Stevenage Borough 2 Bradford City 1: Jackson plans to charge the batteries and get Bantams back on track

BANTAMS interim manager Peter Jackson was left deeply disappointed after defeat against the promotion-chasers.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Apr 2011, 10:21 BST

Jackson remains unsure as to whether a return of seven points from six games in charge will be enough to land him the manager’s job permanently.

“It’s a quiet dressing room, no doubt about that,” reflected Jackson. “We’ve shown good form of late but that is definitely a setback for us.

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“I can’t question anybody’s commitment, though. The lads always give everything and the amount of effort has never been in question.

“We’ve managed a few decent results but now it’s going to be about trying to recharge the batteries and going again.”

The Bantams looked lively early on and Tom Adeyemi forced Chris Day into a smart stop at the near post, but after that Stevenage took control. Scott Laird and Stacy Long took aim from distance, with both efforts flying narrowly wide.

Stevenage deservedly went in front after 37 minutes following a clear-cut penalty award.

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Steve Williams was clumsy in bringing down Long and John Mousinho coolly rifled home the spot-kick.

Darius Charles almost doubled Stevenage’s lead but Jon McLaughlin’s block saved City.

It was more of the same after the restart with Craig Reid going close as he lashed a shot just over.

Charles went close just past the hour mark before the Bantams levelled against the run of play.

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There was only 18 minutes to go when Gareth Evans flicked over a corner and David Syers was on hand to lash home.

The lifeline only lasted five minutes as Reid played the ball into the danger zone and Charles was handily placed to slot home.

Stevenage Borough: Day, Wilson, Laird, Charles (Beardsley 78), Foster, Roberts, Henry, Long (Murphy 60), Mousinho, Bostwick, Reid (May 83). Unused substitutes: Welch, Byrom, Bridges, Winn.

Bradford City: McLaughlin, O’Brien, Williams, Hunt, Flynn, Osborne (Oliver 78), Adeyemi, Syers, Evans, Dobie (Chilaka 64), Hanson (Speight 87). Unused substitutes: Threlfall, Worthington, Bullock, Pidgeley.

Referee: B Malone

Man of the match: John Mousinho.

Related topics:Peter Jackson