BILLY’S GOT BANTAMS BUZZING
Playmaker pulling all the strings as Dale are rumbled
BRILLIANT Bradford stormed to within touching distance of top spot after a 4-0 annihilation of ten-man Rochdale.
Trailing to goals from Timothee Dieng and the exceptional Billy Clarke, Keith Hill’s side collapsed following the dismissal of Niall Canavan. James Hanson and Mark Marshall swiftly completed a richlydeserved rout, with only the reactions of Dale keeper Josh Lillis and some rotten finishing preventing further embarrassment.
Beaten just once in 17 league games, this marked the Bantams’ biggest win of an increasingly impressive campaign and while manager Stuart McCall stopped short of talking up promotion, his words betrayed his optimism.
“I came off the pitch after training on Thursday and thought, ‘You know what, we’ve got a great group here’,” said the former Scotland international, who replaced Phil Parkinson in the summer.
“Everyone was behind each other, the ability was evident. I look round the dressing room and I
think, ‘Yeah, if you want a fight, we can fight. If you want to play football, we can do that’.
“We’ve got a bit of everything and, while I don’t want to get carried away, I’ve got real belief in those players. If we keep the momentum going, we’ll certainly be nearer the top than the bottom.”
McCall reserved his greatest praise for Clarke, the architect of a five-minute flurry that crippled Rochdale just before half-time.
Having weathered a bright opening quarter from the visitors, Bradford took the lead when Clarke coolly swept home Nicky Law’s cross. The Irishman then whipped a magnificent free-kick onto the head of Dieng, who directed his effort high beyond Josh Lillis. “If you’re playing as a No10, the key is getting into the box,” said McCall. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a ten, a wideman, an attacking midfielder, ultimately, you’re judged on goals and assists.
“I said, ‘Billy, the moment that ball goes wide, you’ve got to get yourself in the box’. The first goal was a fantastic example of that, the second was a fantastic delivery. He trains tenaciously hard, he’s got great quality and six goals now.”
Lacking several first-teamers through injury, illness and suspension, the second half was mere damage limitation for Rochdale, an objective fatally undermined when Canavan cleaned out Josh Cullen for a second yellow card. Hanson bundled home from the free-kick and, moments later, the effervescent Marshall curled a terrific effort over the wall and beyond the static Lillis.
Dale’s makeshift side did well to keep the score down but, even with 11 men, their lack of depth and experience was glaring.
Joe Bunney was tortured by Marshall. Andy Cannon oozed effort yet lacked presence. Aaron Morley is a boy of prodigious talent, yet a boy all the same. Against a brawny Bradford side, the 16-yearold was peripheral to the point of invisibility and, just three minutes after the restart, his race was run.
Though frustrated by their defending and annoyed at Canavan’s recklessness, Dale boss Keith Hill praised the rearguard action which prevented further bloodshed.
“It’s not all about the scoreline,” said Hill, whose men slip to tenth.
“Some of those lads have run through brick walls. They never switched off. They never stopped.
“Previously, some of our young players would have given up in that game. That’s where I see the progress and mental development.
“Am I disappointed by the result? Yeah, of course. But they are a good team who look very much like they could get promoted. We’re dreaming of building a promotion team and I saw things which suggested we could mould into the kind of side Bradford are now.”