The Voice - Match preview Bradford City vs Mansfield Town Saturday 4 February 2023 @ 3:00pm

We're in February in Scotland

 

Our issue is simply not being able to scrap out a second half often enough and turn typical league 2 games from a draw to a loss. Today was a case where with some good finishing we could have been 3-0 up at the break, but inevitably that does not transpire. In that situation the promotion winning side 3 out of 4 times scraps enough to keep the lead or sneaks another second half. We are just not doing that with enough regularity in these tight games where we are ahead.

Positives today - Clayton was immense. Bola showed why Hughes brought him in. Walker was really good but blowing out of his arse due to lack of match fitness. Gillead was fantastic - yes he was folks. Just two many folk seeking fitness in today's side and two few changes too late in all probability.

 

Hughes just said the last transfer target won't be happening.

 

He got sent to the stands for gamesmanship!

 

edited

 

What the 24x8 sheet of plywood to nail across our goals second half? EFL wouldn't sanction that eh.

 

It was embarrassing. First time fair enough, have your two minutes of fame, have a bit of a laugh but then a second and a third time was embarrassing. The abuse the club official got walking up the steps by certain fans was appaling.

 

They weren't the same tactics today, I thought you knew your football, we should have had more goals but it was a far better watch today, unfortunately, like both you and myself quoted we needed that 2nd goal.

 

Agree what a good time to bring Sono'o on .

 

For me it wasn't because he brought Walker off (who was blowing out of his arse) but we had no one like Songo'o to help see the game out.

 

Ironically, yes.

Smallwood being out, no Songo'o actually cost us today.

We ran out of midfield oomph, and had no options on the bench.

We fell apart after 70 minutes with 33 year old Clayton tired, Walker tired, East tired, and only Gilliead with a 90 minute engine.

 

How long you got?

 

Thoroughly sick to death of it. Same thing every week over and over, totally had enough of them, that's me done next year. Get too invested, leaves me down all weekend

To end on a positive, if Clayton had been signed in the summer instead of Smallwood, we would be where Leyton Orient are now

 

Maybe as someone suggested bringing the lad Stubbs on with his experience would have been a better option, hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Wasn't the Mansfield player who brought our lad down on the Midland Road side their last man ?.

 

Bit disappointed with that, the recruitment has been a bit hit and miss.

Why did we not bring Derbyshire on? Has he even played any minutes yet?

We could have and should have won that in my opinion. Onto Stevenage and fingers crossed for 3 points!

 

I think there was cover near enough to him but I have seen lesser tackles get a straight red.

 

I thought there was another Mansfield player on the Sunwin side but doubt he have caught Bola, to say someone posted the stats with regards this referee I was expecting cards left right and centre but after that first challenge on Esia near the Sunwin Stand he made it quite obvious he wasn't going to stop the game for what he thought was a fair shoulder to shoulder challenge.

 

,zoom should have passed the bloody ball.

Barring his goal he was utter shite -again.

 

Yet another 2 points dropped.

Inevitable equaliser. Groundhog day.

Dominated the game for 70 mins with some really good positive play, then we suddenly looked tired.

Lack of subs has cost us today and MH should be looking into the mirror as to why he didn't use more subs to put some pressure on them at the back for the last 20 or so. Oliver and Derbyshire should have been given a shot up top.

Yet another Saturday night ruined by lack of imagination by the manager.

Gilliead arguably had his best game for the club. Clayton was also a class above calm and always probing forward passes. Walker was effective in spells.

 

Bradford City are proving quite a draw at the moment

Shame really, as you get three points for a win

Mansfield had to cope with losing 3 starters in the first half yet hung on to grab the equaliser and matched us with attempts and shots on target(Lewis again with some important saves)

Yet another missed chance from this team, no complaints if they cannot make top 7 as it is just not good enough