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Cheltenham 4, Bradford City 5 22nd August 2009

Gareth Evans is an absolute gem and if Simon Parker doesn't give him a mark of 10 or at the very least 9 in tomorrow T&A I'd be very surprised. It was very warm at Cheltenham yesterday and he worked his socks off and scored a great individual goal and from a great run down the left he got to the byline to set up City's first. Again James Hanson won virtually every header and it was great to see him nod in City's third goal from a corner. How often do we score from a corner? Not very often. In the second half a beautifully weighted free kick from Ramsden on to the head of James Hanson who directed the ball to Steve Williams to score City's fourth. We got a bit of luck at last with the fifth but credit should go to Colbeck for his persistence in winning the free kick which the Cheltenham defender needlessly gave away. At 5-3 Evans could have scored again and Colbeck also had a great chance which sadly he tried to control first instead of just taking a first time shot. That miss was costly as the Cheltenham keeper booted the ball upfield and they scored their fourth for a nervy end to the game.

As I've mentioned before, the 3 goals conceded in the first half were poor ones (as was the 4th late in the 2nd half) and I felt Eastwood could have done better with the first two. In the build up to the third Ramsden was blatantly pushed out of the way, but the referee who was consistent as he didn't give any free kicks for any sort of contact in the penalty area.

Playing Bullock just in front of the centre halves didn't work too well and if Bateson hadn't been suspended I'm sure Stuart would have gone with the same back five that played at Forest. If Ramsden had been in the middle, I doubt if we'd have conceded 4 goals.

After the Lincoln game I wrote about being patient and keeping the faith. This young(ish) side is still getting to know each other and James O'Brien came in for his first start and though he tired towards the end, he looks a very capable young player who is keen to impress and extend his contract. Full credit to Stuart for playing this team, yes the defence needs more work and as I've said I think the keeper needs a rest. I'm sure Thorne Brandon (who'd been ill in midweek apparently) and especially Michael Boulding would have been disappointed not to play yesterday, but they would not have got through the work that the younger lads did.

Cheltenham are a tough uncompromising team who use long balls and long throws which did unsettle our defence and led to every one of their 4 goals. he referee was weak and let a lot of things go, though they did lose three players to injury before half time but it was nothing malicious from the City players. We won't face teams like Cheltenham every week and getting three points and scoring 5 goals down there will do wonders for the confidence of the players.

It was a great game to assist Derm on the commentary for Radio L**ds and if you were listening I hope that came across.

One final thing to point out. Julian Rhodes and his father were at the game yesterday along with Mark Lawn and David Baldwin. Now there might not be anything in this but a chance to see ity away at Cheltenham, but both Derm and me had the same gut feeling that if the game had gone against City perhaps it might have been Stuart's last game? I'll try and speak to Julian this week just to see if our feelings were close to the mark.

Bizarrely after the game I was asked to interview Stuart for the TV, though it wasn't used for the highlights show last night. Stuart said he thought this was the cheapest City team put ever out by a City manager and he may well be right. But could this have been a indirect dig at the directors? They've set the small budget, presumably so Mark Lawn can get back some of his investment so he can put it into the restaurant he is opening in Baildon? L'Amore which was the Queens which is virtually next door to The Junction.

The co-chairmen/directors as well as some fans can't expect these young lads to play well straight away, but it's getting better as each week goes by. Here's hoping they get the rest they need after yesterday and that we'll put Torquay to the sword next Saturday to restore more faith in Stuart for his detractors at VP. Stuart is still under a lot of pressure, I could see it in his eyes yesterday. There are things going on behind the scenes at VP and it's not a happy place, but the three points and five goals yesterday will have helped those who are trying hard to make things work on the pitch.

Mike
 

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