ACCRINGTON 0 CITY 0

AT LEAST, the Norwegians seemed to have a good time on their annual jolly boys’ outing.

The dozen or so adopted Accrington fans from Scandinavia were loving life as they belted out Bob Marley in a beery duet with the post-match singer in the sponsor’s lounge.

Ever since a pin in a map defined Stanley as their adopted English club 20 years ago, the group make the pilgrimage once a season to the Wham Stadium.

By all accounts, they had drunk the neighbouring town of Clitheroe dry the night before. That will have helped take the edge of what they were watching.

They’d come all the way from Oslo to see a game that left many others who were there questioning their own sanity for making the hour’s jaunt over the Pennines.

City’s travelling support made up nearly 60 per cent of Accrington’s biggest crowd of the season by far. The 2,628 away fans topped the average attendance on their own.

It felt like a home from home – if only the Bantams could have found that irrepressible Valley Parade form on the pitch.

Instead, we were “treated” to a lot of nothing; a sterile contest where not a lot really happened.

You feel that the two teams could still be there now and it would be goalless. Keepers Sam Walker and Billy Crellin will never get an easier clean sheet.

After the champagne and chocolates of Colchester, this was strictly bread and water.

Accrington still celebrated the outcome like a cup win; none more so than their long-distance match sponsors.

For City, there was a sense that things had passed them by. A point was banked relatively comfortably but there was rarely a hint that they could push for anything more.

Brandon Khela was one of four players to go off at the same timeBrandon Khela was one of four players to go off at the same time (Image: Thomas Gadd)

It was similar in many ways to the last away game at Gillingham with long, featureless periods lacking an attacking edge. On the plus side, at least City avoided conceding another scruffy goal like the clincher in Kent.

A set-piece had ultimately proved their undoing that day and they had to be mindful of the danger from Jake Batty’s laser-like long throw.

The on-loan Blackburn teenager hurled several right into the heart of the goal mouth, but City diligently dealt with each one and avoided a potential pin-ball moment within the six-yard box.

Otherwise, Accrington were kept at arm’s length throughout by an unchanged back three.

Graham Alexander had gone with completely the same line-up that dismantled Colchester, even down to the identical bench.

But there was to be no repeat of the best performance of his managerial tenure – much to the disappointment of the claret and amber army that had arrived in such huge numbers giddy at the prospect of finally grabbing top spot.

At that stage, the alluring prize was simply for a few hours until long-time leaders Walsall kicked off against Wimbledon.

The Saddlers’ subsequent 1-1 draw represented another missed opportunity for City – just like at Gillingham.

Their fans had effectively taken over the place – filling the Eric Whalley stand that runs along one side of the pitch as well as the open terrace behind the goal.

A giant flag proudly displaying the Bradford boar and the legend “our city, our colours” was proudly held aloft at that end before the game. This, we all hoped, was the pivotal moment in the long, long struggle to break out from this debilitating division.

Bobby Pointon came off the bench early in the second halfBobby Pointon came off the bench early in the second half (Image: Thomas Gadd)

But Accrington had other ideas. Unlike Colchester, they didn’t want to come and have a go and play their part in the type of free-flowing spectacle where City have shown they can thrive.

Instead, they sat in and made it awkward, giving the visitors absolutely no time on the ball whenever they ventured over halfway.

City could not find a rhythm as the red shirts hassled and harried. The home side thrived in breaking things up and bypassing midfield with long balls forward.

The growing tension of the promotion scenario was evident in the muted away following. They were surprisingly quiet given the huge numbers.

It was the Stanley Ultras at the covered end who made most of the noise, rising to the occasion like their team trying to give “big boys Bradford” a bloody nose.

The first half was a real non-event. Accrington had the odd moment without producing anything of note – Neill Byrne’s well-judged intervention as Kelsey Mooney prepared to pull the trigger being the only potential concern.

City were equally ineffective going the other way with Calum Kavanagh never likely to win the high balls against the experienced Farrend Rawson and Accrington’s giants at the back.

Alexander had seen enough within 15 minutes of the restart – opting to make a quadruple substitution.

Alex Pattison, Bobby Pointon and Jamie Walker were thrown into the fray to chivvy things up going forward, Ciaran Kelly also replacing Romoney Crichlow in the back three.

Their arrival did inject a bit more vim and vigour with Pattison adopting a shoot-on-sight policy that at least made for a better watch – even if none were able to find the target.

Jamie Walker supplies the cross for City's best attacking momentJamie Walker supplies the cross for City's best attacking moment (Image: Thomas Gadd)

He also started and nearly finished City’s best move of the afternoon.

Picking up the ball in his own half, Pattison found Pointon in the centre circle and he managed to bypass two opponents with a touch through for Kavanagh.

With the ball then worked wide to Walker, Pattison had continued his run to meet the Scot’s low cross with a right-footed flick that bounced a yard or so wide of the far post.

That was as close as City would come in a game where there was just one attempt that required a save – a soft blooper from home skipper Seamus Conneely that plopped gently into Walker’s lap.

 

 

Accrington shut up shop for the final 15 minutes, imposing a red wall around their penalty area.

They had happily settled for the point which edged them nearer safety, Benn Ward making their intentions obvious when he laid on the ball to prevent City taking a quick throw and sparked a minor set-to.

The visitors did not have the guile to find a gap in the massed Stanley ranks, Aden Baldwin just about summing things up with a shot that cleared the terrace.

Another point on the tally but 90 minutes you will never get back.