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Now one look at the fixture tomorrow and we would see a league Two clash between two sides vying to get promotion to League One. Nothing spectacular in that, the game is only worth three points and defeat either way doesn’t signify the end of the road for one of these teams in that aim.
Or does it?
Football has this amazing knack of throwing up a game at the optimum possible time.
An International break so Sky Sports + have the rights to screen it at 3pm (steady Ed), the opportunity for the Bantams to offer a fiver a ticket including the hordes of Colchester fans (1000) who will travel to Valley Parade. A crowd of 22,000 plus in the University of Bradford Stadium AKA Valley Parade, the largest since the stadium was rebuilt, bigger even than our game there in March 2023 when I sat amongst the 20,383 to witness a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Bantams.
Earlier in the season a 99th minute equaliser from Jamie McDonnell gave us a deserved point against Bradford at the JCS.
But tomorrow it will be something special. Bradford have just lost to Gillingham and Tranmere both 1-0 and lost their 10 successive home victories on the trot record. We are unbeaten in 13 games and looking for our 6th successive victory (we last won 10 in a row between December 2005 and February 2006 and we know what happened in May 2006).
But forget about everything prior to this Saturday because it means nothing, we have won nothing yet. The important thing that matters is that we have 9 cup finals to play and only then can we look at the league table for the final reckoning.
Saturday 22 March 3pm Bradford Away – Sky Sports+ Friday 28 March 7:45pm Grimsby Home - Sky Sports+ Tuesday 1 April 7:45pm Gillingham Away - Sky Sports+ Saturday 5 April 3pm Notts Co Home Saturday 12 April 3pm Newport Away Friday 18 April 3pm Crewe Home – Sky Sports+ Monday 21 April 3pm Doncaster Away – Sky Sports+ Saturday 26 April 3pm Salford Away Saturday 3 May 3pm Barrow Home
They can be the most important games since 2006 and DC and NC know that we are on the margins of achieving something special this season but it will not be defined by Valley Parade (although a victory will continue to shorten our promotion odds at the bookies).
Now DC is right to play down the game and to heap praise on the Bantams (but not too much). A big crowd can be intimidating for the Away contingent, but equally it can become a pressure cooker for the Home team. For long periods of that game in 2023 the stadium fell silent as Colchester threatened the Bantams goal and the tension was palpable. As I wrote earlier big crowds can also be a hindrance to the home side.
When we won at Sheffield Wednesday some years ago, the crowd became hostile to their home side as we demolished them 3-0.
One man who must stand strong tomorrow is the referee Mr Will Finnie from Luton. No homers please.
League Two table top seven: Walsall 37 69 Bradford 36 66 Wimbledon 37 63 Doncaster Rovers 37 63 Notts Co 37 61 PV 36 61 COL U 37 58
The truth is that over the past three months we have crept under the radar and have not only closed the gap on those above us, but also have indicated that we have the right to be there amongst them.
Psychologically three points at Valley Parade gives us 61 points and places further pressure on those in the automatic positions. Graham Alexander knows all about pressure, he has seen it all in the game but so have the Cowleys. George Lapslie will also be a leading light for the Bantams tomorrow as will Sam Walker who might put his back out picking the ball out of the net!
The Bradford weather will be 14 degrees Celsius with light showers and light winds and some sunshine. The pitch will be challenging but we know all about that!!!!
It is unlikely that DC will make any changes to his starting XI:
Macey
Egbo Kells Flanagan Hunt
Read Iandolo
Anderson Payne Edwards
Taylor
Subs: Smith Gordon Simpson Tucker Aboh Thorn Jolliffe
Much has been made of Bradford’s injury woes, but do not forget we are without Teddy Bishop, Samson Tovide and KVY and Jamie McDonnell is away on International duty.
It is possible that we might have Anthony Scully on the bench tomorrow, but we will see.
Now I have a ticket for the game, but it is unlikely that I will be able to make it. Sadly, I am unwell at present (and have been for some little time) and neither of my sons are available to drive me to the game. It is likely therefore that I will have to content myself with watching on Sky Sports +.
The faithful might be happy with that, I have been to 7 games this season and everyone has been a drawn encounter. I am very disappointed though not to be at VP.
The U’s can win tomorrow and will win tomorrow. 2-1 with Lyle Taylor on the mark with an Edwards classy long-range effort.
We do not need to fear the Bantams. A degree of respect yes of course, but we are there to show that we are not making up the numbers but deserve to be there on merit.
