The Voice - Match preview #35: Bradford City vs Leyton Orient Saturday 7th March 2026 3:00pm

Hopefully we’ll move Tilt into the centre, where he’s best anyway, and play Touray at LCB

 

Orient fans. Sorry, reply link didn't work.

 

I can see why the ref gave it, given the modern namby pamby interpretation of legal tackling. But what is ridiculous in this instance is that both players lunged in equally ‘recklessly’.
Baldwin gets there first and clearly wins the ball cleanly, but gets a red because his trailing leg hits the attacker. But that only happens because the attacker has also lunged in, a split second later than Baldwin, and thereby put himself in the position of being kicked by Baldwin’s follow through.
I understand why a Red would be given when a player lunges in on an opponent who is standing upright. But when both players dive in, it’s a 50/50 situation. Baldwin is no more responsible there than the Orient player - arguably less so because he got there first and got the ball ahead of the attackers failed attempt to get it. The attacker’s lunge was actually even more ‘out of control’ than Baldwin’s was, because he got nowhere near the ball.

 

That's how I saw it.

 

As long as I've watched football many strikers have that in their game, were you around in the Bobby Campbell days ?, even today the likes of Erling Haaland can dish it out. You must have seen the likes of Stockley at Port Vale, or Jamie Matt at Walsall, even or our own Andy Cook.

 

Yep.. should have been a yellow at most.

 

He fits right into Alexander thoughts with regards our front man, remember what he said about Kavannagh, I wonder if there is more than a 6 months loan involved and that's why he's been given the front man role, ie if we got promoted we get him on a season long loan and Alexander is giving him as much time as he can playing that role.
Mostvwould agree the kid needs a goal I thought his link up play was good at times, how long did Alexander persevere with Humphrys playing that role before he scored, I believe when Jackson is fit he will drop back into that role because he looks the paciest players we have, I'd like to see them both together but I think that too ambitious for Alexander to contemplate possibly when we've clinched a play off place.

 

He had his best game for us yesterday, creatively speaking.. but the lad just hasn't got a shot in him!

 

They’ve had a good team for a few years. First bad season in a while. I think they’ll just stay up.

 

Totally agree with that summary but unfortunately I dont see any way they will overturn it due to the fact his trailing leg made contact with their player. Sadly its the way the game has gone in the last few years where these decisions are being made by people who just do not understand the game.

 

I’ve only seen the highlights . From the camera angle a fair 50-50 ball. The ref allowed himself to be influenced after being surrounded by Orient players with arms outstretched wide ….. At worst a yellow at best nothing .

 

Come on guys give the kid a break he's 20 with 10 years + ahead of him, where as Mullins has had a good career learning all the time what it takes to score, sometime giving your marker a dig in order to win the challenge. I'm not saying the kid will be an England international but as a few have said it's a big jump from playing U21 football to playing proper men's football.

 

The problem was not the left leg that won the ball.

The problem was the right leg which ended up right in the guy's stomach. That was the dangerous bit.

 

Exactly.

I doubt the ref saw the trailing leg because the guys body was between him and the ref but when you watch it back and see that part, he has no chance.

 

I'd think Alexander will be seriously thinking of starting Humphrys away to Port Vale and giving Bobby a break, but as you say its got to be in his more natural position.

 

It was a great turn and quality through ball but Sarevic still had plenty to do, as we've seen so many times this season when other players (including Sarcevic) have fluffed their lines and stuck it straight at the keeper, great movement and strike to win any game.

 

Bobby got roughed up a bit yesterday and I agree he should be rested on wednesday, he gave his all as usual ...

 

Nice write up on the Bolton v Wycombe game if anyone is interested

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7097178/2026/03/08/bolton-wycombe-comeback-pain/?source=emp_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.RlA.oiX2.8XUvXvaERfku&smid=ta-ios-share

 

That was said many times with regards how Alexander played Humphrys yet he persisted with him, even though Sawn was back on the bench yesterday I dont think Alexander will start him first game back on a ploughed field too bigger risk IMO so will he stick or twist with regards Mullin or Wheatley, again a pitch like Port Vales would young fitter legs perform better than a player in his 30s ?.

 

We had a corner at Stockport under Mark Hughes and the ball ended up back to our 'keeper without a Stockport player touching it - now that's what I call bad!!!