Rovers v Bradford City,4th Tier,Match Thread....

M.O.M - Sam Finley

6 mins stoppage.

BRFC 2 Bradford 1 FT

Well done to the Gas, up to 5th.

Super performance. 2-1 is a travesty of a score line as we had 31 shots. Crowd were up for it and the absence of panic after we went 1-0 down was notable.

It was a great day. Rovers applauded off by the whole crowd was an indication of the performance, as well as the result.

You had to be here to appreciate how superior we were in every facet of the game. I fancy this side over anyone in this division over 2 legs.

Bristol Rovers overcame a resilient Bradford City side to keep their automatic playoff hopes alive for another week.

The game started at a cracking pace, with Rovers making all the early action. Lots of possession in dangerous areas but with no end product.

As the half wore on, Bradford City got back into the game and were starting to exert some pressure of their own, but never looked likely to score.

Sam Finley had an excellent game, full of energy and creativity. He was at the heart of everything going forward an quite rightly earned the man of the match award. He was excellent.

Trevor Clarke struggled all game at left back, but this was not surprising given the lack of match time. He was solid enough and make some positive contributions. Hopefully the match time will do him good.

Sam Nicholson chased everything as always, and linked up with Sam Finley well but was fairly quiet overall today.

Elliot Anderson had a quiet first half, but was his usual excellent self in the second half, unlucky not to get on the scoresheet when he was fouled whilst through on goal. Despite being held, he got his shot away was was off balance.

The defence were solid all game, Hoole looks assured, Taylor and Connolly were rocks as always. Belshaw had very little to do all game.

Collins led the line well, and was unlucky not to score today. His best chance came in the second half when clear on goal but was then taken out in a classic professional foul. We were all surprised when the Bradford player got away with a yellow. Looked a clear red from where I was. Collins also missed a couple of half chances which would have put this game to bed. On another day we would have won this game 3-0.

Rovers were much better in the second half, and once Bradford got their freak goal right on kickoff, it was mostly all Rovers. I think most people in the stadium missed the goal. I only saw it after the net had bulged. That was not the start to the second half that we wanted. Luckily, this Rovers team has character and fights right to the final whistle.

Luke Thomas made a really good impact off the bench, he caused lots of problems down the right.

Lovely goal by Sam Finley, excellent finish. I can't wait to see that one again! We certainly have been blessed with some quality goals this season!

The winner came from a scrambled goal by Connor Taylor from a set piece on the left side, really pleased for him getting his second goal for The Gas. Worrying few minutes for him with his chest problem afterwards. Glad to see he could continue. I hope he is ok.

The game was fairly comfortable in the end, we managed to see the game out with no late drama. We deserved to win. Dominated possession and chances. It was a professional performance and exactly what was needed.

Three points gained, we are still in the hunt for playoffs / automatic promotion. On to Tranmere and another cup final.

Really good game with some excellent football, thought Coutts was suberb and Finley back to his best.
H Anderson puts in so much effort and makes things happen.
The whole team played well, really enjoyed the scrappy winner as we can't keep scoring worldies and need to score more bread and butter goals. UTG

Agree with all of that and good shout regarding Anderson (H). He never stops running and is a great team player. His namesake is just too good for this division also.

Ive gotta agree...

We are by far one of, if we are now not the best side in this league. We play such good, free flowing and attack minded football. If his court case proves his inocence then I would be more than willing to give JB the regins to our club as manager for the next 5 year's as I believe he could get us to the championship given the backing, and he is EVERYTHING we hoped Ben Garner would be when he was appointed, and I can't speak highly enough of his coaching right now.

Also, great atmosphere in the south stand today. There was a group of a us near the front behind the goal that got the crowd going with chants, and a few others spread throughout the rest of the tent as well that got others going. Not heard that noise there for years, so fair play to all !

Lastly, I brought this up in a thread here after the Exeter game, but while I love the mem it's struggling so bad in every area as a 2022 football ground.

The gate was only 9,100 ... I say "only" but a few seasons ago under DC we were getting that gate, as well as higher each week. But today there was only 9k there but everywhere in or around the ground - the toilets, food stalls,bars and the roads around the mem felt like there was 30k there. I got the 70 bus to the UWE home and got stuck in traffic on Filton Ave for 45mins!

We could never build a new stadium in Bs7 due to the roads alone!

Utg

I make it we are in a 3 way tussle with vale and Cloughs lot for third, considering the one and two game extra they have.  Maybe 3rd Maybe 5th. Vaughan fancies us against any side over two legs, the vale game will probably give us some good pointers to that - ironically a 1.1 or 2.2 on the day could mean we finish behind them in league, but to me that result has a silver lining as shows we can go there 2nd leg of a play off and get a result.  

anyway, it’s an incredibly exciting end to season with some huge cup finals one after the other all way now till we know our fate sometime in May.  And if the fate is another slog in this basement next year, it’s no fault of any slip ups now, but the start just a little too slow.  like that ridiculous nonsense up at Salford.