Valley Parade, home of Bradford City based in West Yorkshire and play their trade in League 2. Nicknamed the “Bantams” as they have a Bantam which features on the club badge. A former Premier League club for 2 seasons just over 20 years ago but today the club finds itself in the 4th tier of English Football. Will the club ever reach the heights it once reached? 9 years ago the club defied the odds and went all the way to the League Cup final and what a journey it was but sadly lost in the final to Swansea City… It sure is a big club for this level!
I am back with Mansfield Town today for my first away day since Doncaster Rovers in the FA Cup back in December and I can’t wait!!!!! It is also my 50th game watching the Stags today! Let’s hope it’s a memorable one! The Super Stag, Tom, Curtis, Broseph, Chris, Lewis, Jack, Louis and Alex will all be there!!! For the first time since owning a car, I will be back on the trains today. 10am and time to meet Alex at Sheffield Station as we head to Leeds and then to meet the rest at Brighouse! Bring it on!! Arrival into Leeds at 11:45 and now we wait for 30 minutes for the train to Manchester Victoria for Brighouse…
Would you believe it… And that is why owning a car is best! Typical to be back on trains and have a cancellation… We’re going to have to go with Plan B! Off to Bradford Forster Square instead. 12:12pm and we are en route! 25 minutes later and here we are! Now we walk to the ground!
It certainly looks great from the outset but we’ve got 2 hours to kill… Off we go to the club shop and then to find somewhere to hang out. Just up the road and here we are at the Bradford Arms with some other travelling Mansfield fans!!! Lovely! Time goes on and the mood is starting to rise in excitement!! Good to see Owen here too!
2:25pm and it’s time for the game so off we go back to the ground. Outside the turnstile and now we wait for the rest to show up… 2:40pm and here come the buses… But it’s starting to pile up outside… The atmosphere is booming in the away end!! “Wahheeeey! Wahooaaah! Super Mansfield!” The game has kicked off and I’m just at the front now but the mood is starting to turn sour… About 2 minutes into the game and I am in!! £20 for this League 2 tie! Ok then!
“We’re on our way! We’re on our way! To the League One we’re on our way!” Mansfield fans in fine voice so far! “I see the Q block boys arising! I see the trouble on the way! Don’t go out tonight! If you’re Blue & White! Because Mansfield Q block boys are on their way!” A new chant! Love it! Mansfield starting the better of the 2 teams so far. 15 minutes in and Bradford have a free kick in the Mansfield half, it’s played into the box, Paudie O’Connor with the header… Just wide!
“Yellow & Blue army!” 2 minutes later and Bradford come forward, Theo Robinson is played in, he’s offside! He goes around the keeper and… He’s put it wide anyway! Right in front of us in the away end… Boy did the Mansfield fans love that! “Mark Hughes Bantam Army!” A bit of noise from the Bradford fans now! Abd Mansfield’s response: “Nigel Clough’s Barmy Army!”
27 minutes on the clock and Bradford come forward, it’s played to Andy Cook and he gets into the box, he strays to the left and gets his shot away… Good save by Nathan Bishop! Corner for Bradford, in it comes… O’Connor with the header… Over! “Wahheeeey! Wahooaaah! Super Mansfield!” Fantastic so far from the Mansfield fans! Bradford fans having a little go themselves too.
It’s not been the best of halves so far as both teams enjoy spells of possession but Bradford look the most threatening in the game so far. 44 minutes now and Mansfield play a long ball forward, it’s flicked on and Rhys Oates runs onto it, he gets into the box and goes for goal… IT’S A GOAL!!!! WHAT A FINISH!!!! Mansfield have the lead here!!!! “Oates Oates Rhysy Rhysy Oates! He gets the ball and scores a goal! Rhysy Rhysy Oates!” 0-1!!
At half time the score remains 1-0 to the Mansfield!! “We’re on our way! We’re on our way! To the League One we’re on our way!!” A round of applause at half time from both sets of supporters as we stand with Ukraine!!
Second half, 48 minutes on the clock and Mansfield come forward, it’s played out to the left, played into the middle, it falls to Mansfield and the shot comes in… Blocked! It falls to Matty Longstaff who shoots… Deflected… IT’S IN!!!!! Mansfield double their lead!!! Carnage in the away end again!!! 0-2!! “EIEIEIO!”
“We’re on our way! We’re on our way! To the League One we’re on our way!” 56th minute and Mansfield play down the right flank, it’s worked across to Jamie Murphy on the left, he gets into the box and shoots… Keeper tips it just wide for a corner, in it comes… Headed away but only back out to the left, it’s played back in again… It’s headed in the air… The Referee blows for a free kick to Bradford… A foul in there somewhere.
65 minutes now and can Bradford mount a fight back here? They have a free kick on the right, in it comes… Theo Robinson with the header… Over! 71 minutes played and Bradford have a corner, in it comes… Andy Cook is there… Straight at the keeper!
76 minutes on the clock and Bradford work it out to the left, it’s crossed in towards Andy Cook… He heads over again… Just not the former Mansfield man’s day… “Cook Cook Andy Andy Cook! He gets the ball and f***s it up! Andy Andy Cook!” Really not his day as the Mansfield fans make it known.
87 minutes now and Bradford come down the right wing, in comes the cross, it’s Andy Cook with the header again… Brilliant save by Nathan Bishop!! Tipped over for a corner, in it comes… Cleared by Mansfield.
Into Stoppage time now and the game has fizzled out with Bradford showing no signs of a comeback now… “Stags are going up! Going up! Stags are going up!” The Referee blows for full time!! Job done there by Mansfield in a fantastic performance in Mark Hughes’ first game in charge of Bradford.
FT: Bradford City 0-2 Mansfield Town
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 9/10 – Fantastic once again from the Mansfield fans!! Bradford gave it a little go but nothing too much for them to cheer about sadly for them.
- The Ground: 9/10 – A truly fantastic ground in my opinion! Fit for at least the Championship and would fit in the Premier League. The only thing that lets it down for me is the away end… It felt very cramped in there today unfortunately but it is a fantastic ground nonetheless!
- Expense: 8/10 – £20 isn’t too bad but it wasn’t the best of games for the neutral but it sure was for us Mansfield fans!!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – Another fantastic day for Mansfield Town and us fans!! One I will certainly remember!!! My 50th game was a cracker!! Great to see everyone again as well!!
36/40