Bradford City once again justify their place at the top table

Written by Jason McKeown (images by John Dewhirst)

The bravery coursing through Bradford City is what stands out the most. After the bruising run of four defeats in five, there was every reason to fear a timid slide into mediocrity. But here, just as on Saturday, City have reset, found inner courage, and delivered another defiant message to everyone else: their place high up the League One food chain is both deserved and sustainable.

This hard-fought victory over Stockport County was validation of all they are trying to achieve. A reward for setting the bar so high on their return to this division, and for their refusal to give up on their ambitions when doubts crept in over recent weeks.

It is a huge victory over one of the best teams in League One. A statement win that underlines their substance in the promotion fight. In a few months’ time, these two sides might very well be meeting again in the play-offs. And if that day arrives, evenings like this will be drawn upon as proof of the Bantams’ ability to go even further.

This was such a close contest. Two sides that were so evenly matched. City were every bit as good as opposition assembled from a much larger budget, who pre-season were heavily tipped to win the league. Stockport played well here, but so did City. And though it was far from the edge-of-your seat romp of Saturday, it was engrossing stuff to watch. A 90-minute arm wrestle won on the slimmest of margins.

And it was won through a player so well-known to both sides.

Three minutes into the second half, Antoni Sarcevic seized on Lewis Bate’s hesitancy in the box by nicking the ball from the County defender. The ball bounced up perfectly, and Sarcevic struck a powerful left foot volley that flew into the back of the net.

It’s the second time this season Sarcevic has grabbed the winning goal against his former club. The man for the big moments typically hogging the headlines.

The goal was massive because the fine balance of the contest made it impossible for either side to truly take control. Even with almost half of the game remaining, Stockport were never allowed to build momentum or generate a sustained spell of pressure. They had their moments, and Sam Walker produced one crucial late save, but they could never find real ascendancy. Had City fallen behind, they likely would have faced the same struggle.

So the goal mattered, and it allowed City to do what they do so well. They are organised. They defend brilliantly (here they won 35 tackles to Stockport’s 14). They are strong (they won 80 duels to Stockport’s 64). They press effectively. They get on the front foot when opportunities arise – Tyreik Wright and Jenson Metcalfe both coming close to a second.

They are clever at winning free-kicks. They manage the clock without overdoing the theatrics. And they have been here before, holding onto narrow leads time and time again.

In what was home victory 12 out of 16 this season, to add to 17 from 23 last year, we should especially pay tribute to that. Only once all campaign have City been in front at Valley Parade and not won the game – the barnstorming 2-2 draw with Barnsley in October. And you have to go all the way back to January 2024, a 4-2 loss to Crawley, for the last time they surrendered a winning position late on.

Since that day – more than two years ago – City have not led at home past the 70th minute without seeing the job through. Nor have they been level in the final 20 minutes and gone on to lose. Visiting sides simply do not get late joy – and this was the latest example. Minutes ticked by with Stockport unable to grasp authority. A narrow lead rarely feels comfortable, yet City under Graham Alexander consistently make it look that way.

Getting into that winning position was harder this time. Unlike Saturday, there were no early gains. Both sides lined up 3-4-3. Stockport defended deeper than Peterborough’s ill-judged high line. The space wasn’t there for Josh Neufville and Wright to wreak havoc.

Lee Evans, deputising for the suspended Max Power, endured a challenging second full City debut. Tidy on the ball, certainly, but without quite the same boldness Power offers in progressing play (and what was that shooting?!) Metcalfe was closely monitored, though still squirmed free often enough to produce several incisive passes. Ethan Wheatley got the nod centrally but found Brad Hills an uncompromising opponent.

Maybe Stockport slightly edged the first half, but it was by inches rather than miles. Bobby Pointon was involved in City’s two best opening 45 minute moments, setting up Wheatley for a shot he blasted over and then just failing to get a good connection to a Sarcevic cross that followed good build up play from Evans, Wheatley and Neufville.

Stockport’s front three posed problems with their movement. Curtis Tilt picked up a booking but was City’s best defender. Aden Baldwin and Matt Pennington made the odd mistake although improved as the game went along. The visitors’ best opportunity saw Malik Mothersille break through on the left, only to shoot tamely at Walker. Attritional, tense football for sure.

But after the half-time introduction of Kayden Jackson – swiftly followed by Sarcevic’s decisive intervention – the complexion shifted. The move stemmed from a quickly taken throw-in by Neufville, a strong run and delivery from Evans, and Pointon’s aerial challenge forcing Bate’s momentary hesitation.

And with that goal to hold onto, City were in that position they love to be in, and once again did it so well. Stockport – who had won six and draw two of their last eight games – were beaten.

The win lifts City to fourth and the gap to the play offs extends to seven points. They’re sitting pretty on 55 points overall, and probably need 23 points from their last 15 games to be sure of a top six finish. With this really rough run of fixtures finally just about behind them, they have plenty of games coming up that on paper look much kinder.

And here’s the thing. In Bradford City’s 123-year history, they have never once achieved back-to-back promotions. The highest position they’ve ever managed in the first year of being a newly promoted club is 10th in Division Three, back in 1969/70. At the very least, they are surely going to better that.

Furthermore, in the last 30 years, just six different clubs have gone back-to-back from the fourth tier to the second – Bury (95-97), Brighton (00-02), Rotherham (twice, 99-01 and 12-14), Peterborough (07-09), Burton (14-16) and Wrexham (23-25).

That’s it.

So City have a chance to do something unique to their entire history – and something genuinely rare in English football. It remains a huge, huge ask to get promoted again. And perhaps, it will ultimately prove to be a bridge too far. But nights like this underline why you wouldn’t bet against them.

Because this group of players and management team – they are special.

And they are fearless.

Categories: Match Reviews

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