Bradford City 1 Stockport County 0 - Football League 1( Tuesday 17 February 2026 )

 

 

 

County suffered a dispiriting 1-0 defeat to an  in-form Bradford City side at Valley Parade last night.

County took a long time to switch on and take the game to Graham Alexanders side, and by the time they did  the game was lost to a goal by former County player Antoni Sarcevic.

A raft of late substitutions by County for a time held out hope but this eventually abated as enthusiasm and excitement took over when a modicum of composure might have served the blues better.

It`s` just one defeat and I am being asked to accept that this means we can only look forward to the play-offs this term, but there`s a  lot of games still to play , so keep working at it County !

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It was perishingly cold when the Flyer dropped us off outside the away end ,but I had a terrific side view of the action- County starting with  a back 3 of Olowu, Hills and Pye with Onyango and Osborn providing width.

The atmosphere in the packed stadium was electric, generated by the largest Tuesday night crowd in League 1 history the Valley Parade PA Announcer told us  , but much of the action was at a frantic pace as a consequence, skills when and where it mattered being conspicuous by their absence.

 

As a result, it was 5 minutes before anything remotely like a chance materialised, and this was via slack play by County that allowed Bobby Pointon  time on the ball near the County box, but the moment passed for the Yorkshire side when Pointon passed to Wheatley, and he lifted the ball over the top.

Sidebeh was looking lively for County, but he looked over eager to please ,and instead ended up booked by underwhelming  Referee Ross Joyce.   

Pointon was to the fore again for City  down the right ,but his progress was halted by prompt action by Hinchliffe for County.

Most of the attacking in the first 20 minutes came from Bradford- County did look to respond but their moves would break down upon reaching the Bradford last third, without keeper Sam Walker being tested.

Bradford might have opened the scoring around this juncture, when Hills ushered a cross by Wright out for a  City corner, but much to the anguish of the home specs, Sarcevic put a decent half chance into the away end upper tier.

Meanwhile Sidebeh continued to put himself about – well wide with one effort on 21 minutes, then scythed down on the edge of the box putting the large County following in something of a lather.

The sight of Norwood lining up the free kick  buoyed the Stockport 2100 no end, but sadly his kick hit the wall and any chance was gone.

County continued to try to make an impression , but whilst Wootton put some good work in in what remained of the half, when half time arrived ,Woots` effort just before the half hour was the sole shot I can recall seeing Walker having to save in the home goal.

We needed to alter that in the 45 minutes that followed.

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County came under pressure from the off upon the re-start, and were soon regretting their inability to clear their lines when a Neufville throw was headed on by Pointon to  Sarcevic who scored for Bradford with a well-executed strike.

County continued to struggle  but might have improved their fortunes  5 minutes later on the break , but when Mothersille`s cross reached Sidebeh ( via Woots )   he sent his shot wide.

Before the hour Dixon came on for Onyango , and Tanto ( whose name had been sung enthusiastically moments earlier by County fans )Bailey and Diamond replaced Sidebeh , Bate and Mothersille.

Midst all these personnel changes ,a foul by Wootton  on Evans  put County under pressure again via the free kick- pressure relieved when Evans ballooned the ball over the bar when the kick was played back to him.

More loose play followed from the blues -City looking to take advantage but Wright trying perhaps too much- his extravagant dive in the box failing to interest a Referee that was otherwise showing himself quite well disposed to County`s opponents.

A flurry of frantic attacking followed from County – a veritable blizzard of crosses raining in on the home goal ….Dixon lifting the ball over – Diamond missing it by centimetres smack in front…..as did Tanto moments later with another incoming high ball.

That was disappointing, and more followed as a run by Diamond ended with him being upended a yard or two outside the box. Bailey took the free kick lifting it to where Pye   added to our angst by heading the ball over the bar.

County were definitely upping the revs, but the finishing………

If it was mainly County now- this was not 100% the case- Wright thinking himself unlucky no doubt to see his shot fizz  narrowly wide with just over 10 minutes left of normal time.

If the blues were getting possession, they were proving open to being hit on the counter still- and thankful that Hinchliffe remained alert ,plucking a corner won by Wright from off City foreheads.

City`s late progress was buoyed by a poor bit of reffing that penalised Bailey for previous offences rather than the action it related to– Hinchliffe again doing exceptionally well to deny Metcalfe with an excellent save.

It was good to see Che Gardner on for Joseph Olowu, but alarming that we have to wait until the 87^th minute for this to happen. It is mightily incomprehensible to me as to why, after an impressive introduction to first team football, he then disappeared- no wonder Usain Bolt turned around and headed for home when he heard his young relative was not playing at EP some weeks ago!

I am sure we have a plan for Che ,but I confess to being oblivious to just what it is, and the same applies to Tanto-do we have a propper plan to utilise his talents…..support him …again I am not seeing it if we do.

County kept trying into 5 minutes added time, but to no avail…it stayed 1-0 in Bantams favour .

Throughout 90 odd minutes of action County supporters did just that Support their team….those behind the goal ( see header image) …..to my left including Olivia and Nick 

 

 

…to my right …and behind me

 

 

 

 

 

 

…. impressive   support particularly as the weather deteriorated …their singing and supportive chants continued.

That ,of course is just how it should be.

We look now for a return to form on the park now starting with the Wigan match on Saturday.

See you all at EP for that then!

 

Bradford City line up :-

 Walker, Neufville,  Evans, Sarcevic ( Lapslie 94),  Baldwin, Wright, Metcalfe, Pointon, Tilt, Wheatley ( Jackson 46), Pennington.

Unused subs:  Hilton, Humphrys, Mullin, Kelly, Ashby

 

Stockport County line up:-

 Hichliffe,  Bate( Bailey 61), Joseph Olowu (Gardner 87) ,  Mothersille ( Diamond 61), Pye, Wootton,  Osborn,  Onyango ( Dixon 56), Norwood,  Sidibeh ( Olaofe 61) , Hills.

Unused subs:  Addai, Dodgson.

Attendance: 22488 (2,094 )

hedgegrower

 

A Few More Crowd shots ( first from the Flyer) .....

 

 

 

 

 ...then one from the posh seats from Ian Dooley.....