All hail a Bradford City performance that felt like it was about more than just team spirit – the final word.
Bradford City’s 2-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers finished in a hailstorm, which seemed fitting.
Because, while they deserved their first League Two away win since the season’s start, it was never easy.
Away fans take satisfaction in being present throughout their club’s lowest points. Being an away supporter means putting in the extra effort. On Saturday, more than 1,500 people crowded the away end.
There are worse locations to go in terms of distance and amenities than Prenton Park, but the guys from Bradford had it rough.
They were already without injured centre-backs Ciaran Kelly and Aden Baldwin, and they could have done without Neill Byrne’s morning banana returning immediately.
“He wanted to give it a go in the warm-up, but he was back in within five minutes,” said manager Graham Alexander.Paul Huntington, an emergency signing to fill that job, was also unwell earlier this week.
When ex-Bantam Omari Patrick skipped down the touchline and then the byline to finish the first half, on-loan Barnsley defender Jack Shepherd swung over and thundered into a tackle that left him hurting where he previously had a dead leg.
He, too, made many attempts to continue before hobbling away after a second round of treatment 10 minutes after the restart.
After Byrne’s departure and Shepherd’s substitution, the back three consisted of Brad Halliday, Lewis Richards, and Cheick Diabate.
For 17 minutes, they had to man the barricades, clinging to the lead thanks to Andy Cook’s precise poke from beyond the area. He then scored again on the counter-attack.
During that time, just one shot was on target: Calum Kavanagh’s from the other end. Sam Walker’s sole save of the day came after half an hour.
With a first clean sheet on the road since Accrington Stanley in March (ignore the Football League Trophy group stage, everyone else does), in weather that began bright and warm and turned grimmer and colder, two more goals for Cook, and plenty of adversity, afternoons like Saturday build team spirit.
However, it was much more than simply team spirit. This win had hundreds of participants, as the squad recognized marching through the hail to thank supporters who were still singing. This was the club spirit.
“We need them, and they need us,” explained manager Graham Alexander. “They are involved in whatever we want to do.
“Talk to the players; none of us can win alone.
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