The Voice - Match preview Most liked posts in thread: Barrow vs Bradford City Tuesday 23 April 2024 7.45pm (with exciting New Poll)

Unlike you to join the conspiricy game Jon.

I was there and had a longish chat with Pete Wild, total class. Consider these points.
1. The pitch was not waterlogged as has been suggested. I walked on it when I arrived at 1.20 p.m and again after the postponement No issues at all.
2. The suggestion GA wanted the game off is incorrect according to Wild. His comment was the Ref tried to pin it on GA. Why?, we've won the last three league games and were looking at only one change from Wednesday, discounting Walker for Doyle and facing a side on a poor run.
3. Comments and reporting by Simon Parker are correct, both sides wanted to play and Wild did suggest we could train in one half of the pitch or even play a friendly but that WAS declined on the basis the EFL might have something to say about clubs taking the ****.
4. Barrow did a full warm up and then played an inter squad game on the pitch.
5. As to Steve C comments about a local Ref inspecting, I don't know but the match Ref was local to Barrow overnight and could have looked yesterday or at worst first thing today but didn't, intead it appears from another Barrow official that it was him who wanted the game off not the Clubs. He even waved away the groundsman with no discussion about remedial work.
6. Barrow's gk told me the area of concern was much worse for the last game when the Ref made no comment.

Sad day, lovely weather for a change and chance of a win spoiled by an idiot. I'm Glad Barrow are reporting him, he deserves it.

 

Looking forward to this tomorrow, I’m in the directors box on a invite. Then after, a night out in Ulverstone with friends who live there. So I’m hoping for a win, to make it a great weekend.

 

This fixture was definitely cursed, after 2 postponements, 1 wasted journey, pointless holidays taken from work, being stuck in traffic for over 4 hours and missing the first 25 mins of the game, ….was it worth it? Damn right!!!! Can’t beat those last minute winners, especially as we have something to play for still

 

Wow! All we could have asked was to take it to the last day and we’ve done it.

Great composure from Smith. For the stick he’s had about finishing give the lad credit, he’s finished that well.

Another one deserving credit for tonight is Smallwood - clear MotM for me.

 

Nothing to do with Barrow, this decision is down to the ref and the ref alone.

 

I feel sorry for any city fan caught up in this utter fiasco. A lot of time and money wasted when it could have been handled way way better.

 

There should be the Wembley carrot in every match at the moment..

 

They'll all be high-sixing in there if Barrow score

 

Well it keeps some interest till the last game, which is a bonus. I still don't see it happening - too many dependencies elsewhere, and goal difference not in our favour either. I can't see Crawley doing anything other than battering Grimsby.

Ultimately what's going to cost us, despite being poor all season, is losing at home to FGR. That one result is the killer one.

 

Give over. No reason at all to call this game off!

 

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the situation if the area concernd was unplayable with an hour to go it was unplayable much earlier or even the day before so the decision should have taken place then saving people time and money

 

Well done lads.

Tremendous battling performances in the last 3 games. GA has somehow managed to instill some fight in these players and has to be applauded, so does Smallwood to be fair.

What the hell happened in March for them to perform so poorly and no fight though.

Let's see a rocking VP on Saturday to help the players do our bit against Newport.

 

I've given Smallwood stick, but if you keep him off Set pieces, put a quality midfielder who can create next to him, and the energy and quality of Pointon too, then Smallwood is fine at just being that deep lying holding midfielder. What he isn't, is a playmaker.

 

One last game against a team on terrible form.

We have to get at these.

Pointon, Cook, Kavanagh up front as usual, get Smith on for the final 15 if we still need a goal.

Drop Gilly for Walker.

 

Nothing to gain from a draw.

Much better to try and win even if it means we lose. If we draw we stay 7 points behind them which is too much of a gap. 7 points or 10 points doesn't make any difference but if we can get a win then its back to 4 and one further loss and just a single point.

We just need to go for the win. Not recklessly but let's go for it. Nothing to lose but loads to gain.

 

Absolutely disgraceful from the officials. It’s 2 and a half hours drive to Barrow. Who’s going to want to do that on a Tuesday night?

It’s a beautiful February day. How on earth can the pitch be unplayable?

 

They didnt make the call......thats basic knowledge.

and they are putting in a complaint.

 

That is not the case. The first GA knew of it was when the team coach arrived at the ground and he was called to the pitch by the match officials. This has been stated in various news articles over the weekend.

 

Ok now my fellow Bantams let us have 100 % positivity today. The vibes will reach the lads It is still a long shot but so was our charge into the playoffs in 1996. We then lost at home to Blackpool in the first leg 0-2. Everyone thought it was over including the Blackpool players and fans, and Kami used it to inspire the players. Still one of the best football nights for me was stood on that crumbling stand and watching our players do us proud. We have form for this type of dash into the playoffs. Win tonight and all bets are off.

 

You can throw the form book out of the window tonight.
It's an obvious statement but on the night the team who wants it more will take the spoils.
Will Lady Luck eventually shine on the Bantams I'd like to think so.
Let's take it to the wire.