‘Sticky’ Sixfields pitch contributed to lack of quality in Bradford City draw
Both Kevin Nolan and Bradford City counterpart Graham Alexander agreed that the unusually ‘sticky’ playing surface at Sixfields was a key factor in Saturday’s goalless draw between Northampton Town and the Bantams.
The League Two clash, played in warm summer conditions, saw plenty of honest endeavour but little in the way of clear-cut quality. While both sides worked hard off the ball and competed fiercely in midfield, the sluggish nature of the pitch made it difficult to move possession quickly and create flowing attacks.
Bradford came the closest to snatching all three points when Curtis Tilt’s header from a set-piece rattled the post midway through the second half. Minutes later, Antoni Sarcevic thought he had scored, only for Dean Campbell to get back and clear off the line. Those near-misses aside, chances were scarce, with both goalkeepers enjoying one of their quieter afternoons.
Alexander, whose Bradford side have now taken four points from their opening two games, was satisfied with the resilience shown.
> “It’s a good point and a point was the least we deserved,” he said. “We stood up to the challenge, we landed on a lot of second balls, and we competed well all over the pitch. The only frustration is that we couldn’t find that killer touch in the final third. It wasn’t for the want of trying — the boys gave everything.”
The City boss acknowledged that the surface, unusually slow for the time of year, made it difficult for either team to play at their usual tempo.
> “The pitch was a little sticky, which doesn’t help when you’re trying to pass quickly and break lines,” Alexander explained. “You could see both sides having to take extra touches. That’s not an excuse, but it’s a factor in why there weren’t more goal-scoring chances. We have to adapt to that and maybe be more direct at times.”
Northampton manager Nolan shared similar thoughts, praising his side’s defensive structure but admitting the game was far from a spectacle.
> “It wasn’t one for the highlights reel,” Nolan admitted. “We knew Bradford are a strong, physical side who can hurt you from set-plays, so we had to make sure we were solid. I thought we did that well. The surface did slow things down a bit, but it’s the same for both teams and we’ll work on finding solutions to move the ball more effectively.”
Despite the lack of goals, both managers found positives to take forward. For Bradford, it was another clean sheet and a sign that their backline can withstand sustained pressure. For Northampton, it was a first point of the season and a reminder of their defensive discipline against one of the division’s promotion contenders.
The fixture may not live long in the memory for its entertainment value, but in the long grind of a League Two campaign, such hard-fought stalemates can prove valuable. As Alexander summed up:
> “We’d all love to see more attacking flair and goals, but sometimes you have to take the positives from the battle. We’ve got another big game next week, and if we keep showing the same commitment, the quality will follow.”
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