Rochdale v Bradford City: Taylor looks for better as Threlfall joins on loan

LIVERPOOL defender Robbie Thelfall has become Peter Taylor's first signing as manager of Bradford City.

Thelfall, 21, has arrived initially on a month's loan, and will make his debut for the Bantams in tonight's trip to League Two leaders Rochdale.

Although he has yet to play for the first team at Anfield, Thelfall has played for Hereford United, Stockport County, and Northampton Town on loan and has been capped at Under-19 level by England.

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"It is very difficult to get into the first team at Liverpool," said Taylor last night. "And sometimes young players are better off going out on loan rather than just waiting around for an opportunity."

"Robbie is a left-back who caught my eye playing for Northampton when I was manager of Wycombe earlier this season and he will be a good addition."

Taylor is also lining-up a second loan signing, who will join the squad before Saturday's home game with Darlington, and has confirmed that Junior Lewis will be joining the coaching staff in the next few days.

Lewis, 36, played under Taylor at six different clubs and moved onto his backroom staff at Wycombe Wanderers. He will watch tonight's game at Spotland from the stands before starting work on Thursday.

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After opening his reign with a 2-0 defeat at Accrington Stanley last weekend, Taylor could hardly have asked for a tougher test in his second game against Rochdale.

"I knew these first half a dozen games would be tough," he said.

"And it is no coincidence that both Rochdale and Accrington are doing well having kept their managers in place for a long time. We will have to perform a lot better than we did on Saturday to get anything out of this game. That performance was not good enough."

Last six games: Rochdale DWDLWW, Bradford LLWLDL

Last time: Rochdale 1 Bradford 2, September 1, 2009, League Trophy.

Referee: CD Sarginson (Staffordshire).