Points shared at Boundary Park

Article by Bradford Correspondent Tim Feather

Oldham Athletic 1-1 Bradford City Att. 7,180 (2,742 away)

SkyBet League One

1/12/13

Boundary Park

Bradford City extended their unbeaten run to five games going into the twelve day break due to the FA Cup second round next week. It was a bright start from both Oldham and Bradford but both will probably accept that a point each is good and fair result. A first half goal from Nahki Wells was cancelled out two minutes later by a screamer from Johnson Clarke-Harris.

The game opened brightly with Gary Thompson firing wide of the Latics goal before James Dayton had a decent effort at the Bantams goal. Oldham had a very early scare, Nahki Wells sneaked in at the front post but his effort rebounded off the crossbar and fell to Gary Jones, his subsequent shot was deflected and pushed over the bar by the Latics keeper Mark Oxley. It was in similar fashion that Bradford opened the scoring, Gary Thompson expertly controlled the ball and his cross found Nahki Wells who fired it home for his 14th goal of the season. It took Oldham just two minutes to level up the scores, Clarke-Harris made an impressive run and his well-placed shot beat McLaughlin. Phil Parkinson was upset at how Bradford conceded straight after scoring, “It was a tough game. We started well and got in front but I just felt we switched off after the goal,” he told the Telegraph and Argus.

For the majority of the game the two teams matched each other and chances were few and far between. There were penalty shouts from both sides but referee Mr David Webb was having none of it. Phil Parkinson was furious with the Webb after seeing three good shouts for penalties all turned down by the official. Kyel Reid appears to be starting to get a reputation for going down too easy and was booked by Webb for simulation. Parkinson said, “Reidy said both on him were pens in his eyes. He doesn’t dive. The one when he got booked against Wolves was absolutely ridiculous and I thought one of those yesterday (Sunday) had to be given.” It is difficult to judge but looking at the player’s reaction says it all and the Oldham player certainly appeared to be worried. There was another two shouts for a penalty on Nahki Wells and another on Reid, which Parkinson was far from pleased with, “To have three clear-cut, in our eyes, shouts for penalties and not get one of them is disappointing.”

With results going against them, Bradford now drop to 8th in League One but will welcome a break next weekend after trying to put a run of tough games behind them. Parkinson told the Telegraph and Argus ““We want to get the balance right between putting the right amount of work in the players and giving them a good period of rest as well.” Gary Thompson and Matthew Bates have been playing with injections and the time off will give them, and other players time to rest and get ready for a busy Christmas period where City will face, Leyton Orient, Peterborough Rotherham and Swindon, all ending on New Year’s Day with a trip to Notts County.

Oldham Athletic: Oxley, Lanzoni, Plummer (Mellor- 64’), Wesolowski, Tarkowski, Grounds, Dayton (Rooney- 63’), Smith, Clarke Harris, Philliskirk, Schmeltz (Petrasso- 73’).

Unused Subs: Winchester, Rogers, Belezika, Rachumbka

Bradford City: McLaughlin, Darby, Meredith, Jones, Bates, McArdle, Thompson (Yeates- 78’), Doyle, Wells (McBurnie- 92’), Hanson, Reid.

Unused Subs: Ripley, Kennedy, Taylor, Connell, De Vita.

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