League 2: Bradford City v Torquay United 09/04/2011

[Gulliball]

Gulls Player just come back for me, so just the 30 minutes missed this week. And the little 5 minute Exeter rugby commentary instead of our first goal.

[Trojan 67]

3 - 0 !!!

[Dutchgull]

THREE -NIL

[Trojan 67]

KING KEY, KING KEY, KING KEY

[Trojan 67]

AND KING KEE, KING KEE, KING KEE

[Trojan 67]

Hobbit's on.

[SuperNickyWroe]

GOOD OLD BILLY BUNTER!!!!!!!!!!! =D

[Plymgull]

Cracking result!!!! absolutely fantastic. Very happy with this great day!!

[SuperNickyWroe]

sounds like i missed a cracker..........

ah well, onwards and upwards!!! =D

well done to the lads and the guys and gals there!

[Fonda]

Great result. Did we play 4-4-2?

[Plymouth Gull]

Whoahh! A match thread with just 3 pages?!?!

Anyway, excellent result, couldn't listen but it sounds a good performance - you have to play fairly well to win 3-0 away.

[Modgull]

Take a look at the Bradford Fans Forum - even they thought we played them off the park and should have won 5-0!

[tommyg]

"Oooh aah it's a massacre." Haven't heard that being chanted at an away game since about this time last year when we were whipping the likes of Grimsby and Bury in the glorious sunshine (is it me or do we always play better when it's warm?). Just like those aforementioned games, this has to go down as one of the best performances under Buckle's tenure, possibly aside from the first 20 minutes. Of course the major difference from last season is we're no longer singing "The Gulls are staying up". How much more an enjoyable tune it is when just one of those words is changed.

My biggest fear heading into the match was how we would cope without the hugely influential Stanley. But Bucks got it bang on by taking out Murray and adding in both O'Kane and Oastler to beef up the midfield. We appeared to play most of the game in a 4-4-2 shape, but as Zebs covered so much ground, it was difficult to pinpoint exactly what position he was playing. He has an immense engine. O'Kane, though, was on the right, rather than in the middle. Bradford probably shaded the opening phase of the game, without really looking like scoring. We struggled to get the ball down and play and were losing the battle in the centre of midfield. Funny how a goal can change things. Nicholson's peachy free-kick around the wall, given for a trip on Zebs just outside the box, seemed to give us so much confidence. From that point on we completely dominated. Passing was excellent, defence looked untroubled, O'Kane started to have an effect, Lathrope appeared from the shadows and Zebs was constantly putting the defence under pressure with his tireless running. We always looked the more likely to get the next goal. Robinson and Tomlin both forced the keeper into saves, while Zebs fired wide when he should have at the very least hit the target after controlling Nicholson's pull-back from a flowing move down the left. Bevan was tested on a couple of crosses, but didn't have much to do. The defence were rock-solid.

Second half followed a similar pattern. Bevan was forced to tip over one long-range strike, but we were always dangerous on the attack. Robertson should have buried a volley from five yards, somehow shooting over, but the second came when Robinson robbed the right-back and put it on a plate for Tomlin. But we weren't done. Far from it. The third goal was my favourite. Nicholson switched play with a raking cross-field pass to O'Kane who controlled the ball effortlessly before rolling it in for Kee who was left with a simple finish. That goal summed up our display. Bevan remained largely a passenger, although at 0-2, one of Bradford's players was through on goal, until his heavy tough rolled through to Scotty.

Hard to pick our best performers. The back four were outstanding. Bradford preferred to attack Mansell rather than Nicholson, but neither put a foot wrong and got forward when appropriate. Robertson and Branston were dominant. Probably the best I've ever seen them together. O'Kane and Lathrope were both impressive despite slow starts, and Zebs was magnificent, only his finishing letting him down. It was a real classy performance. Every outfield player celebrated the goals together, and the team spirit couldn't be better. Buckle, serving a touchline ban, got an excellent reception at the end when he came over to the fans. I think he really appreciated that. Away support was terrific. Even had a 'Goodbye Horse' chant at the end. Super day.

[Plymouth Gull]

Can you link it, Modgull? I'm having a look on one but I can't see anything saying that we were decent, just that they were dreadful?

[Plymouth Gull]

fantastic report Tommy. Thanks for that.