Bradford City 1Pointon 76 (pen)Burton Albion 2Beesley 41, Webster 45+1
Written by Jason McKeown (images by John Dewhirst)
Whatever the prize is that Bradford City have been holding in their hands since the start of the season, they seem to be losing their grip. Defeat here dents the vibes and adds to the recent levelling off in results. It means they are now without a victory in five League One matches and have only won one of their last seven overall in league and cup – the solitary success coming against Everton’s kids.
What really worries is how poor they were here for 72 minutes, as they sealed their own fate – a first home defeat in the season. This loss came in what, on paper, looked their most winnable Valley Parade fixture so far. While big fish have floundered on their visits to these parts, Burton prospered. An ugly team for sure, but worthy winners all the same. You’ve just been Bowyered by the Brewers.
Before we chew over what went wrong, there are two very important points to raise. The first is the sight of the League One table, which shows the Bantams sitting proudly in 2nd place. So you know…perspective – it’s still going really well.
The second point is that appearances can be deceptive. Burton might have begun the day languishing 20th in the table, but that’s largely down to having the second-worst home record in League One. Away from home, they now have the third-best record in the division. Albion haven’t lost on the road since August. In recent weeks they have notched up notable wins at Cardiff and Wimbledon, plus credible draws at Huddersfield, Doncaster and Rotherham.
You could see why. Burton were excellent here, especially in a first half that saw them race two goals ahead. Their 3-5-2 formation meant that – just like Lincoln City in the Bantams’ last league game – the visitors had an extra man in the middle and made it matter. The dynamic Charlie Webster was the best player on the pitch by some distance, running the game and ensuring that City’s midfield pair of Max Power and Tommy Leigh were completely overrun.
George Evans and Kgaogelo Chauke were willing runners alongside Webster, with wing backs Jack Amer and Kyran Lofthouse shutting down space for their opposite numbers, and forwards Tyrese Shade and Jake Beesley dragging defenders out of position through clever running. I know we’re all supposed to think Gary Bowyer is a rubbish manager, but it was genuinely impressive how he set his charges up on his old stomping ground.
And for a long time, City had no answers. Their characteristic high pressing attempts proved futile against opponents who quickly launched it long from the back before pressing in packs themselves. City fell into the carefully laid traps. They had plenty of the ball but without the wit to make it hurt. “We didn’t put pressure on them – we only put it on ourselves,” admitted Graham Alexander after.
He’s right, and troublingly that started with the skipper and his latest midfield partner in crime. As City struggled to win possession high up the park, Max Power and Tommy Leigh sat too deep, giving Burton too much space to charge through with menace. And when City did have possession, Power and Leigh’s desire to get the ball saw them drop back to collect it from central defenders. The problem was this left them too far away from the front three of Calum Kavanagh, the returning Bobby Pointon and Stephen Humphrys.
Cue endless City passing in the wrong areas of the pitch, inviting the risk of being pressed and allowing Burton to win turnovers. At other times, the Bantams sent ambitious long balls forward that the front three stood little chance of winning or holding up. We anticipated a cagey game – but the way City over-passed the ball in the wrong areas turned it into a very different contest.
During the first half, the City players with the highest number of touches were Ciaran Kelly (43) Matt Pennington (40), Max Power (39) and Leigh (33). Forward players are always going to have lower levels of possession, but Kavanagh (13 touches), Pointon (14) and Humphrys (15) were especially starved of the ball. Nothing was sticking, allowing Burton to routinely mop up and start another attack.
The only first half City chances of note came when Leigh got slightly higher up the pitch and executed the tried and tested diagonal to Josh Neufville that allowed the swashbuckling wing-back to get in behind and run at goal. They were rare moments of home joy.
Instead, Burton attacked with confidence and swagger. Gary Bowyer’s side were front-footed and cute. They took the lead just before half time after a Webster free kick from out wide led to defender Alex Hartridge poking a shot at goal that Sam Walker palmed away. The loose ball was pounced on by Toby Siddick, and his shot was magnificently blocked on the line by Joe Wright. But it was all in vain when Beesley headed home the rebound.
As City stumbled their way to the break, they acquired more damage. The home side were on the attack but lost possession, leading to a speedy Burton counter attack. Udoka Godin-Malife charged down the middle and played it to Lofthouse, who sent over a low cross that Webster ran onto and fired home. The half time whistle was met with the very unusual sound of home boos. Harsh, but maybe it was shock. You have to go all the way back to March 2024 for the last time City trailed at home at the break.
