‘WE DIDN’T SHOW WHAT WE’RE CAPABLE OF AGAINST BRADFORD’
PORT Vale fans have their say on their team’s 1-1 draw at home to Bradford City...
Rob Rhead: It shows how far we’ve come, and how used to winning we’ve become, when a draw against a decent Bradford side feels like a defeat.
For some reason, and maybe to Bradford’s credit, we just weren’t at it. Our normal excellent passing game went walkabouts as error after unforced error gifted possession to the visitors.
Wilson and Amoo had very little service in the first half and it was Tom Conlon who had the Vale’s best chances with a couple of long-range efforts.
The game hinged on the substitutions which strengthened their aerial attack and weakened us overall. James Wilson should have made way if there was any doubt of him continuing when the double substitution was made as his breakdown seconds later meant we then couldn’t make the defensive changes we needed to. Bradford were lucky to finish the match with 11 players on the pitch. Firstly, Threlkeld committed two identical fouls in the first half, the first was a booking the second wasn’t and then goalkeeper O’donnell challenged Devante Rodney and the ref took no action and seemed to lose control as the match became a bit feisty towards the end.
Scott Lingard: Well, if the curse of manager of the month and being on the early TV game results in a point I’ll take it.
The fact is, we didn’t show what we are capable of today, and I’m sure the manager will let the players know that. First half, the visitors probably couldn’t believe the amount of chances we created for them by poor distribution and creating our own mistakes.
But their keeper pulled off two stunning saves to keep the scores level at the break.
Vale started the second half much better, and man of the moment James Wilson bagged another goal to put us ahead.
But some lapse defending again allowed the visitors to level.
Then some frankly awful decisions by both the ref and linesman dampened any momentum we were creating. For me I’d have taken a point before the game, but it’s good we are disappointed at only getting a point. Craig Davies: Really competitive game against a very organised Bradford team.
Vale were not at their free flowing best and some simple passes went astray. Saying that, Bradford’s goal keeper was the much busier. Work rate was fantastic from the Vale
boys, and an ever increasing home crowd.
Stephanie Walklate: Not the polished performance we’ve been used to lately. Put ourselves under pressure too many times with sloppy passes. The referee was awful but we’ll take the point and move on to the next game.
Gaz Gratton: Weren’t at the races, some of the subs a bit strange, what’s up with Politic?
Thought Pett should’ve got MOM, superb.
Dave Clay: I think a draw is probably fair. We were sloppy in possession and slow at times, but they, to their credit, were compact which made it hard to just go gung ho at them. Ref should have given one red before half time, possibly another when Lloyd had a whack in the face. Keeper incident I’m unsure, I actually thought their keeper got there before Rodney,
but tight. The ref didn’t stop us winning though, sloppy passing and not being ourselves did that. Anyway on to Oldham.
Aiden Brookes: Fair result. Didn’t do enough to win it. Lucky to go one nil up. Fair for them to equalise.
Dave Archer: Ref was poor, but too many mistakes today gave away possession far too many times learn from it and improve on to Oldham next week. Up the Vale.