risky, but from my angle thought he got it right.
Goals do change games though and had that resulted in one, it could well have knocked the stuffing out of us.

 

Never a pen I was right in front of it. He got all the ball , it was an incredible challenge and I immediately got up to cheer it. The Peterborough players protested out of pure desperation as they were getting battered.

 

Hi Wakefield
Did you miss some text out ?

 

Definitely worth the trip. Thanks.

 

Fully agree with this sentiment. I’m sick of hearing people say we only win because the opposition were poor. It’s tiring.
We beat Cardiff away and instead of fans crediting how good we were, the default was to suggest Cardiff had an off day. Boils my piss.