Player Ratings: Bradford City vs Bristol Rovers (RESULTS)

We probably should have been 3 down at half time but it was a really gutsy display in the second half and the epitome of a well earned point! Travelling Gasheads were superb, outsinging the Bantams fans, who officially outnumbered them by over 30 to 1! Also they came across as really positive throughout. (We were with the home fans). Whelan grew in influence throughout the second half and looks a good signing. I’m looking forward to him playing behind/alongside Grant and Finley. Evans was quite an easy choice for man of the match. He always looked to me like the one most likely to hurt Bradford and he nabbed himself two good assists.

Belshaw 6.5

Hoole 6
Kilgour 6.5
Taylor 6.5
Anderton 6

Whelan 7.5
Coutts 6

Anderson 7
Evans 8
Saunders 6

Collins 6

Subs: Pitman 7
Thomas 6.5
Nicholson 6

Ref 6
Bradford 6

Belshaw 7.5 same old reliable. At no fault with goals.

Hoole 6 tried to push forward but isn't a wing back as he wasn't running to anticipate through balls... rightly subbed for formation change.
Kilgour 8 his aerial prowess almost won us the match. One crunching tackle. Great game for him.
Taylor 5.5 might have cost us with being caught in possession, but he stood up to his attackers and hopefully learns from this match.
Anderton 7.5 steady performance, reliable.

Whelan 7 vocal. Some nice tidying up.
Coutts 5 don't understand his contributions, easy one metre passes usually sideways.

Anderson 5 a bit anonymous.
Evans 8.5 m o m two assists and his mazy runs made opposition think. Not everything worked, but his persistence and accurate passing made Bradford defence uneasy all second half.
Saunders 6 ran heart out and was wrongly booked for 50/50 with keeps.

Collins 7 worked hard and ran on to defence well. Second half he made a few runs from mid that just wasn't picked up. A good game I'm sure the goals will come, he could have won it at the death of diverted Alfie header..

Subs: Pitman 7 most difficult mark....done very little (sometimes not his fault because little service or support) apart from score!? WE'VE FOUND OUR VERSION OF AKINFENWA!
Thomas 8 changed the match, quality at this level with his running at defence.
Nicholson 8 helped change the match as per above.

Ref 7 got most things correct, I would question some first half offside that weren't given, but that was down to lino.
Bradford 6.5 a decent outfit, but I think they've been found out to be vulnerable in defence. They really should have wrapped it up in first half as our lethargy set up played right into their hands....they are well organised, but I don't know if they have the qualities throughout the team to be a major force as their (often quiet) attendance testifies to. Maybe they know too....if it's a same team on the reciprocal match at home, I would be expecting a Gas win.


Well done JAB for second half make up of an awful first 45 mins....the two subs made the difference as we all knew, but without them, we look like a struggling team. Someone said if you can pick up points when not playing well, you're a good team....well only time will tell on that one, but to make their fans boo at the end, and us to leave feeling like we won the match (and almost did at the death), it's an interesting thought and encouraging for the next two winnable matches....

Belshaw 7


Hoole 6
Kilgour 7
Taylor 7
Anderton 6


Whelan 6
Coutts 5


Anderson 6
Evans 8
Saunders 6


Collins 7


Subs: Pitman 7
Thomas 7
Nicholson 7


Ref 6
Bradford 5