FIGHTBACK ON PHIL’S RETURN
BRADFORD boss Stuart McCall was left wondering what could have been as he saw his side throw away a two-goal lead on Phil Parkinson’s return to Valley Parade.
Former Bradford manager Parkinson looked to be in for a disappointing comeback to the Bantams, as the home side led 20 inside the first 20 minutes thanks to a double from new signing Charlie Wyke.
But second-half strikes from captain David Wheater and Gary Madine saw the points shared, much to the frustration of McCall.
“We need to start defending better and seeing games out because we’ve dominated the first half and could have gone in further ahead than just 2-0,” he said.
“We’ve given a sloppy goal away from a free-kick and we’ve had chances after that where we’ve hit the woodwork so it’s very frustrating.
“We’ve just got to be tougher and nail results down.
“We didn’t clear the ball for the first goal and we’ve given them a free header which is hugely frustrating.
“We’ve got 13 games to go and we probably need to win around seven so bring it on I say.”
Bolton goalkeeper Ben Alnwick was responsible for allowing Wyke’s first strike to slip through his grasp before his decision to rush out to a long ball allowed Nicky Law to chip Alnwick with Wyke on the line to tap home a quick-fire second.
But Bradford couldn’t make their advantage count after the break.
A deflection inside the box after the hour allowed Wheater to slice home off the post to halve the deficit.
Striker Madine then headed home substitute James Henry’s cross with 15 minutes left for a share of the spoils.
And with Bolton still sat well inside the play-offs, Parkinson was happy with his team’s resilience.
“It was some game,” said Parkinson. “I think the atmosphere caught us on the hop early on, they were first to every ball but what a response from our lads.
“We started playing our game and I’m so pleased with the way we responded in the second half. We’ve not been 2-0 down too many times this season so it was great to respond as we did and we could have even won it in the end.
“We showed great character and I’m very, very pleased with a point because it could have been much worse – our big players like Wheater and Madine really came to the fore.”
The final 15 minutes saw both sides launch everything forward in search of a winner and it was Bradford who came closest when Timothee Dieng saw his long-range effort come back off the post. At the other end, Madine fired over after some neat interchange before his free header deep into stoppage time was directed straight at Colin Doyle as the game ended in a draw.
BRADFORD: (4-4-2): Doyle 6, McMahon 7, McArdle 6, Knight-Percival 7, Meredith 7, Law 8 (Gilliead 79 6), Cullen 7, Vincelot 7, Marshall 7 (Hiwula 83 6), Clarke 7 (Dieng 6 68), Wyke 8. Subs not used: Sattelmaier, Darby, Toner, Devine
BOLTON: (3-5-2): Alnwick 3, Derik 6, Beevers 6, Wheater 8, Morais 6, Vela 6, Thorpe 5, Trotter 5 (Solomon-Otabor 6 60), Moxey 4 (Henry 7 60), Madine 6, Le Fondre 6 (Wilkinson N/A 88). Subs not
used: Howard, Dervite, Clayton, Perry