Alexander reacted to the situation by bringing on Andy Cook for the ineffective Kavanagh, and City initially went 3-4-1-2. With Power and Leigh sorting themselves out to an extent, there was some level of improvement. But with Burton pressing all but City’s defenders, so much of the possession the home side did have was wasteful. I like Kelly, but he does not possess Aden Baldwin, Tom McIntrye or Curtis Tilt-level ability on the ball. City suffered from how often the Irish defender was one of a handful of home players granted space to start attacks. It’s just not his game.
Equally when City did get the ball in the final third, the tight space they were operating in meant there was a heavy reliance on clever decision-making – something the players lacked on the day. There’s some lovely aspects to Humphrys’ play, but he struggles to provide a true end product and so often loses the ball. Maybe it’s time for Alexander to swallow his pride and try Humphrys in a wide forward position.
Meanwhile Pointon looked rusty after his lay off. Neufville isn’t hitting the same heights. And Ibou Touray was ever so slightly below his usual high standards. It was frustrating to watch City toil but lack the guile to create meaningful chances. Tyreik Wright and Jenson Metcalfe came on for the injured Touray and Leigh respectively, which did help. But despite having 70% of the ball in the period between half time and the 72nd minute, City couldn’t muster a shot on target.
Still, a true shift in momentum did occur at that point. A fourth sub – Alex Pattison – was introduced for Joe Wright. City went 4-3-3 and immediately looked better for it. Humphrys and Pointon flanked Cook and were more effective, whilst Cook himself was a pest and played well. The greater risk taken in having one fewer centre defender came with the reward of the extra body in midfield that curbed visitor middle-of-the-park-supremacy. The pressure finally began to ramp up.
It partially paid off. Metcalfe received the ball deep and directed a high ball that would send Humphrys clean through on goal. Hartridge tried to cut it out but failed, and in desperation he lunged for the ball and sent Humprhys crashing to the floor inside the box. A penalty for City. A yellow card, rather than red, for Hartidge – who was ruled to not be deliberate in his foul. Hmmm… Humphrys placed the ball on the spot – only for Pointon to grab it. After a lively discussion, Alexander ruled Pointon should take the penalty. Humphrys accepted it well, and under some pressure Pointon converted to reduce the arrears.
What followed was a bombardment of Burton’s box. Time and time again City got forward and attempted to fashion a chance. They registered six shots on goal and racked up four corners over that final period, not to mention winning several free kicks in good positions. Burton time-wasted to ridiculous levels and played on referee Craig Hicks’ impotence to stop it. And that allowed them to see out the seven minutes of injury time and claim victory. “I can’t remember our goalkeeper making a save to keep us in it,” Bowyer observed.
Indeed, despite their late onslaught, City got absolutely what they deserved. It was as bad as they have played all season and a worry that certain players are dipping in form. Power’s recent performances are especially a concern given his importance to the team, and there remains a big question mark over who should be his regular partner – especially with opposition teams increasingly deploying the tactic of overloading City’s midfield. The goals are drying up – none from open play in 357 minutes, and just one in the league from a centre forward in the last two months. The injuries are not helping the situation.
Still, with next Saturday’s Plymouth Argyle trip postponed – and just a meaningless final EFL Trophy group game at Doncaster to fret about – there is time to lick wounds and go again. City need to use this pause wisely, because next up in the league is a visit to in-form Bolton, who have now overtaken City in having the best home record in League One after thumping Port Vale 4-0 to climb to third in the table. Bolton are also top of the division’s form table for the last 10 games.
City are sixth in that same form table, which underlines recent results are far from dreadful. And maybe – after a start to the season where they’ve quickly ascended from plucky newly promoted upstarts, to being talked of as automatic promotion material – a reset back to the role of underdogs will suit them. City will certainly welcome the likelihood Bolton won’t try to stifle them in the way Burton and Lincoln have in the last two league games. A different challenge, and one that suits their approach better.
But if they’re going to keep pace with the teams at the top of the division over the months ahead, they will need to work out a way to beat teams who play a low block, flood the midfield and don’t allow themselves to be pressed. Succeed at that, and there’s no reason for this slight tail off in results to become a long-term pattern. Their experience of overcoming defensive-minded sides in League Two last season should serve them well. And that’s one of many reasons why there is no need for doom and gloom to set in over City’s season.
They might be losing some of their grip of late, but whatever the prize is that they’re holding onto – it’s still in their hands.
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Categories: Match Reviews
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