For those travelling, safe journey, enjoy the game and I will be cheering on the U’s from darkest Durham.
Don't forget your blue and white scarves.
Up the U’s
Durham_exile
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Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 16:22 - Mar 22 with 2309 views
Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 16:41 - Mar 22 by durham_exile
4-1
Flatters the Bantams.
Disappointed with the scoreline
We deserve another goal at least.
Tovide, McDonnell and Bishop badly missed
.
Don't agree Durham. They were soft goals yes - poor defending frankly - but Bradford were first to every ball, had two on every U's attacker and were much more direct. Looked faster, fitter and stronger too. They could and should have scored more I'm afraid.
Not disheartened - how can I be. Where we are is fantastic since October. A credit to all of them. But today we were third.
Moor Pinot
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Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 17:03 - Mar 22 with 2090 views
Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 16:54 - Mar 22 by Moor_Pinot
Don't agree Durham. They were soft goals yes - poor defending frankly - but Bradford were first to every ball, had two on every U's attacker and were much more direct. Looked faster, fitter and stronger too. They could and should have scored more I'm afraid.
Not disheartened - how can I be. Where we are is fantastic since October. A credit to all of them. But today we were third.
It's a harsh scoreline, but I can't argue there MP - apart from the first ten minutes or so, we were second best for mostly everything. We've bounced back from adversity twice already this season, no reason why we can't do it again against Grimsby next Friday.
Taylor looked flat if I'm honest, Edwards was marshalled well, Payne had a decent game before his replacement, but we just didn't have enough about us against a Bradford side who consistently made the 50:50 balls theirs.
Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 16:50 - Mar 22 by durham_exile
Important that we go again on Friday against Grimsby.
Still everything to play for.
Safe journey home for the faithful.
Up the U's
I'd argue the Grimsby match is more important than today. I feared Bradford City wouldn't have a third bad result on the trot. But it's vital The U's put this defeat behind them and pick up three points against The Mariners.
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Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 17:08 - Mar 22 with 2057 views
Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 16:54 - Mar 22 by Moor_Pinot
Don't agree Durham. They were soft goals yes - poor defending frankly - but Bradford were first to every ball, had two on every U's attacker and were much more direct. Looked faster, fitter and stronger too. They could and should have scored more I'm afraid.
Not disheartened - how can I be. Where we are is fantastic since October. A credit to all of them. But today we were third.
Apart from the first 10 minutes, we looked a bit overwhelmed by the enormity of the occasion. Defensively we were extremely poor, probably the worst this season. Could have conceded quite a few more. Still, on Friday we are back home for a mouthwatering game against a play off rival, McDonnell will be back and no doubt fired up, Iandolo can get back to where he is most effective and resume normal service to Edwards down the left.
Up the U's!
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Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 17:09 - Mar 22 with 2052 views
Quite simply out-muscled and out-classed. Some days we have to take it on the chin and respect superior opposition. Suggests to me that promotion too early might be a bad thing. I don’t want to feel like this every week. Once a month is enough….
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Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 17:50 - Mar 22 with 1937 views
Well, the atmosphere was something I haven't experienced in many years and it certainly got to our players but not in a good way. I have to say I was concerned about a possible backlash from Bradford over a poor couple of recent results and guess what? A word about the referee who controlled the match admirably without the need to wave cards about; not one. He was also not conned into penalty decisions at both ends of the pitch. A thoroughly good performance from him, can we have him again soon? And congrats to all the U's supporters, 750 plus who travelled a lot further than I had to, and my journey was enough.
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Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 07:22 - Mar 23 with 1161 views
Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 23:28 - Mar 22 by gerry_us
Well, the atmosphere was something I haven't experienced in many years and it certainly got to our players but not in a good way. I have to say I was concerned about a possible backlash from Bradford over a poor couple of recent results and guess what? A word about the referee who controlled the match admirably without the need to wave cards about; not one. He was also not conned into penalty decisions at both ends of the pitch. A thoroughly good performance from him, can we have him again soon? And congrats to all the U's supporters, 750 plus who travelled a lot further than I had to, and my journey was enough.
Gerry, a Championship referee and it showed.
No complaints about the officials.
If we are to make the play offs and go to Wembley then today was a dress rehearsal atmospheres wise.
In truth Bradford have probably not played better all season.
I still maintain we win on Friday and this is all forgotten.
Turning point, Edwards failure to beat Sam which would have made it 2-2.
But why didn't we get the resultant corner.
Up the U's
Disappointed that I was unable to attend and I hope you had a safe journey home.
I am hoping to be at Doncaster in April.
