Bradford City 4 Barnet 2: Bantams lift the gloom as Mitchell delivers

The Bantams ended what had been a difficult 48 hours following manager Peter Jackson’s shock resignation with a much-needed first victory of the season against Barnet.

Two goals from James Hanson plus first strikes for the club by captain Guy Branston and substitute Nahki Wells were what sealed City’s biggest win since Oxford United were thrashed 5-0 at Valley Parade last October.

But it was Mitchell, a summer signing by Jackson from Falkirk, who was the real architect of the victory with three assists from the flank.

After helping Bradford move up to 18th in the table, the 23-year-old Scot said: “Getting that first win of the season is like a weight has been lifted from our shoulders.

“It was a shock to hear the manager had gone. We weren’t expecting it at all. Okay, we hadn’t won but it was not as if the situation was drastic. There were still 42 games to go.

“It is always difficult when a manager leaves, and especially if he has signed you as Peter Jackson did with me.

“The boys were a bit down as a result but that first win has given us all a lift. We now must push on and get up that table.”

Mitchell, whose assists came through pinpoint accuracy of his delivery from out wide, added: “I don’t know who the new manager will be but whoever comes in will inherit a good side. We have plenty to build on. It was a good performance.

“Coops (coach Colin Cooper)told us all beforehand and again at half-time that we had to play as a team. He gave us a real talking to at half-time about making sure we didn’t concede any more goals.

“On a personal level, it was pleasing, too. Coops knows I am not going to take players on, that is not my game. But I do get the ball in the box.

“That was my instruction off Coops and, luckily for me, the lads did the rest.”

Parkinson will be unveiled as City manager today and will take over a team fresh from a morale-boosting victory.

Okay, Barnet are hardly world-beaters and, on this evidence, seem likely to be in for another season of struggle at the wrong end of League Two.

But, equally, the spirit shown by Bradford and, in particular, the manner in which the Bantams fought back from going behind at home for the third consecutive time this term offers hope for the future.

Certainly, this was a huge improvement on the previous week’s home defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge when, after a bright opening, City had offered little attacking threat against John Still’s side.

Slick passing, intelligent running off the ball and a never-say-die spirit were all in evidence against Lawrie Sanchez’s Barnet.

The four goals City scored against the Londoners were not bad, either.

Three were created by Mitchell’s right foot, and the other in stoppage time owed everything to the tenacity and determination of young substitute Wells.

Bradford’s opening goal came less than 60 seconds after Izale McLeod had given the visitors the lead when sweeping Ricky Holmes’ cross past Oscar Jansson on 15 minutes.

Mitchell, back in the side along with the equally lively Mark Stewart, was the creator with a sublime right wing cross that Hanson powerfully headed past goalkeeper Dean Brill.

City’s towering striker has come in for criticism this season from a section of the Valley Parade support.

But, in defence of Hanson, the ‘service’ he has been receiving for much of the opening three weeks has been abysmal with far too many aimless balls having been pumped forward in his general direction.

Mitchell’s pin-point cross, whipped in at pace, was exactly the kind that any good striker thrives on and it is to be hoped Hanson can be similarly fed by his team-mates for the rest of the campaign.

Bradford went ahead four minutes into the second half and, again, Hanson was involved, this time winning the free-kick that Mitchell curled in exquisitely for Branston to power into the corner of the net.

It was the first time the Bantams had been in front in a league game since April and they extended that advantage just five minutes later when Mitchell easily dispossessed left-back Jordan Parkes.

The Scot then looked up before rolling an inviting cross for Hanson to meet with a crisp right-foot finish.

Barnet, by now, looked well beaten and only a double save by Brill prevented, first, Mitchell and then Wells from making the scoreline 4-1.

City, though, would not be denied for long with Wells finally getting his name on the scoresheet in the first minute of stoppage time with a shot across Brill after Exodus Geohaghon, the former Rotherham United central defender, had made a hash of clearing the ball.

Wells almost added a fifth a minute later with a shot that cannoned to safety off the post before Barnet scored their consolation goal when goalkeeper Jansson was unable to keep out McLeod’s shot.

It brought subdued cheers from the 120 fans who had made the long trip north from the capital but come the final whistle it was the long-suffering City supporters who were heading for the exits with broad smiles on their faces at long last.

[email protected]