'Stay positive' - Ibou Touray's message to Bradford City fans after derby pain
A SENIOR, well-respected professional who turns 32 next month, Ibou Touray has experienced all the highs and lows which football can throw up.
The final half-hour of Bradford City's painful League One derby loss to league leaders Huddersfield Town at Valley Parade was as tough as it gets on the pitch, according to the Bantams stalwart defender.
Touray spent most of that time wearing the captain's armband following Antoni Sarcevic's dismissal midway through the second period. The latter's frustrated expression was evident after he received his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
Town raced into a 3-0 lead inside 51 minutes. The derby was over as a competitive entity after quick-fire strikes from Derensili Sanches Fernandes and Joe Taylor settled the contest early in the second half.
Sarcevic's exit compounded City's angst. It was a damage limitation exercise after that, played out in front of fairly empty home sections of the stadium – with scores of dismayed Bantams followers having seen enough – while all the noise came from the packed Terriers contingent in the Bradford End and one third of the Midland Road stand.
Touray said: "Obviously, as a footballer, I've been there before when you're down to 10 men and the opposition's just passing the ball around.
"It's probably one of the worst feelings in football, to be honest, especially at home in a local derby.
"I think it was very disappointing and not a feeling anyone wants to have.
"I don't remember anything like that before (here). I can probably count on one hand how many bad results we've had at home since I've been here.
"We just need to stay positive and move past it and just react in the right way."
The hurt among the claret-and-amber faithful – just four days after the club booked a place in the EFL Cup quarter-finals and secured a glamour tie at Manchester City next month – was obvious at the end of a roller-coaster week, with those in home jerseys sharing in that pain.
Touray continued: "I feel like it's not just the supporters. We're doubly frustrated as well. The feeling I have is just like I feel like we've let everyone down.
"It was such a big build-up for a local derby.
"I feel like the result doesn't feel like it was good enough from us.
"It's a long season and hopefully we can put things right."