Durham_exile
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Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 08:36 - Mar 23 with 1072 views
Post match interview DC admitted bug in camp throughout the week and Anderson said Edward’s should have squared his one to one for a knock in to level the scores .
Plenty of points still to play for and many teams have to play each other, so a strong home finish is the first must ,
Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 08:36 - Mar 23 by bwildered
Post match interview DC admitted bug in camp throughout the week and Anderson said Edward’s should have squared his one to one for a knock in to level the scores .
Plenty of points still to play for and many teams have to play each other, so a strong home finish is the first must ,
Onwards and upwards
[Post edited 23 Mar 12:46]
Is there a link to the post match interviews? Can't find it on the Col U YouTube page.
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Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 15:41 - Mar 23 with 746 views
Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 11:33 - Mar 23 by MarkyMark47
Is there a link to the post match interviews? Can't find it on the Col U YouTube page.
DANNY Cowley admits his Colchester United side were beaten by a 'powerful and purposeful' Bradford City team after they fell to a 4-1 defeat at Valley Parade.
Harry Anderson's first-half strike proved only a consolation for the U's, as Calum Kavanagh and George Lapslie both scored twice to secure victory for the second-placed Bantams, in front of a record Bradford attendance of more than 23,000 at Valley Parade.
It brought to an end Colchester's 13-match unbeaten run and five-game winning streak and U's boss Cowley revealed afterwards that several of his players were suffering from illness, prior to the game.
Cowley said: "Bradford were excellent.
"They were very powerful, very purposeful, they found a really good tempo to the way that they play.
"We've had a difficult week - we've had three or four that have been particularly unwell that we really didn't think would play.
"We were really struggling with Lyle (Taylor), Ellis (Iandolo) and Jack Payne in particular, Samson (Tovide) too.
"It's so debilitating for players' energy levels. Lyle and Jack had sickness and a couple had heavy colds, so it's not been an easy week.
"For us to come here on this day, we have to have our best players playing at their best, we have to have all of our players available and today, we've had three or four key ones that have been ill and as a consequence, maybe can't get to the levels that we know that they're capable of getting.
"For us, that makes this game very difficult.
"It was tough preparations for us, I think but having said that, after a really good start to the game where I thought we got a really good control and rhythm, we were disappointed with how we have defended crosses and how we defended the box today."
Kavanagh gave Bradford a 32nd-minute lead and although Anderson equalised four minutes later, Lapslie restored the hosts' advantage before half-time.
"What happens in these big games, when you play in front of nearly 25,000, if you give the opponent something then momentum plays a huge part in football," said Cowley.
"The goal got their crowd up and we were disappointed with the first goal, because I think everyone expects Hunty just to see the ball out; their player (Brad Halliday) does really well, we stop and then it's a poor error that leads to the first goal.
"It was a great response from us and we showed loads of character to find the equaliser and then probably we just need to manage our emotions, in that moment.
"But we just didn't defend well enough; we didn't stop the cross and we were quite erratic with some of our clearances and sometimes, this happens when you get over emotional.
"When you watch our whole performance, there were some good and bad parts to it.
"It was very up and down and that can happen when you get a bit over emotional - you end up being quite erratic in your execution.
"We end up having loads of opportunities to deal with the ball in the box but we don't, we slash at it, we're rash and they end up with a rhythm and scoring.
"I have to say, credit to them because some of their quality into the box and more importantly, some of their timing of arrival of their players was excellent and they end up being 2-1 up at half-time."
Owura Edwards had a great chance to equalise for Colchester after the break when he found himself through on goal but his effort was touched past the post by former U's keeper Sam Walker.
It proved pivotal and although the U's had a penalty appeal rejected when Edwards appeared to be fouled in the area, Kavanagh and Lapslie both scored again after that, to seal Bradford's big win.
"We actually started both halves really well," said Cowley.
"We started the second half really well and we get a really good control back into our game.
"We did well at half-time just to calm the boys down and find our composure and we came out in the second half and had a great chance.
"It may be a great save; probably when Owura looks back he could have found a pass to Harry (Anderson) which could have allowed him to finish.
"We just got too disappointed in that moment; we talk all the time about no disappointment because in football, you have to be really resilient and mistakes happen continuously, at all levels of the game and you have to keep going.
"We just got caught up with that moment and then the opponent found the third goal and when they did that, this place...wow.
"How they're a League Two club, I'll never know because that was some atmosphere and of course at that point, it gets really difficult for us."
mfb
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Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 21:55 - Mar 23 with 566 views
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