Game Reports/Tables

18/08/2001
Portsmouth 0-1 Bradford City (Jess 71)
Match report to follow(when JY returns and clears his head, hic!!)

11/08/2001
Jim Jefferies praised Ashley Ward after his goals helped City to a 4-0 win over Barnsley and then said he almost played David Wetherall up front.
Ward, who has been struggling with a calf strain got his season off to a flier with two penalties either side of half-time as The Bantams cruised to an opening day success.
JJ was delighted with Ward's overall showing, he said: "Ashley was just terrific throughout the whole game and that's the value he is to us.
"I couldn't have asked for a better start than a 4-0 win against one of our Yorkshire rivals. Let's just hope we can continue like that in our next 45 games."
JJ revealed that he had drawn up contingency plans to use Wetherall in attack if Ward had not been fit, but the former Barnsley man passed a late fitness test.

08/08/2001
Huddersfield 0 Bradford City 0
A lack-lustre performence yesterday by both squads, however city fielded a youth/trialists squad(with the exception of a few seniors),whereas Huddersfield played a full strentgh squad, just goes to show how poor Huddersfield really are.

05/08/2001
News of the tragic death of Portsmouth's 25-year old goalkeeper Aaron Flanavan in a car crash in Bournemouth last night has shocked the football world.
City's goalkeeping coach Mark Prudhoe said he was stunned by the news and his immediate thoughts were for Mr. Flanavan's family and everybody at Portsmouth Football Club who were close to him.
Said Prudhoe, "Aaron had everything going for him. He had been in the wings for so long but got his break when Russell Hoult left Pompey. The news is so tragic."
Portsmouth's first home game of the season is against City in just under two weeks time.

04/08/2001
Bradford City 0
Blackburn Rovers 2 (Grabbi 1, Greer 1.)

There was a time around 70 minutes into this rather stale pre-season kick about when the qualities needed for success in City's season became painfully apparent.
That moment could have been when Beni Carbone chased an over hit ball, lunged, kept it in play, dribbled and invitingly crossed for his strike partner but more likely it was one of the many times when that strike partner, Gareth Grant, looked unnatural in the game.
Grant played only a half a half but the difference between what was required to emulate the victorious Blackburn side and what would make do was illustrated in his play. While not wanting to bash the boy too much, correction, not a boy. Too long the potential of Grant has given him youth. The man, aged 23, must take responsibility. Every City player must, for the Bantams to prosper.
As it was City looked like a team playing at 60-70%. Blackburn, starting their Premiership line up and making no changes, we're more in tune but they lacked the competitive edge. They scored twice either side of half time and showed well enough to suggest they have a shout of staying up, but they will be more man City than Ipswich in the Premiership.
City on the other hand missed Ashley Ward badly. The big striker's absence left a team lacking direction but his return should see to that problem. The approach play was at time excellent, but confidence to pull the trigger is still needed.
For the record Blackbun's first was a rebound off Gary Walsh after an error by Andy Myers caused a break, their second a neat header. Myers looked shakey at the back, Robert Molenaar's calming influence when he replaced the Londoner later looks set to win the Dutch man a first team role.

03/08/2001
Carbone set for first pre-season outing
Benito Carbone will play his first pre-season game for City 04/08/2001 against Blackburn, while David Wetherall will continue his fitness fight.
The Bantams play their only home pre-season match, against newly-promoted Blackburn Rovers, and Carbone will feature, having missed the trip to Northern Ireland to be in Italy with his ill son.
Meanwhile, Wetherall will be given another run out after playing his first full 90 minutes in Portadown for six months and he could be partnered at the back by Andy Myers, with Jim Jefferies hoping to settle on a defensive partnership ready for the big kick-off.
As in the matches in Northern Ireland, both sides are expected to use a number of substitutes in the second half, although they are both likely to start with what Jefferies and Graeme Souness could regard as just about their first-choice eleven.
The only parts of the ground that will be open will be the two sides; City fans will have both tiers of the redeveloped Sunwin Stand, whilst the visitors will be opposite in the Ciba Stand.
Admission prices are £10 adults, £5 OAPs and £3 juniors.