A template for what Bradford City should always be

Yesterday at 04:05 AM

By Jason McKeown

If only it could always be like this. For how bleak the troubles at Bradford City have felt this week, for how much trepidation owner Stefan Rupp must surely have experienced flying over to spend Boxing Day in the presence of his irate public, the troubles all got to put to one side for 90 minutes of joyous excitement, as an rambunctious football match broke out, lit up by thrilling goals, exceptional individual performances, played out in front of a stirring Valley Parade atmosphere.

This is why we love football. And this is why we love Bradford City.

It was just a privilege to be here for this brilliant encounter. A reminder – and my goodness how it was needed – of why we care as much as we do, what Bradford City really can be, and why the arguments over the future of this football club matter so much. Whatever your views on Rupp, Ryan Sparks, Graham Alexander, £1.50 service charges, B block displacements, and – yes – open letters, here was a communal coming together of the football club, behaving in the way we can surely all agree we want it to.

It became a game and an occasion to stir the claret and amber soul. And sure, when the dust settles and we eventually grow weary of repeatedly watching replays of THAT Cook goal, all of the problems of before still need addressing and debating. But the lifting of the spirits and shared celebrations of glee, experienced in this hard fought win, brought us all back onto the same page, even if only for a fleeting moment. And maybe that can count for something.

You’d like to think so, because victory here over a second place Port Vale side offers reasons for optimism in the club’s powers of recovery from the darkness of recent times. After a first half of the season where even the better moments have left lingering suspicions of higher gears still to find, there’s a good case to make that this was City’s best performance of the season. Where to a man, every player stood tall.

And yes – there are lots of holes still we can pick at and it was from a flawless display. But when you’re biggest post-match gripe is that the guy who’s been out injured for four months and only just returned is yet to fully convince, things certainly seem to be in a much better place than they appeared to be at Meadow Lane last Saturday.

For a start, they’ve just beaten a Port Vale side who boast the best away record in League Two. Before this, the Valiants had only lost twice on their League Two travels. It’s true they’re not firing on all cylinders right now – winless in the league since November 16. But with good money spent in the summer and a management team held with great affection in these parts, this was a notable victory.

One of the reasons why it can’t always be like this it that – as long as City languish in League Two – the Bantams rarely get to play the role of underdog in the way they could get away with here. Expectations were lower, respect for the opposition higher, and that created an environment where hard work and off the ball organisation earned greater crowd recognition. Port Vale came to play instead of setting up in a low block, and the obvious challenge facing City manufactured defiance on the pitch and in the stands.

The team stood tall and we stood with them. Tackles cheered. Clearances acclaimed. What the home side lacked in possession, they made up for with heart. And really, you couldn’t ask for more.

Scoring a wonder goal inside three minutes is also a good way of getting your public onside. Nothing was on when Brad Halliday delivered a throw in on the half way line that saw Andy Cook get ahead of Tom Sang. City’s top scorer had his back to goal as he took a touch to bring the ball down. As it bounced on the turf, he turned and hit the ball on the half volley just before Jesse Debrah went into challenge. Cook didn’t even look where he was aiming. But of course, he knows where the goal is. The ball went up, over the stranded Connor Ripley’s head, before dipping under the crossbar and flying into the back of the net.

Sensational. Was this the best goal Cook has ever scored for Bradford City? It’s got to be right up there. Depends what you value you most in your wonder goals, I guess. There are fair arguments to make that his slalom run past several opponents and finish from tight angle goals away to Mansfield and Gillingham in 2022/23 were technically better. Then again, how can you argue this long range stunner wasn’t also technically incredible? I’m probably leaning towards this Boxing Day belter myself as his very best, especially as it was scored at Valley Parade. Either way, this is a brilliant addition to the Cook highlights reel that we’ll one day watch in tears when he finally leaves the club.

Scoring early and scoring so thrillingly helped to shift the mood music. City had something to build on and something to defend. And as Port Vale recovered from their early daze, a back and forth game of football broke out. Despite the brutal way it had been destroyed in Nottingham at the weekend, Graham Alexander kept faith with the 3-4-3, with a couple of defensive tweaks. And given Vale took 26 minutes even to register a shot on goal, it was working well.

