Bradford City 2 Bolton Wanderers 2: bantams again miss just deserts but it's no piece of cake for Parkinson

BAKEWELL TART was viewed as an ingredient in Bradford City's seven-match winning home run at the end of last season by then manager Phil Parkinson.
Bradford City's Charlie Wyke prods home  his second goal against Bolton Wanderers (Picture: Tony Johnson).Bradford City's Charlie Wyke prods home  his second goal against Bolton Wanderers (Picture: Tony Johnson).
Bradford City's Charlie Wyke prods home his second goal against Bolton Wanderers (Picture: Tony Johnson).

No surprise then that Janet in the press room, not wanting to tempt fate, kept back Parkinson’s slice until after Saturday’s game.

“I didn’t even get a cup of tea,” quipped the superstitious former City chief, who put the run down to his choice of the home-made bakery before every Valley Parade game.

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His first return to the ground since quitting in the summer looked like ending in abject failure at half-time as Bolton were run ragged by some effervescent attacking play from City, now under Stuart McCall’s managership.

“You’re not special any more,” bayed the Kop, who had idolised Parkinson during his near five-year tenure in charge, which resulted in two trips to Wembley, including a promotion, and a famous Cup triumph over the ‘Special One’, Jose Mourinho, and his Chelsea charges.

However, Bolton showed resilience to claw their way back to take a point and left City scratching their heads at their inability to claim a victory after an 11th home draw of the season.

On this evidence, both clubs look destined for the play-offs and City, now 24 successive league games unbeaten at home, may not have seen the last of their former manager.

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Nicky Law, whose passing ability alongside Josh Cullen in midfield made a mockery of a dreadful pitch, agreed.

“No, it is not fanciful to suggest we could play Bolton at Wembley at the end of the season. That is where we want to be,” said the City playmaker.

“The top two is looking difficult now so you have to look to those play-offs, although you never know.

“If we can get to Wembley that is where we want to be and it could be Bolton up against us. If it is, then (Saturday’s) performance will only give us confidence.

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“You see their physicality and see why they are where they are. A lot of teams would crumble under that, but we knew if we stood up to it then we had the better football players.

“We were confident that 11 v 11, we had the better team and I think that for 90 per cent of the game not many in the stadium would disagree with that.”

After a plethora of one-pointers, Law confessed: “I’m surprised we are still fifth – it’s unbelievable. We have made it difficult, but it’s still in our hands. We have to stay positive and keep plugging away. We are struggling for answers and we are probably 10 to 12 points worse off than where we should be. We have dominated so many games and not got the desired result that we deserve. We will look to put it right in the last phase of the season.”

Everything was going right for City as they attacked the Kop end with swashbuckling bravado in the first half, £250,000 signing Charlie Wyke getting in with a quickfire double.

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Ben Alnwick’s inability to deal with the opener led to a shaky performance from the Bolton goalkeeper.

It came in the 10th minute following one of several forceful runs from Mark Marshall, who perhaps had a point to prove to his former manager.

The winger hit a diagonal ball into the path of Wyke, whose impressive first touch allowed him to get away a low shot that Alnwick seemed to have covered down to his left, only to see the ball bobble over him into the net.

It was soon 2-0 as Law raced onto Tony McMahon’s long ball into the right corner of the area and lobbed the onrushing Alnwick only to see Wyke pinch the goal off him by tapping into an empty net as it landed.

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McCall believed City’s dominance should have brought more goals before the break and it was evident Bolton could hardly play any worse after the interval.

So it proved, substitute James Henry turning the tide with incisive deliveries into the area.

From one, Bolton made it 2-1 in the 62nd minute, Mark Beevers heading down, Romain Vincelot failing to make a proper clearance, allowing the visitors’ other centre-back, David Wheater, to swing a foot at the ball and slice it in off the post.

City nerves became evident and former Sheffield Wednesday striker Gary Madine made it 2-2 in the 75th minute, heading in Henry’s delivery.

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McCall introduced Timothee Dieng to provide extra aerial protection, but he also got forward to rattle a post; full-back James Meredith headed over from six yards; Marshall, guilty of a 12-yard fresh-air shot in the opening half, tripped over the ball when well placed and Wyke blazed over with a shot on the turn as both central defenders dived in.

So it was not for lack of attacking intent that City could not get one over Parkinson, who applauded all four sides of the ground at the end.

Bradford City: Doyle, McMahon, McArdle, Knight-Percival, Meredith; Vincelot; Marshall (Hiwula 82), Cullen, Law (Gilliead 79); Clarke (Dieng 68); Wyke. Unused substitutes: Darby, Toner, Devine.

Bolton Wanderers: Alnwick, Osede, Beevers, Wheater, Moxey (Henry 60); Morais, Thorpe, Trotter (Solomon-Otabor 60); Vela; Madine, LeFondre (Wilkinson 88). Unused substitutes: Dervite, Clayton, Perry.

Referee: E Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).