Hopkin hails Bradford’s best performance

Posted Sunday, December 30, 2018 by PA

David Hopkin hailed Bradford City’s 4-0 demolition of Rochdale as the best his team have played during his spell in charge.

The Bantams dominated throughout against a Rochdale side who never got going, taking a first-half lead through Nathaniel Knight-Percival and running away with the result in the second half courtesy of Anthony O’Connor’s goal, Eoin Doyle’s penalty and a late stunner from George Miller.

“It was the most complete performance we’ve produced since I came to the club,” said Hopkin.

“We scored four fantastic goals, we looked fit and we pressed high up the pitch to stop Rochdale playing. It worked and I’m delighted for the players.

“It’s always difficult when you only score one goal and every team has players who can hurt you and score goals. We missed a few chances towards the end of the first half to make it 2-0 but to come out and score straight away just settled us down.

“The most important thing was the three points and to keep the run going because we didn’t deserve to lose at Sunderland on Boxing Day.

“We didn’t feel sorry for ourselves, we needed to be right on it against this Rochdale side who had been in very good form themselves and have an excellent home record.”

Knight-Percival tapped home in the 23rd minute after Dale stopper Brendan Moore parried Doyle’s goalbound header.

The home side were fortunate to get to the break just one goal behind, such was City’s dominance, Moore pulling off a fine save to deny Jack Payne and Doyle flashing a header narrowly over the top.

But Dale’s reprieve did not last long as O’Connor doubled the advantage in the 48th minute, turning home man-of-the-match Payne’s centre.

Doyle was tripped by Ryan Delaney to earn a penalty on the hour mark which he converted himself, while substitute George Miller rounded off the scoring in the 89th minute with a volley from 25 yards.

“We were beaten by the better side but it doesn’t mean we should be beaten 4-0,” said Rochdale boss Keith Hill.

“I thought it was very competitive and they were the better side in the first half but the game is still in the asking at 1-0.

“I thought we defended some situations well in the first half without getting our game going, though to be honest the opposition didn’t let us.

“I was very disappointed with the goal just after half time, the timing and manner of it. For us to concede two set-play goals was disappointing and it gave us a mountain to climb which we didn’t climb. They got better and better and better.

“The best player on the pitch was Jack Payne by a country mile – he shouldn’t be playing League One football, he was excellent and so were Bradford. Sometimes you just have to take it on the chin and accept the opposition were better.”