BRADFORD 1
1 HOPKIN REF RAGE, POSH CHIEF CONDEMNS S*** SHOW
Raging Bantams boss Hopkin went radio ga-ga as Posh substitute Ivan Toney’s controversial 61st-minute equaliser denied City the chance to winch themselves off the foot of League One.
Bradford were leading through skipper Anthony O’connor’s fourth goal of the season when Toney, who looked well offside, raced clear to sweep home Marcus Maddison’s pass. Hopkin raged: “I was trying to make a substitution and get our player on the pitch to kill the game before the free-kick which led to their goal – but the officials’ earpieces were not working.
“The fourth official was shouting at the linesman to come back (to the halfway line) because he couldn’t hear that I wanted to make the sub.
“By the tine the linesman got up with the play, they had scored. That’s why I was having a go at the ref.
“In fairness, earlier this season we would have collapsed and gone on to lose 2-1 or 3-1.
“I’m proud of the players because we came here with a plan, we were on course for three points and we were magnificent.
“We will fight to the end and stay positive.”
Posh boss Steve Evans, that eternal ray of sunshine, claimed Bradford had pilfered an “undeserved point”.
Evans scoffed: “If the officials’ earpieces had been working, David would have been in the stand for his abuse of the referee.”
Come off it, Steve – Posh managed only one shot on target against a team desperately short on confidence.
Even Peterborough chairman Darragh Macanthony called it a “s*** show” on Twitter and Bradford were well worth a share of the spoils. Scotland one-cap wonder Paul Caddis, 30, became City’s 21st debutant of a turbulent season after signing a six-month contract at Valley Parade, and he set the tone for a tenacious display.
Caddis had already extended home keeper Aaron Chapman when O’connor (below) Possession 58% 42% Shots On Target 2 4 Shots Off Target 1 1 Blocked Shots 1 2 Corners 9 6 Fouls Conceded 6 12 Offsides 1 0 Yellow Cards 1 4 Red Cards 0 0 garnished the visitors’ bright start with the breakthrough after 11 minutes.
Hope Akpan shifted Adam Chicksen’s cross to O’connor, who smuggled his shot through Chapman and Posh defender Ryan Tafazolli’s picket at the near post.
But Bradford’s resistance was undone by a slapdash decision – the sort of luck which goes against struggling teams.
Toney appeared to be at least two yards offside before he went on to score – and for all their possession Peterborough could only give City keeper Richard O’donnell catching practice from a stream of hopeful crosses.
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