Stroke of luck proves in vain

ON THE CHARGE: Athletic forward Aaron Amadi-Holloway springs forward

2 More Image(s) In Gallery

WHEN it's a struggle to score goals at this stage of a season, you often get managers talking about needing one to go in off a players' backside.

Clearly, this does not happen very often.

But when it was needed here, Athletic had the stroke of luck this campaign has missed.

In the first game between these two sides this season back in late August, Athletic were denied a clear penalty when Billy Mckay was chopped down in the area while his side were leading 1-0.

If that caused then-manager Stephen Robinson to curse his ill-fortune, his successor at least enjoyed the benefit of a goal from Brian Wilson - his first in the league for seven years - that came down to the composition of a mound of earth inside the six-yard box in front of the Chaddy End.

Wilson's prod towards goal with his left foot after 44 minutes seemed to carry little threat. Then, as the players started to turn preparing for the goalkeeper's clearance, the ball flicked off a divot to lob gently over the dive of Colin Doyle and into the net.

It took most of the crowd at least a second to process that it was, indeed, an equalising goal for Athletic.

Still, it wasn't enough to fire Sheridan's side on to bagging a winner, to make it three home victories in succession.

Romain Vincelot's early flicked header from a Josh Cullen cross had put the visitors in front and as Stuart McCall's side turned up the gas in the second 45 minutes, centre-back partner Rory McArdle turned home from close range.

Sharper, slicker in possession and with a midfield that dominated - Cullen, a Matty Palmer-a-like, was superb - Bradford were worthy of a win they nearly didn't get, with Mckay testing Doyle and Ryan McLaughlin firing not far wide when trying to place his shot inside the far post.

These were sporadic counter-attacks, though. Athletic worked hard, as ever under Sheridan, but were plodding in comparison.

Chesterfield on Saturday, ideally with new players on board, represents a fairer assessment of the credentials in terms of capability of avoiding relegation.

Sheridan stuck with the same side that saw off Peterborough to make it back-to-back home wins. That meant no place in the starting line-up for Rob Hunt, who took a place on the substitutes' bench and came on late in the contest.

Former Athletic midfielder Timothee Dieng fired in a couple of early long-range efforts before Vincelot made it 1-0. A corner kick was needlessly conceded by Jamie Reckord, who nodded behind under no pressure, but there was a collective switching off from the short corner which followed.

BRIGHT

Athletic had been bright, particularly down the right with Paul Green and Wilson seeking to get around a diamond midfield of Bradford's, but it was Connor Ripley who was called on to keep the score down when Tony McMahon cut in fron the right past Reckord to direct an attempt towards his near post.

Ousmane Fane may have been slightly fortunate to avoid conceding a penalty - he went into the back of Billy Clarke in a clumsy rather than malicious action - and Mark Marshall's spiteful drive was spilled by Ripley before the defenders in front of him mopped up.

Then, out of nowhere, came the equaliser. Wilson's run to the edge of the box must have seen him travel 40 yards. The shot barely carried enough pace to even get over the line.

The home crowd enjoyed it, singing, "hey, Brian Wilson (ooh-ah), I wanna know, how you scored that goal".

Athletic were under the cosh for most of the game after that.

Jordy Hiwula did well to squeeze between the centre-backs before being denied one-on-one when Ripley worked out his angles nicely, Cullen danced past Clarke and tested the goalkeeper's reflexes again and Ollie Banks had to clear from just in front of the line from a McArdle header.

Scampering forward, McLaughlin was not far away from putting Sheridan's men in front when he shaped wide following a run inside from the left flank.

Ten minutes later, Bradford got what would prove their winning goal. Clarke's free-kick was met by Dieng and his header hit his marker and spooned into the air. Vincelot charged in to power a header at goal and McArdle made sure.

Mckay came close to breaking his league duck in the 82nd minute with a spin and shot with his left foot Doyle was equal to.

Athletic were not quite up to it, though.

IN A NUTSHELL: The better side won and Athletic move on to fresh battles ahead.