The Voice - Match preview #42: Swindon Town vs Bradford City Saturday 12th April 2025 12:30pm

I was one of them. Hasn't bitten me on the arse, we're still going up.

 

Haha yeah.. Parker still bottled it, Deadwood should be a 1.. really hope we discipline him

 

I hope you’re right

 

Thats optimistic. I can’t see us winning any of the next 3 and beating Fleetwood won’t be enough.
We really don’t want to be playing any of Salford/Grimsby/Colchester/Chesterfield in the playoffs as the away leg will be first we’ll already be out of the tie.
I’ve not calmed down from yesterday yet, if any team can make something harder than necessary, it’s Bradford City. We are perennial failures. I just hope there’s enough left in the locker for these last 4 games.

 

Well that's our nemesis not playing against us then, that has to be a positive.

 

The referee , by doing nothing , encouraged it.

Smith deliberately with extreme force barged into the back of Shep whilst running back .

Smith “ offering Shep outside” oh I saw it and I know exactly what pointing to someone then pointing to my chest then pointing to the tunnel, means . There was a 5 second vid clip during the game .

Smith and his cohorts goading by “ threatening” Shep whilst prone on the floor.

Unprofessional pillock and a fine lesson to his younger team mates. He needs reporting to the EFL!

He wasn’t the only one goading…..I’ve a “feeling” ( no evidence) that the young kid had been goading Smallwood , otherwise why the follow through fully deserving a red. I don’t understand that at all but the “ Red mist” appeared for sure?

 

Sorry Bronco but he will be available against us. Donny have that extra game remember, so his 3 match ban will be complete by the time they play us

 

Meh!

 

He will be available for our game mate as Donny have 3 games to play before us.

 

Baldwin has stepped into midfield twice since Feb if my memory is working to sit in front of the back three.

 

Agree with all of that other than the Smallwood comment. I don't think it was a case of the red mist-I just think it was a case of him flying in and getting it all wrong. He's done that a few times and I've winced, but this time his luck probably ran out.

 

I clearly saw the Smith gesture to Shepherd too whilst watching. He was clearly trying to get Shepherd sent off by inviting a response.

 

Absolutely , I thought it was me as no one else mentioned it. He knew exactly what he was doing .

 

Yet when I posted a similar comment with regards the Swindon player this was your reply "Ffs c'mon now" https://bantamtalk.com/index.php?threads/42-swindon-town-vs-bradford-city-saturday-12th-april-2025-12-30pm.8970/page-28#post-970219 .

 

Well, almost 24 hours later, I still haven't got over what happened yesterday, which is unlike me. Completely knocked the stuffing out of me.

I hope GA can quickly get this out of his system and in turn make sure the players do as soon as possible in the morning.

He will also have to make probably his most important decision of the season in selecting Smallwood's replacement for next 3 games. So much will now rely on this decision.

This next 3 weeks presents our best chance in ages for escaping this horrible league, we cannot blow this chance. Still in our own hands.

Personally, I reckon defeat against Notts Co, draw at Chesterfield and win our last 2 games. Would that be enough, not sure. I think Walsall will beat Harrogate next up and probably win their 2 games against Newport and Accrington after that to get them over the line

 

Thinking of Smallwoods replacement
I think Holloway could do the job, tackles and can see and play a good pass, is mobile too.
But then who plays right wingback

time for GA to prove himself

edit
Sorry Halliday

 

Who's Holloway ? Halliday?

 

My reply was with regards your last comment "Definitley not a leader.get rid" you and I both know that will not happen unless Smallwood gets a better offer elsewhere, he's first name on Alexander's team sheet.

 

If any of our players did what Smith did we'd be loving it. Smith and a lot of the Swindon players used their experience to wind out players up and it succeeded as our players lost their head. I don't think anyone was complaining when Kavanagh was celebrating in front of their fans. Shepherd gives it out all game and clearly he did something to wind up Smith for him to get his yellow card.
It's not the first time this season Smallwood has gone in like that, it was his challenge like that against Wimbledon that started the confrontation in that match when it was totally needed. Even if someone was winding him up then as captain and an experienced players he is stupid for doing it especially so early in the game. Tackles like that for me are a bit cowardly as all the risk of an injury is on the other player and there's no need to go in like that.
Early on in the season there was a period where we lost discipline away from home picking up a lot of needless yellow cards then we had the 2 games where Byrne and Pattison got sent off, yesterday was reminding me a lot of that and if we get known to be a team that gets wound up easily then everyone will do it.

 

Presume you mean Halliday but don't see the benefit in doing that and weakening us in 2 postions.