Those tweaks included a return of Halliday for Jay Benn at right back. There’s so much to love about Benn, but his Football League inexperience has been catching up with him of late, with opposition sides targeting him too. Halliday’s had a weird season but returned with aplomb, delivering without doubt his best performance of the campaign to neuter the left hand side of Vale’s attack, whilst also contributing effectively when City went forward. Good to see you back to your best, Brad.

Back too was Ciaran Kelly. A first league start since September, after a lengthy injury lay off. Kelly’s spent the last few weeks fit again but benched, with Jack Shepherd seemingly nailing down the left sided centre back slot. But Shepherd has also slightly dipped, and the beauty of finally having strength in depth is that you can create higher standards by displacing those who drop below them.

I think we’ve all slightly written off Kelly, but he came back really well here and reminded us what a good defender he can be. Shepherd did get to come on later for a presumably injured Paul Huntington, early in the second half. By the time he was introduced, Shepherd’s goal of the season award was no longer in the bag.

Leading so early can be tricky and, as the first half wore on, Port Vale began to seize on some City hesitancy over whether to attack in numbers or stay back. They showed what they are about, finally getting some joy playing inside the wing backs. But it was a good defensive rearguard from the home side. And with a high City press against Vale’s play-it-out-from-the-back principles, chances to go 2-0 up were there. The Kop sang and the minutes flew by surprisingly fast. Many home games have been dull this season. This wasn’t one of them.

After the half time restart, Vale definitely upped their game. Within five minutes, they were level and as 1,300 visiting fans finally found their voice, you feared a City collapse.

The equaliser had a bit of everything. It began with the blunt directness of a difficult to defend long throw in from Debrah. Lewis Richards was able to head it away, but the loose ball was chipped back into the crowded penalty area. Jayden Stockley then produced the weirdest of assists, trying to control the ball and falling over, but his touch somehow teed up the ball for Antowine Hackford. The 20-year-old Sheffield United loanee produced a wonderful volley that arrowed into the top corner past Sam Walker. Not quite as good a goal as Cook’s, but not exactly far off.

And from there Vale continued to press, City had to dig deep, but the gaps the visitors left by committing players forward offered hope on the counter attack. It really was edge of your seat stuff, as play switched from end to end, and chances came and went. The next goal felt crucial, and it seemed more likely that Vale would be the team to get it.

But then City won a free kick, Shepherd came on for Huntington, and Richie Smallwood’s cross delivery was met by Mr Inevitable, Andy Cook, to head home for 2-1 to City. It was a great header, with power and accuracy that saw the ball bounce beyond the despairing dive of Ripley. Important side note – it looked offside. In a week where talk has surfaced of introducing VAR to the EFL, not sure this goal would have counted.

But it did count, and it’s now 85 goals for Cook in a City shirt. Two short of Dean Windass. It’s 15 goals for the season already. That’s just one fewer than how many he’d netted at this stage of his mammoth 31-goal 2022/23 campaign.

We’d be absolutely utterly lost without Cook’s incredible contributions. Probably languishing in non-league. Maybe worse and financial oblivion. In some of the club’s darkest on the field times, Cook is keeping the light on. A beacon of hope when things have felt so hopeless. And as much as we should rightly fear the day when Cook is no longer able to be the Bradford City saviour, we should smile and take comfort right now. Because Andy Cook is still contracted to be a Bantam for another 18 months. The conclusion of his story is yet to be written.

We will have to one day stop relying on Cook, but that’s not today or anytime soon. So rely on him we will. And we love him for it.

There were still 31 minutes to play after Cook’s second goal, but rather than grimly hang on it was a period where City were at their strongest. The backline continued to defend well, with Aden Baldwin again impressing. Sam Walker produced some brilliant saves, and stood up admirably to a series of crosses from corners, from long throw ins and from open play, where Vale shirts swarmed around him in an attempt to force a mistake. Lewis Richards continued his fantastic recent form. Even with the very welcome sight of Tyreik Wright fit enough to be on the bench, the left wing back slot is completely sewn up right now.

