Parkinson praises City response as Fagan’s penalty sparks rally

Manager Phil Parkinson hailed what he hopes will become a potent strike force as Bradford came from behind to gain a much needed win.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Oct 2011, 11:09 BST

Stand-in captain Craig Fagan and James Hanson scored the goals that gave City only their third win of the season and Parkinson said: “We have a lot of young strikers, but you need someone with a bit of nous and it was good to see Craig holding the ball up and he is good at link-up play.

“James has come from the non-League (Guiseley) and it is a massive ask to wear a No 9 shirt at a big club like Bradford City. He can learn from Craig. I think they will help each other.”

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City were trailing to a super 58th-minute goal from midfield player Michael Jacobs, who beat Matt Duke with a 35-yard right-foot shot when they were handed a lifeline four minutes later.

Andy Holt handled Michael Bryan’s cross and former Hull striker Fagan equalised from the spot, his second in three matches.

Outstanding winger Kyel Reid laid on the 69th-minute winner, delivering a fine cross from the left for Hanson to bravely bend low and head the ball into the net at the far post.

Parkinson said: “Michael Jacobs scored a great goal, but you have to give our lads credit. The game could have gone either way, but we responded well. We didn’t want to accept defeat on our home patch and that is the sort of attitude I want to see.”

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The only highlight of an uneventful, instantly forgettable first half for City supporters came just before the interval when Bryan saw his 20-yard left-foot shot rebound from the bar.

The game livened up after half time, but Parkinson said: “We had Northampton watched in midweek and they were well beaten at Port Vale. We knew they would come here with a different system.”

Bradford City: Duke, Moore, Oliver, Seip, Threlfall, Bryan (O’Brien 75), Jones, Reed, Reid, Fagan, Hanson. Unused substitutes: McLaughlin, Williams, Mitchell, Devitt.

Northampton Town: Walker, Johnson, Holt, Westwood (Savage 77), Young (McKoy 65), Baldock, Tozer, Arthur (Robinson 77), Jacobs, Berahino, Langmead. Unused substitutes: Hall, Turnbull.

Referee: S Rushton (Stoke)

Man of the match: Kyel Reid.

Related topics:Bradford