Peterborough United v Bradford City: Tony McMahon believes Bantams have solved goals shortage

TONY MCMAHON, Bradford City's longest-serving player, believes the club has proved to the nation there is no hangover from last season's play-off final defeat.
No hangover: Bradford City's Tony McMahon. 
Picture: Tony Johnson.No hangover: Bradford City's Tony McMahon. 
Picture: Tony Johnson.
No hangover: Bradford City's Tony McMahon. Picture: Tony Johnson.

The Bantams face tough back-to-back away assignments in the next few days as tomorrow’s trip to Peterborough is followed by Tuesday night’s visit to Oxford.

City will embark on the double-header in fine heart, last weekend’s 3-1 victory over Bristol Rovers in front of the live Sky cameras having come via their most impressive display of the season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“There have been changes here over the summer so a few will have watched us on TV against Bristol Rovers and thought: ‘Okay, let’s have a look at you’.

“They will have been wanting to see if there was a hangover from Wembley. But there was none of that. From one to 11, everyone played their part and we scored three great goals.

“Yes, we didn’t get the clean sheet we wanted. Our goalkeeper, Colin Doyle, was moaning he didn’t get his bonus again! Typical.

“But, overall, we were all happy. It is shaping up to be a good season. There are good young lads here now. Hungry lads, too.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Us experienced lads have to look after them, making sure they don’t get too high after a win or low after a defeat. But I do believe this can be another good season.”

After falling short in the play-offs for a second consecutive year, Bradford are determined to make it third time lucky.

Part of that is increasing a goal tally that, in each of those two campaigns, was someway behind their rivals in League One.

Last term, for instance, Stuart McCall’s men scored 62 times in 46 games – the lowest of the top 10 clubs. In 2015-16, all their peers in the top two-thirds of the table registered more than the 55 bagged by Phil Parkinson’s side.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With that in mind, McMahon believes an important marker was laid down in not just the Bristol Rovers victory but also the trip to Walsall a week earlier and the Checkatrade Trophy win at Chesterfield.

“The hoo-hah last season was we didn’t score enough goals,” added the 31-year-old full-back. “But last week we scored 10 – including six in the league. We could have had four or five against Bristol, too. If we keep doing the right things, we will keep scoring.”

City are sixth as they head to London Road to face the early leaders. McMahon added: “There have been a lot of changes this summer so our start was always going to be massive. That is what we were saying all pre-season.

“Blackpool (on the opening day) was a big one, we didn’t play well but won. But I think Bristol Rovers was probably the first time overall when we have played well for 90 minutes.”