Smallwood and Antoni Sarcevic held things together in midfield. As I said earlier, Sarcevic rightly prompts a post match debate about his value to the team. I wrote in August “hmm” about some of his early season displays. Then, he was operating as a number 10 and slowing down City’s attacking play, before a bad injury struck. Now he’s playing deeper, and in more of the role he performed so well at Stockport.

Sarcevic is interesting to watch for sure, capable of moments of real skill and transitioning the ball up the pitch. I think the general crowd expectations of what he brings does need to slightly reset. He is better than some are giving him credit for. But equally, there also still a few “hmm” moments that make you worry whether he is the right fit. Alex Pattison is finally back on Sunday. I know who I’d be picking to sit next to Smallwood.

With Calum Kavanagh too, not everything went to plan. You can’t knock the young forward’s work rate. His eagerness. But there is still a chuck of confidence missing in his play. Decision-making not quite at the level we know it can be. But when he was taken off for Olly Sanderson, there was a noticeable drop in effectiveness. Until another striker matches Kavanagh’s intensity, he has to stay in the team.

Less issue on the opposite side of the three-man attack. Bobby Pointon was fairly quiet in the first half – that’s happened a few times this season – but was outstanding after the break. So many great touches, surges forward and clever flicks.

We all love Bobby. Of course we do. And yet, you somehow he’s not quite getting the credit he deserves for the quality he is showing. Without necessarily being at the forefront of goal moments, Pointon is growing into a more thoughtful, effective, rounded player. And on this development path, you suspect it will suddenly completely burst into life, and he will find even higher levels that could make him one of the best players in the league. He’s bubbling along really nicely now. Lovely to watch. A player of immense talent, growing and growing with the time on the field he’s getting.

Pointon’s intelligence over the final 20 minutes was vital. Vale huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser, and the game’s knife-edge feel meant that even with five minutes to go you feared not just a 2-2 outcome but a home defeat. But as the clock ticked and the pumping of high balls into the box was met with City defiance, the composure and game management of the Bantams in the final stages was heartening.

This was a really tough test. On paper at least, the most difficult opponents City have faced at Valley Parade so far this season, but they stood up to it very well.

Indeed, the Vale frustration boiled over in stoppage time when a corner in the box was cleared and as Sarcevic charged towards the loose ball, he was taken out by Tom Sang. A red card ensued, and the final couple of minutes of stoppage time were that tiny bit easier to navigate.

And as Sang departed to a flurry of sarcastic waves, and as three sides of Valley Parade bellowed out “City ’til I die”, and as the pleas for the referee to blow for full time increased in volume, and as the cheers rang out when he finally did, the hairs stood up on the back of your neck, the goosebumps were palpable, the delight genuine. This felt like a meaningful victory. One that restores some faith in City’s promotion hopes, in what is shaping up to be an extremely tight division. One that reaffirms why we bother in the first place.

As the debates have raged about the leadership and competency of this football club, many supporters have stopped coming to games and have been urging the rest of us to do the same. Send a message and all that. I’ve got sympathy for this view, but it’s not something I see myself ever subscribing to. Because as much as I share the huge misgivings felt about the direction of the club these last few years, and as much as change at the top sounds appealing, supporting Bradford City is a way of life that I couldn’t give up.

Days like this are why. Because all that mattered was that Cook scored a screamer. That every player put in a mammoth shift. That the manager got his tactics right. That the atmosphere section produced an atmosphere. And that City scored two goals to Port Vale’s one.

And maybe it papers over the cracks. Maybe it’s a false dawn to add to all the others. Maybe and I and others are guilty of being easily distracted by these rare good moments, in doing so letting those who’ve overseen years of mediocrity off the hook. But when it all clicks into gear on days like this, it doesn’t matter who is the chairman and who is the CEO. Who owns the stadium and who owns the training ground. And of course, as soon as the final whistle blows, those issues absolutely matter again. But football is about escapism, and when it worked here that’s exactly what we got to do.

Stefan Rupp has had plenty of messages from supporters this week and he certainly doesn’t need one from me. But if you’re listening, Stefan – and you still want to be the long-term owner of this football club – then please take the right lessons from witnessing this memorable Boxing Day victory first hand.

This is why Bradford City are such a special football club. This is what we can be. Your job is to invest time and money in giving it greater competency and skill. Because it really should always be like this.