Happy Anniversary Graham Alexander – Much better than last year.
Just 12 months after Harrogate's horror show, City is in a very different location.
It's great if yesterday's volleyball parade was something that was passing by yesterday, as the record home league crowds were in the glory of great victory.
Alexander didn't need to urge the importance of dates as BD8 bounced back to the national anthems of “Take Me Home” and “We Are An Going.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=immeicw1zoq
If the miserable experience in North Yorkshire represented the lowest point of his 16-month reign, this was certainly the peak in terms of performance, and a positive environment that involved it.
Sheising's face in the away section a year ago was replaced by a sea of claret and amber. Anger and frustration surged aside for the joy and unconditional support of the team, on the brink of doing something very special.
Back-to-back defeat may have put some doubts on some minds, but Alexander circled the city's fortunes from far dark.
“I told the players, we shouldn't be defined in the last two games, but that's what we've done over the last 12 months. We were the best team in League 2.
“I believe it, but bad things will happen. That's how you react to it.
“Twelve months ago, I asked them about their personality and personality.
“Harrogate was 12 months this weekend. I told the players this is what we did and we were the best team points and we won with wise.
“That's us, it's not a bit of a shape, it's something we've had consistent time.
“I think it is important to keep these scars fresh in your heart.
Numbers in mind, this was City's 26th victory in 45 league matches during that intervention period. They lost nine of them.
Adding a cup outing, Bantam won by 31 on 55 attempts. This may change the corners of the mouth of the biggest pessimist. If not, what is the point of following the fate of this great club?
Aside from Essex's 756, Colchester fans also took advantage of the club's “Fiver in” ticket offer, resulting in a decent vote, with 23,381 attendees being treated best by Alexanderball.
Relentless is the manager's favorite word and is suitable for his team effort in a t-shirt. They continued to come and leave without allowing visitors to come into the air.
Danny Cowley's men have had a great run of their own, arriving north on 13 games unbeaten run with the past five wins.
They did their part to entertain the spectacle, as Bradford Stadium University has been enjoying for several years. But they were still washed away by the fascinating waves of claret and amber on and off the pitch.
With sales escalating throughout the week, it was difficult to shake the horrifying fear that the city, particularly beneath the shock of Gillingham and Tranmia, could suffer from stage fear.
We have not been able to meet the high expectations of previously highly regarded opportunities. There's no need to worry.
With Alexander craving Alex Pattison and Bobby Pointon, the team sheet lifted the mood a further or two as Alexander pulled some rabbits out of his hat. Ciaran Kelly also returned a month and a half later, but suddenly, City's options looked much stronger again.
The roaring sounds of the submarines going out for a warm-up jog early in the first half were almost as loud as the finishing day celebration.
Their returns represent a small risk, but they represent manageable risks for bosses who are always reluctant to gamble on the health of their players. And usually pointon will make up for the lost time with the fourth assist.
There have also been three changes to the starting lineup. This includes Calum Kavanagh's first start since February 11th. Alongside him, Tylake Wright returned to a more aggressive role, forming a double act of superior Tayo Adalamora and a majestic paci.
However, the partnership clicked across the pitch. It reminded me of Wright, Adalamora and the Romany Criklau on the left. George Lapsley, the always-aspiring Brad Halliday and Neil Byrne are the other.
Richie Smallwood and Brandon Kera continued to see the partnership of matter, drawing material into the middle, against the backdrop of Aden Baldwin's tidy distribution.
Wherever Colchester saw there was no rest from facial pressure.
Visitors had started with sw walking on top form teams, but it was quickly knocked out of them.
The city's threat was built by building the volume behind it. Byrne saw the bounce header being ruled out as the Tylake Light corner floated along the way.
However, the expected goal came in 30 minutes.
Kera's cross flew over Lapsley, but Halliday had other ideas as Rob Hunt allowed it to drift off the play.
He caught the defender with the hop and returned the goal that Cabana had been living on poacher opportunities and had nicked before keeper Matt Macy.
Halliday quickly threatened Colchester before attempting to close his mood by leveling his play against the run.
A biased shot fell into Jack Payne's path, and once Bantam writhed neatly over the three opponents in the box. Sam Walker blocked his attempt, but the rebound was converted by Tom Anderson.
Like the award boxer Alexander often brings up in team talks, City frowned from the punches in his gut, but quickly cleaned his head and turned the shaking.
Adalamora investigated Colchester's defense, protruding out and found a gap that Apsley transformed with a sharp header.
Colchester threatened the second equalizer early in the second half when Byrne was arrested flat by the speedy Oura Edwards. He broke, but his shot ended the wrong side of the post thanks to a faint touch from Walker.
The city's advantages became safer when Lapusley turned the corner and played for Kera, and his cutback was handed over by Cabana.
And as Adalamora moved forward again, Pointn excavated a low cross into the mix, and Lapsley flicked it on top of Macy and inside a nearby post.
According to Opta, it was the first time since September 2008 that two City players have won a brace in a match in the same league. If Michael Boulding and Peter Thorne were wondering.
The 4-1 victory that day led the Bantamus to the top of the season. This lifted the current side within the leader's Walsall point, reliably returning to an upward trajectory.
“Beed Your Own Hero” was a message that was flashed out of the Bradford End Advertising Committee courtesy of Kit Makers Macron.
The city certainly followed that order, and followed the letter on a day that lived long in memory for all right reasons.
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish