The Voice - Match preview #43: Barnsley vs Bradford City Saturday 18th April 2026 12:30pm

No problem with the second half once they'd scored. Barnsley have good players and Clearly is one of the best in the league and did us again to create a great chance. That will happen.

But we were terrible for up to their goal and our passing was terrible - i.e. Humphreys overshooting by about 10 yds when Swan would have been through. They looked understandably nervous. But so do Bolton and the others chasing.

Good point in the end. We'd have settled for that at the start of the game.

 

Going to be tricky now with two tough home games against Plymouth and Bolton and there will be nothing for us at Exeter.

 

I said the other day, let’s enjoy the ride
Unfortunately it’s bloody hard to do when it keeps making you feel sick
Why oh why can City never dominate games and cruise to victories
It’s always been the same in my 50+yearyou would have thought I would have learnt by now

 

Not for me - he’s actually too valuable option from the bench as he shown today and at Wycombe. He’s nowhere near a starter.

 

Agree. But don't think he can do 90 mins. Same problem with Jackson who looks 'ring rusty'.

Having them two, Wright, Sarc and Pointon fully fit for the play-offs now has to be the priority - considering we're nearly there.

 

Swan was very poor but GA is burning through his options at striker/forward/running around

Wheatley/Mullin/Swan and Jackson not looking sharp enough
He will be putting the Hump back in the middle and the goals will dry up

 

City snatched a draw from the Jaws of victory

 

Yes. He totally turned the game back in our favour. You suddenly realised why Fergie paid that money for him.

 

Relying on other teams dropping points now imo. Not feeling too optimistic about our next 2 and we are in desperate need of the chasing pack dropping points. Nightmare scenario would be going into the Exeter game needing a win.

 

That was the first home defeat in 8 games since the Cardiff loss on 17th Jan. I know today was poor but let’s not go overboard.

 

So we are settling for draws against mid table teams now are we???

 

Plus, down to 10 men for 90 plus minutes.

 

Mental really that we could be looking at back to back promotions and I haven’t been convinced by us either time. It feels like we drag ourselves over the line rather than actually go and dominate a full league campaign.

 

Defence is a worry for me. I now wince every time there's a long throw or even a corner.

Unsure of the solution, but I think with Baldwin / Pennington we're too lightweight, i.e. perhaps nove Tilt to centre with Baldwin on the right and perhaps Touray on the left. I suspect Ashby could play left midfield. But having said that Touray isn't that physical either. Maybe Wright need to come in and play the central role.

 

Certainly his attempt for the second was poor the only danger would come from his near post and where was he when the ball went in ?.

 

One of the things that really gets to me is our quality of balls into the box from open play and set pieces. We go both wing backs away continually with some great crossfield passes only for crosses being useless. And corners and other set piece plays are generally poor

 

Jackson still looked injured today so could do with more rest.

Goals win games and we only scored 1 today Barnsley helped with a 2nd but if Bolton can coincide 3 and come back, do we truly believe we could do the same with the players and tactics we have.


We might make the playoffs which will earn a bit of cash

Hopefully Sharpe and co instead of every transfer window we wait till the end we can be proactive and sign the 4ight people , Graham will focus attention on tactics and maybe learn from the dummies guide to playing away from home! to try and win a few.

 

This is conundrum isn’t it? As long as Wright and Pointon are out, hard to see how anyone but Humphrys can start on the left. Was this part of the problem of today’s horror show at the back, that Humphrys is that different type of player at the left forward position, versus the more ‘work-like’ option you get from Bobby and Tyriek?

Either way, Humphrys is the nailed on starter on the left right now, with Jackson at CF and Sarce on the right. I’ll pop my tin hat on but if it’s not Jackson at CF, I’d play Mullin for the last 3 games. Powell is too good an option from the bench so wouldn’t start him. Swan, Wheatley not for me - I’d be almost inclined to bring Harry Ibbitson ahead of them!

 

That doesn’t hurt as we were awful. It’s hardly as if we deserved to win.